James Pustay - a Biography
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH - Mr. Jim Pustay (2019-2020)
Who am I - just nothing special, but only me - a broken down traveler who is rapidly slowing down, but who loves to tell stories.
Into nearly my seventh decade, and now 13 presidents later, I am embarking on my 21st year teaching [I started at Our Lady of Lourdes in 1998-2000]. I was hired at West Shore at the beginning of 2000. But despite the severe "wear & tear" on my body (created more by a very active youth through my 30s), I still enjoy getting up and coming to work at West Shore. It's the "getting up" that is now becoming very hard. In June 2015, I had a left total knee replacement, and hoping to get my other knee done after I retire. Both were totally "blown out" on a cruise several years ago in an accident. Unfortunately, I had another accident in April 2018, and have an additional three pinched nerves, and two herniated discs in my back.
Each year, I take out Mr. Sarver's bottle of dirt he gave me, and place it on a visible shelf. Why? He insinuates I'm "older than dirt," but I have embraced my age, as I finally got tired of touching up the gray, and have gone white, silver & gray! So, I get the "Santa Claus" or grandpa remarks. Well ... it could be worse, right?
With that in mind, I look at the average history textbook, and I've noticed that I've lived through a major portion of it. My grandparents take me back to the late 1880s when they arrived at Ellis Island. I guess the white hair and beard doesn't hide that fact either. Although, I never really knew any Revolutionary War soldiers (I did meet a Civil War veteran when I was very young, as well as a man born a slave). My father (who was born in 1919) fought in World War II (he fought on 7 islands, won the Silver Star and 2 Bronze Stars with 3 Purple Hearts), and my military supervisors in the early 1970s were WWII, or Korean veterans. I really enjoyed hearing stories from that generation. In fact, my neighbor was a WWI veteran, who was a survivor of a "mustard gas" in the trenches of France. I also remember he owned an original Model-T Ford before he passed away. I guess ... I consider myself lucky, in that so much history was shared with me, and I always relished the fact that I was a die-hard "history buff." You see my father felt it important to meet people who either made a difference, or those that just lived regular lives in history. I've always tried to respect that message he left me with regarding people and history.
Growing up it was a pretty good childhood from my perspective. My father was a blue collar steel worker who worked 3 different shifts, so there were times I never spoke to him throughout the day or evening. I was lucky having some very good friends in the neighborhood. My mother felt outside activities and being with friends were important. So, on weekends or in the summer I had to go outside after breakfast and chores and return for lunch, then back outside until dinner. I think my first "girlfriend" was Rebecca [in second grade]. Her father was an automotive engineer and back then, they built prototypes with clay models and cut-outs which she would give me from time-to-time. You got to remember it was second grade! I played football, basketball and track in middle-school and high-school until my father lost his job in my 10th year of high school. I had to go out and work to help support the family, so there went the sports, but I continued with music. I graduated 38 out of 680 students in high school.
I was an avid reader, and a staunch Ernest Hemingway fan, and often fantasized about the travels and things his characters engaged in which for me, sparked an interest to leave home at an early age. Unfortunately, I think I am beginning to look more like the older Hemingway and should probably enter the annual contest in "Key West."
Looking back, I did serve in Vietnam (Da Nang), and participated in our involvement in several high interest campaigns (like limited work in the Panama and Grenada conflicts) and participated in the first Gulf War (Desert Storm). Subjected to mercury, asbestos, DDT, Agent Orange, and lots of physical abuse (but, at the time ... some of them enjoyable) in desert, water, jungle, winter & POW survival training. Except, for some aircraft incidents (where gravity and ground come together and flesh & bone usually lose), I guess I am lucky to be here today. During my career in the military, I guess I got "banged" up enough that I was medically retired within 22 days (once the decision was made) by the government. You can say I became a financial burden, and off to the Veterans Administration I went which with all that is talked about today in the news, it was barely a little better then. It took me nearly 8 months to get my disability settled and another 3 months to get my retirement started. What did General Douglas MacArthur say ("Old soldiers never die; they just fade away."). So, I faded away from military service and like Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken", I chose to become a teacher which was something I always wanted to do.
