During the time of Sheraden school, my mother and father were going through separation, and it wasn't until 1983 where the divorce officially took place. I wasn't really sure of why my father left at the time, and my younger sister, Tina, really didn't even know him. He left when she was about 6 months old. I was about 4 years of age. However, my mother, sister, and I have always been (and still are to this very day) very close. I think him leaving brought us closer together. Yes, it affected me and Tina in some ways, but it all turned out good. My mother, with her beyond loving heart, made us feel wanted and loved. Even though we were quite poor, we felt rich inside our hearts. There is nothing I could have given back to my mother for all she has done for me (well, except for one thing...read about it in "Those brought into the Kingdom" on this site). Also around this time, two of my uncles from my father's side began to act very strange. I was around 10 years old. They kept proclaiming they were born again. I remember my uncle Rick talking to my uncle Tom about the Bible. It was strange. They would jump around listening to music and shouting Jesus! Wow! I knew they had something, but I didn't know what it was.
After 8th grade, I plunged back into the public school system by attending Langley High School in Sheraden. Wow! What a drastic change! It was like going from laying on a hammock and looking up at the sky and trees, to a riot on the streets in the city. I was in shock! I mean, I wasn't in the public school system for 8 years, but it was nothing like this! I remember lining up in line with no talking in the catholic school with hands at the side and looking at the back of the head of the person in front of you. In Langley, people were bouncing off the lockers, calling people every name in the book. Anyway, I eventually got used to it. Plus, I had old friends go there, as well as new friends I met and are still very close to this day. I played football and volleyball for Langley, which helped me along the way. I met a lot of people that way. I really did enjoy my time there. Four years of chaos, but I enjoyed it.
I then attended the Community College of Allegheny County. During this time, I met my wife Janet. We worked together at McDonalds. We've been together since May 15, 1992. She is a wonderful joy in my life! So, I decided to study the general courses, like English, Math, Science, Psychology, History. This would eventually take me to what I always wanted to be...a Physical Education Teacher. I always looked up to my uncle Paul (mother's side). He was what I wanted to be. So, I pursued it. I had a focus. A determination. Nothing would stop me from acheiving my goal. Some didn't thing I could do it. Others had faith in me. Eventually, I transferred to Slippery Rock University. SRU is known for an excellent Physical Education program. Plus, it wasn't very far away from home.
During my stay at SRU, I did a lot (and I mean A LOT) of studying. People said that the library was my second home. And, they were right! I'd be in there for hours at a time. I was a student who had to do this. It really didn't come easy to me. Anyway, I met a lot of people there. Most of my friends were on the 8th floor of Founders Hall, where I stayed. Room 825 to be exact. I did a lot of socializing, too. We'd all talk just about anything. We'd go out and eat, watch tv, check out a movie on campus, or whatever else was going on. I consider my college years to be the most fun times of my life. I really miss it up there. Anyway, I studied the Physical Education program up there in teaching certification. I had the honor of studying in Budpest, Hungary in the Spring of 1994, and did my student teaching in Dublin, Ireland in the Winter of 1996. I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in December of '96. I couldn't believe I finally did it! And to top it off, I graduated Magna Cum Laude. As I said, I was determined. I also did something up at SRU that I have always wanted to do. I tried out for a school play and got a semi-major part! I played Squire Manilov in the play Dead Souls. It was one of the most exciting experiences of my life! The audience really liked the character I developed. I also worked at a summer camp around this time called Camp Rainbow/Camp Spencer. It was for the special population, and I met so many wonderful people there. It was also another great experience.
I went straight into graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh. Ever since I was a child, I wanted to go to Pitt. I always told my mother that I am going to go there. And, she always said, "Yeah, Mike, that's great!" She always uplifted me. Who would've ever thought? I studied Developmental Movement and Sports Studies there. During this time, I was a graduate assistant working as the computer director in the lab. I was in charge of answering all the questions that the students had. Eventually, I figured out all the answers. My advisor was aware of this. I had a knack for computers. So, they asked me to teach a graduate course in computers in the summer. I did that for 3 years. Wow! I am still amazed at that. Teaching at the University of Pittsburgh? Me? I was in the right place at the right time. Anyway, I graduated from Pitt with a Master's Degree in April of 2000.
In the summer of '98, I got married to Janet, and I interviewed at the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education. This was my first interview for any teaching position. I did really well at the interview. My name was sumbitted to different schools in the district. I finally had an interview at Reizenstein Middle School in East Liberty. I was there for about an hour. It looked good. The principal liked what I was saying. It was for a wilderness position for students with emotional problems. I received a call in August of '98 on my pager. It was the Board of Education. I called them back and they said that the principal at Reizenstein was interested in hiring me. And, of course I accepted the offer. With the help of my uncle Paul, I got in. I didn't even have to substitute teach. Wow! Another situation is going my way. Life is good to me. Everything was going as planned. I was making my wife happy, my mother proud, being a good role model for my sister, walking in the footsteps of my uncle Paul. I was on top of the world! A Bachelor's Degree? A Master's Degree? A great paying job? A nice house? Two cars (one for me and one for Janet)? In time, Janet and I bought a trailer. A nice trailer? It couldn't get any better than this! And that's exactly what happened. Things started to crumble. I built myself up. Now, it was time for the Great Fall.