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Education: MHS, CJC, USF

"Schooling" has played a major role in my life thus far. Most of the major turning points in my life have come by the move to and from school.

From Marianna High to Chipola Junior College: The first move

I didn't leave home after high school but I did leave a chapter of my life where I was way too interested in making others happy with my life. For the first time, I took the steps to pursue the career and life I wanted not that which had been so carefully molded in my families mind (particularly my mom). Not that having expectations for your kids are a bad thing but living your life through someone else is certainly not the way to go. When I took the plunge into communications and left behind my double major of engineering and accounting - what the hell was I thinking!?! - my mom was devastated as much as when the chance of me and her "future son-in-law" vanished.

In addition to being in the books, I was involved in several clubs and organizations at CJC: Baptist Student Ministries, Black Student Union, Cheerleading, Indian Princesses, The Papoose - the school newspaper, Phi Beta Lambda, Student Ambassadors, Student Government Association and Students In Free Enterprise. I held office as Secretary, BSU; Public Relations Coordinator, PBL; Treasurer and Publicity Coordinator, SGA; Vice Leader, SIFE.

See my old, unfinished MHS c/o 96 page.

From CJC to University of South Florida: The big one

Funny that this stage had less to do with the lessons I learned in books and more about the lessons of life, heart and spirit. I had the culture shock of my life when I moved from Marianna to Tampa. But those were the good old days.

Although I was fairly active in school - Color Guard, CAB, BSU, Ad Club etc. - the best times were certainly spent off campus where I had my own apt. refusing to pay the much inflated prices of on-campus housing. Whether it was performing at football games, hanging with my totally devoted and loving boyfriend, partying with my friends, particularly Thursdays with Vinny or being engulfed in work I was pretty damn fulfilled.

From USF to the real world: Moving on...

I claim to have closed yet another chapter after leaving USF. In reality, I'm simply allowing myself to go on. I left behind or lost much more in that session of my life than I am happy with but life doesn't stop so I continue to move on as well. In short, being a grown up SUX!!!

I think things are starting to come around full circle. I'm starting to find balance for a change. While I stopped trying to make others happy through my life, I am very interested in making the people in my life -- even if for a short time -- happy. I think I'm finding my zen in my life and I want to spread that to those who I love and those who bring me joy. Maybe that just comes with getting older.