My style of teaching is one of storytelling and Socratic discussion. I teach through story telling and use myself, my travels and things I have either done, seen or been part of as a foundation for my lessons. I met a lot of people in my life and shared a lot of memories with them around the world. I wouldn't trade a day of it, or do anything different. Some think my stories are made up, some assume you can't really do all those things, or go to the places I have gone, or meet as many people as I have in my travels, but that is not for me to even care or concern myself as they did happen. As far as I am concerned, it isn't my fault that so many people led so many boring lives. I am who I am and that is all that I am. Okay, I may have quoted Popeye, but you get the point. And yes, the word is I have lots of tattoos. Yes, I have many tattoos. Each tattoo has a special memory and experience associated with it. My right arm has a sleeve which is about Vietnam, my friends who died, and some key stories. Emotionally, it took me 30 years to visit even the moving Vietnam Memorial Wall. It brings to mind many memories which (good and bad), I don't want to forget, as each helped shape who I am today. You are always welcome to sit down and ask me questions.
Although I am constantly reminded of my age, I think I am now the oldest male teacher at West Shore. I do remember a time when we only had 4 television channels (3 networks [ABC, NBC and CBS; and 1 independent]) and the most popular radio stations were AM channels! To own a Japanese 9 volt transistor radio was the rave. And don't forget 78s, 12 inch albums, 45s, 8-Track tapes and cassettes. I have a sequence of music technology on my wall in the classroom and a collage of some photos for those interested to look at (when you are bored). I even remember attaching what looked like a large magnifying glass to our television to see colors on the screen (as bad as it looked too) to simulate a color TV. To make matters worse, my 8th grade science project was a simple calculator the size of a large aquarium and my college computer classes focused on analog and "punch card" technologies. Believe it or not! The more I talk about myself...maybe I did meet a Revolutionary War soldier? They were a simpler time. I remember the milkman, bread man, Fuller brush man and a host of other deliveries to the home. I remember coal delivery to my grandparents house, and blocks of ice for their icebox. Even doctors came for house calls. How long ago was that? For those with doctor parents, ask them if they ever made house calls? Oh, how the times of changed. The point about all this is to link history between my students and historical figures. If you know me, and I met a Civil War soldier (despite doing that as a very young person) than you can see that although it may seem so long ago, it really isn't in respect to history. Don't forget that the last Buffalo Soldier, 1st Sgt. Mark Matthews, died September. 6, 2005 at age 111. He was involved in the hunt for Pancho Villa, a famous Mexican revolutionary and bandit. Frank Buckles, also in terms of history was the last WWI soldier who died on February 28, 2011. Approximately every two minutes (as of August 3, 2014), a memory of World War II – its sights and sounds, its terrors and triumphs – disappears. Yielding to the process of aging, the men and women who fought and won the great conflict are now mostly in their 90s. They are dying quickly – at the rate of approximately 555 a day, according to recent US Veterans Administration figures. So, although it seems so long ago that the milkman, bread man, and others delivered to my parents' house, I guess it is all relative...but, nonetheless, an important point to make about history. It goes by fast! As for my psychology students, I minored in psychology in college, worked in a psychiatric ward (working my way through college), was employed as a hospital administrator with mental health care, and as a leader, worked among many personalities and problems to have gained some insight and experience. And that Civil War soldier, he met someone from the Revolutionary times. The point? History isn't that far away or remote or unimportant.
I left the United States military more than two decades ago now. As I mentioned, I was medically retired from the military as a lieutenant colonel (I went in enlisted, made staff sergeant, got out and went to Officers Training School and went up the ranks) and am a disabled veteran which is why you see the wheel chair icon on my license plate. Of course you know that by my reluctance in walking and my lack of mobility. Every so often you see me with a cane. It helps me get up from a low sitting, or walk on uneven or sloped pavement. It really is never a dull moment.
As I mentioned before, I am well traveled! Although I've never stepped foot on the South Pole (I had a friend do it though), I've been to Greenland, Iceland, flew over the North pole and Egypt (we "buzzed" the pyramids) and been to the continent of Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe and others. I'm not a scientist, nor an engineer, but I've flown and navigated military aircraft around the world, handled and set nuclear weapons, and survived several air crashes, or at least the plane meeting the ground very hard on a couple of occasions. I have fond memories of winter, water, mountain and desert survival training.
I've done so many different jobs and held many diverse occupations? Please ask if you want to discuss any of them! For example, I work several years with Manpower Temporary Services, that I requested as many different types of jobs possible [which one day I sat down and did a quick count - 55 different jobs in just a couple of years], and they [Manpower] were happy to oblige.
I grew up in Youngstown, Ohio during the turbulent, but at times exciting 1960s when everything seemed so chaotic (Vietnam War, Kent State, Woodstock, civil unrest, women's movement, political upheaval, recession after recession, and a surge of advancements in both technology and media coverage). I love music and did what most wanna be musicians did - join a garage band. I went to Woodstock, but wow ... got into a lot of trouble with my parents when I got home. I was supposed to go to San Francisco with older guys I played music with in a psychedelic band, but couldn't do it to my parents again.
I've learned that sometimes life "throws you unexpected curves" and for me my father lost his job when I was 13 years old. He was unemployed nearly 2 years and I worked since I was fourteen (full time at 15 years old). Although I had to limit my high school experiences and postpone my college plans because I needed to work, I wouldn't change any of my life. I met so many fascinating people and visited so many different communities and cultures around the world that I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. In order to go to college I entered the military enlisting a few months before graduating high school. I left for military induction just 6 days after graduating from Fitch High School. I served in Vietnam, Thailand, Korea, Okinawa, Taiwan, Texas, Colorado and New Mexico before I left the military to get a college education. I will admit I grew up rather quickly being only 18, out on my own, hanging out with adults who were in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. You do get to see a different side of the world and for that fact - the many diverse sides of people too!
Unfortunately, anyone who went to Vietnam was impacted to some degree or another in a different way. For me it was an insatiable need to learn, question and travel. I became a jack-of-all-trades, and a master of none, for so many years. When I returned home, it took me nearly five years to earn my undergraduate degree since I worked full-time too. Like many veterans, I had to work through some stress related experiences. In Thailand, I once came home from work to a bungalow I shared with a friend only to find him dead still kneeling on the floor having what looked like having been executed. At least that was what the police had told me later. However, I was very fortunate as for some, they are still working through it day-by-day. That is why I enjoy visiting now the moving Vietnam Wall. It took me 30 years to reconcile myself to revisit those times.
Not counting the several years at Manpower, I I worked in the restaurant industry, military flying, healthcare, and fire protection. Nearly five years after leaving the military the first time, I reentered as a commissioned officer. Voluntarily, I moved about every 12 months to 2 years if not sooner. However, the trade-off was that I was fortunate enough to travel to every state and nearly 30 countries before I reached my 44th birthday with wonderful memories and fantastic life experiences. Unfortunately, I admit the years in the military was costly, having had several severe accidents and injuries, spending nearly 2 years as a patient in several hospitals and eventually medically retiring as a lieutenant colonel. For a while, I was a hospital administrator, but it wasn't fulfilling enough. The pay was great....but, I wanted to work with young people...spend more time with my own children...and I've never been too materialistic in that it would decide what I would like to do in life. So, I figured out I loved to teach throughout my life, and decided to try substituting as a teacher in Brevard County in 1997-1998. I found it was everything I thought it to be and gained my teaching certificate and here I am.
Now retired from the military I am lucky to participate in what I feel is the hardest, most demanding and stressful occupation, yet without a doubt, the most rewarding vocation there is in America - teaching. Having managed a restaurant, been a military commander, flown aircraft, worked with nuclear energy, and even having been a healthcare administrator and experienced many, many temporary jobs, I think teaching is without a doubt the most challenging. I challenge anyone to change direction in their lives, step in and teach children. Try it! You'll love it. And if you hear someone mention that "those who can't; teach," you need to send them my way, okay?
As I mentioned, this will be my 21st year of teaching, having spent my first two years teaching in the Catholic school (Our Lady of Lourdes in near downtown, Melbourne) system before coming to West Shore in 2000. Before West Shore, I taught 5th through 8th Grade Social Studies (World Cultures, World History, US History, and World Geography), Language Arts, Intro to Spanish and history of religion. For the past twelve years at West Shore, I taught 7th grade World Cultures, 8th Grade US History 10th Grade American History, general psychology and sociology. Most recently (the last 9 years), I've been teaching AP Psychology and AP US History.
I bring a lot of stories to the classroom for both (APUSH & AP PSYCHOLOGY), use myself as an example (both good and bad), and I teach to help students learn why and how we evolved as a nation and more importantly, the state of mind we share not only in America, but globally. In psychology, I like to teach content, but bring application to it for the student. We do lots of demonstrations, applications, and really get to ourselves.
If you have any questions about my travels and experiences - just ask!
I'm married to the former Barbara Lawson, Youngstown, Ohio and we have three children (Sarah, Matthew, and Allison). Oh yes, and our two Australian Shepards, Maks & Mika, who are now 7 years old. After the death of our first Australian Shepard - Quesdilla, who died at 17 1/2 years, almost 7 years ago, the house was empty. So, I got two more. Although the memory of Quesdilla, will always be there for me. She (dog) was an interesting story as we found her in the desert as I was cross country running and she nearly became dinner for a pack of coyotes. Taken to the dog pound (animal shelter), we later debated not leaving her there as we ate Quesadillas at a restaurant, in California's Mojave Desert. Yes, it became her name. KC for short. We had to perform emergency surgery on her using needle & thread, masking tape and clear plastic wrap. And she survived!
TRAVEL:
America: I've been to all 50 states, Guam, Wake Island, Midway, Puerto Rico, and the American Virgin Islands. I've lived (more than 1 year) in Texas, California (Northern & Southern), Ohio, Colorado, New Mexico and Florida.
World: I've lived (more than one year) in Viet Nam, Taiwan, England, Thailand, Okinawa, Japan, and six months in Turkey, Iceland and Germany. I've traveled to 40+ countries throughout my adult life, covering all the major continents, except the poles, but I did visit two cities in Greenland and flew above the North Pole once. Now I like to cruise and visit as many island nations as possible.
EDUCATION (Degree): Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio (Criminal Justice and Sociology); BS (1979) with minors in History and Psychology; and Golden Gate University, San Francisco, MBA (1987)
EDUCATION: (at least 18 months coursework): McGeorge School of Law (1984 - 1986), University of the Pacific, and East Texas State University (1981 - 1982), Fort Worth, Texas. I had to withdraw from law school after being in an accident which left me in a 3/4 length body cast for nearly one year. I think it was called a Hip Spica cast. What money I had left I chose to get an MBA degree. It's what makes life so interesting as it is filled with so many "twists and turns."
OCCUPATIONS: The best way to express this would be a "Jack-of-all-Trades" from A to Z. Best job: Teaching! Worst Job: Working for a company too "financially strapped" to buy a plastic cutting machine. I would have to spend the day breaking 4-inch squares of plastic into four 1-inch smaller pieces by bending and ripping by hand under an authoritarian foreman.
Oh, a few last remarks! I remember NO McDonalds and when they opened, they were tracking hamburgers sold in the hundreds of thousands. Also, the cheapest gas I ever bought was during a "gas war" and bought it for 12 cents/gallon. And I still remember when my father wanted to change TV channels, I had to climb on the roof and physically move the antenna. A TV remote was having to lay next to the TV and change channels yourself. Yes, the "Good Old Days" when you dared put aluminum foil on your TV's rabbit ears to get better reception AND when America nearly produced, manufactured or made almost everything we needed.
Who am I - just nothing special, but only me - a traveler and storyteller.
Who am I - just nothing special, but only me - a broken down traveler who is rapidly slowing down, but who loves to tell stories.
Into nearly my seventh decade, and now 13 presidents later, I am embarking on my 21st year teaching [I started at Our Lady of Lourdes in 1998-2000]. I was hired at West Shore at the beginning of 2000. But despite the severe "wear & tear" on my body (created more by a very active youth through my 30s), I still enjoy getting up and coming to work at West Shore. It's the "getting up" that is now becoming very hard. In June 2015, I had a left total knee replacement, and hoping to get my other knee done after I retire. Both were totally "blown out" on a cruise several years ago in an accident. Unfortunately, I had another accident in April 2018, and have an additional three pinched nerves, and two herniated discs in my back.
Each year, I take out Mr. Sarver's bottle of dirt he gave me, and place it on a visible shelf. Why? He insinuates I'm "older than dirt," but I have embraced my age, as I finally got tired of touching up the gray, and have gone white, silver & gray! So, I get the "Santa Claus" or grandpa remarks. Well ... it could be worse, right?
With that in mind, I look at the average history textbook, and I've noticed that I've lived through a major portion of it. My grandparents take me back to the late 1880s when they arrived at Ellis Island. I guess the white hair and beard doesn't hide that fact either. Although, I never really knew any Revolutionary War soldiers (I did meet a Civil War veteran when I was very young, as well as a man born a slave). My father (who was born in 1919) fought in World War II (he fought on 7 islands, won the Silver Star and 2 Bronze Stars with 3 Purple Hearts), and my military supervisors in the early 1970s were WWII, or Korean veterans. I really enjoyed hearing stories from that generation. In fact, my neighbor was a WWI veteran, who was a survivor of a "mustard gas" in the trenches of France. I also remember he owned an original Model-T Ford before he passed away. I guess ... I consider myself lucky, in that so much history was shared with me, and I always relished the fact that I was a die-hard "history buff." You see my father felt it important to meet people who either made a difference, or those that just lived regular lives in history. I've always tried to respect that message he left me with regarding people and history.
Growing up it was a pretty good childhood from my perspective. My father was a blue collar steel worker who worked 3 different shifts, so there were times I never spoke to him throughout the day or evening. I was lucky having some very good friends in the neighborhood. My mother felt outside activities and being with friends were important. So, on weekends or in the summer I had to go outside after breakfast and chores and return for lunch, then back outside until dinner. I think my first "girlfriend" was Rebecca [in second grade]. Her father was an automotive engineer and back then, they built prototypes with clay models and cut-outs which she would give me from time-to-time. You got to remember it was second grade! I played football, basketball and track in middle-school and high-school until my father lost his job in my 10th year of high school. I had to go out and work to help support the family, so there went the sports, but I continued with music. I graduated 38 out of 680 students in high school.
I was an avid reader, and a staunch Ernest Hemingway fan, and often fantasized about the travels and things his characters engaged in which for me, sparked an interest to leave home at an early age. Unfortunately, I think I am beginning to look more like the older Hemingway and should probably enter the annual contest in "Key West."
Looking back, I did serve in Vietnam (Da Nang), and participated in our involvement in several high interest campaigns (like limited work in the Panama and Grenada conflicts) and participated in the first Gulf War (Desert Storm). Subjected to mercury, asbestos, DDT, Agent Orange, and lots of physical abuse (but, at the time ... some of them enjoyable) in desert, water, jungle, winter & POW survival training. Except, for some aircraft incidents (where gravity and ground come together and flesh & bone usually lose), I guess I am lucky to be here today. During my career in the military, I guess I got "banged" up enough that I was medically retired within 22 days (once the decision was made) by the government. You can say I became a financial burden, and off to the Veterans Administration I went which with all that is talked about today in the news, it was barely a little better then. It took me nearly 8 months to get my disability settled and another 3 months to get my retirement started. What did General Douglas MacArthur say ("Old soldiers never die; they just fade away."). So, I faded away from military service and like Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken", I chose to become a teacher which was something I always wanted to do.
My style of teaching is one of storytelling and Socratic discussion. I teach through story telling and use myself, my travels and things I have either done, seen or been part of as a foundation for my lessons. I met a lot of people in my life and shared a lot of memories with them around the world. I wouldn't trade a day of it, or do anything different. Some think my stories are made up, some assume you can't really do all those things, or go to the places I have gone, or meet as many people as I have in my travels, but that is not for me to even care or concern myself as they did happen. As far as I am concerned, it isn't my fault that so many people led so many boring lives. I am who I am and that is all that I am. Okay, I may have quoted Popeye, but you get the point. And yes, the word is I have lots of tattoos. Yes, I have many tattoos. Each tattoo has a special memory and experience associated with it. My right arm has a sleeve which is about Vietnam, my friends who died, and some key stories. Emotionally, it took me 30 years to visit even the moving Vietnam Memorial Wall. It brings to mind many memories which (good and bad), I don't want to forget, as each helped shape who I am today. You are always welcome to sit down and ask me questions.
Although I am constantly reminded of my age, I think I am now the oldest male teacher at West Shore. I do remember a time when we only had 4 television channels (3 networks [ABC, NBC and CBS; and 1 independent]) and the most popular radio stations were AM channels! To own a Japanese 9 volt transistor radio was the rave. And don't forget 78s, 12 inch albums, 45s, 8-Track tapes and cassettes. I have a sequence of music technology on my wall in the classroom and a collage of some photos for those interested to look at (when you are bored). I even remember attaching what looked like a large magnifying glass to our television to see colors on the screen (as bad as it looked too) to simulate a color TV. To make matters worse, my 8th grade science project was a simple calculator the size of a large aquarium and my college computer classes focused on analog and "punch card" technologies. Believe it or not! The more I talk about myself...maybe I did meet a Revolutionary War soldier? They were a simpler time. I remember the milkman, bread man, Fuller brush man and a host of other deliveries to the home. I remember coal delivery to my grandparents house, and blocks of ice for their icebox. Even doctors came for house calls. How long ago was that? For those with doctor parents, ask them if they ever made house calls? Oh, how the times of changed. The point about all this is to link history between my students and historical figures. If you know me, and I met a Civil War soldier (despite doing that as a very young person) than you can see that although it may seem so long ago, it really isn't in respect to history. Don't forget that the last Buffalo Soldier, 1st Sgt. Mark Matthews, died September. 6, 2005 at age 111. He was involved in the hunt for Pancho Villa, a famous Mexican revolutionary and bandit. Frank Buckles, also in terms of history was the last WWI soldier who died on February 28, 2011. Approximately every two minutes (as of August 3, 2014), a memory of World War II – its sights and sounds, its terrors and triumphs – disappears. Yielding to the process of aging, the men and women who fought and won the great conflict are now mostly in their 90s. They are dying quickly – at the rate of approximately 555 a day, according to recent US Veterans Administration figures. So, although it seems so long ago that the milkman, bread man, and others delivered to my parents' house, I guess it is all relative...but, nonetheless, an important point to make about history. It goes by fast! As for my psychology students, I minored in psychology in college, worked in a psychiatric ward (working my way through college), was employed as a hospital administrator with mental health care, and as a leader, worked among many personalities and problems to have gained some insight and experience. And that Civil War soldier, he met someone from the Revolutionary times. The point? History isn't that far away or remote or unimportant.
I left the United States military more than two decades ago now. As I mentioned, I was medically retired from the military as a lieutenant colonel (I went in enlisted, made staff sergeant, got out and went to Officers Training School and went up the ranks) and am a disabled veteran which is why you see the wheel chair icon on my license plate. Of course you know that by my reluctance in walking and my lack of mobility. Every so often you see me with a cane. It helps me get up from a low sitting, or walk on uneven or sloped pavement. It really is never a dull moment.
As I mentioned before, I am well traveled! Although I've never stepped foot on the South Pole (I had a friend do it though), I've been to Greenland, Iceland, flew over the North pole and Egypt (we "buzzed" the pyramids) and been to the continent of Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe and others. I'm not a scientist, nor an engineer, but I've flown and navigated military aircraft around the world, handled and set nuclear weapons, and survived several air crashes, or at least the plane meeting the ground very hard on a couple of occasions. I have fond memories of winter, water, mountain and desert survival training.
I've done so many different jobs and held many diverse occupations? Please ask if you want to discuss any of them! For example, I work several years with Manpower Temporary Services, that I requested as many different types of jobs possible [which one day I sat down and did a quick count - 55 different jobs in just a couple of years], and they [Manpower] were happy to oblige.
I grew up in Youngstown, Ohio during the turbulent, but at times exciting 1960s when everything seemed so chaotic (Vietnam War, Kent State, Woodstock, civil unrest, women's movement, political upheaval, recession after recession, and a surge of advancements in both technology and media coverage). I love music and did what most wanna be musicians did - join a garage band. I went to Woodstock, but wow ... got into a lot of trouble with my parents when I got home. I was supposed to go to San Francisco with older guys I played music with in a psychedelic band, but couldn't do it to my parents again.
I've learned that sometimes life "throws you unexpected curves" and for me my father lost his job when I was 13 years old. He was unemployed nearly 2 years and I worked since I was fourteen (full time at 15 years old). Although I had to limit my high school experiences and postpone my college plans because I needed to work, I wouldn't change any of my life. I met so many fascinating people and visited so many different communities and cultures around the world that I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. In order to go to college I entered the military enlisting a few months before graduating high school. I left for military induction just 6 days after graduating from Fitch High School. I served in Vietnam, Thailand, Korea, Okinawa, Taiwan, Texas, Colorado and New Mexico before I left the military to get a college education. I will admit I grew up rather quickly being only 18, out on my own, hanging out with adults who were in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. You do get to see a different side of the world and for that fact - the many diverse sides of people too!
Unfortunately, anyone who went to Vietnam was impacted to some degree or another in a different way. For me it was an insatiable need to learn, question and travel. I became a jack-of-all-trades, and a master of none, for so many years. When I returned home, it took me nearly five years to earn my undergraduate degree since I worked full-time too. Like many veterans, I had to work through some stress related experiences. In Thailand, I once came home from work to a bungalow I shared with a friend only to find him dead still kneeling on the floor having what looked like having been executed. At least that was what the police had told me later. However, I was very fortunate as for some, they are still working through it day-by-day. That is why I enjoy visiting now the moving Vietnam Wall. It took me 30 years to reconcile myself to revisit those times.
Not counting the several years at Manpower, I I worked in the restaurant industry, military flying, healthcare, and fire protection. Nearly five years after leaving the military the first time, I reentered as a commissioned officer. Voluntarily, I moved about every 12 months to 2 years if not sooner. However, the trade-off was that I was fortunate enough to travel to every state and nearly 30 countries before I reached my 44th birthday with wonderful memories and fantastic life experiences. Unfortunately, I admit the years in the military was costly, having had several severe accidents and injuries, spending nearly 2 years as a patient in several hospitals and eventually medically retiring as a lieutenant colonel. For a while, I was a hospital administrator, but it wasn't fulfilling enough. The pay was great....but, I wanted to work with young people...spend more time with my own children...and I've never been too materialistic in that it would decide what I would like to do in life. So, I figured out I loved to teach throughout my life, and decided to try substituting as a teacher in Brevard County in 1997-1998. I found it was everything I thought it to be and gained my teaching certificate and here I am.
Now retired from the military I am lucky to participate in what I feel is the hardest, most demanding and stressful occupation, yet without a doubt, the most rewarding vocation there is in America - teaching. Having managed a restaurant, been a military commander, flown aircraft, worked with nuclear energy, and even having been a healthcare administrator and experienced many, many temporary jobs, I think teaching is without a doubt the most challenging. I challenge anyone to change direction in their lives, step in and teach children. Try it! You'll love it. And if you hear someone mention that "those who can't; teach," you need to send them my way, okay?
As I mentioned, this will be my 21st year of teaching, having spent my first two years teaching in the Catholic school (Our Lady of Lourdes in near downtown, Melbourne) system before coming to West Shore in 2000. Before West Shore, I taught 5th through 8th Grade Social Studies (World Cultures, World History, US History, and World Geography), Language Arts, Intro to Spanish and history of religion. For the past twelve years at West Shore, I taught 7th grade World Cultures, 8th Grade US History 10th Grade American History, general psychology and sociology. Most recently (the last 9 years), I've been teaching AP Psychology and AP US History.
I bring a lot of stories to the classroom for both (APUSH & AP PSYCHOLOGY), use myself as an example (both good and bad), and I teach to help students learn why and how we evolved as a nation and more importantly, the state of mind we share not only in America, but globally. In psychology, I like to teach content, but bring application to it for the student. We do lots of demonstrations, applications, and really get to ourselves.
If you have any questions about my travels and experiences - just ask!
I'm married to the former Barbara Lawson, Youngstown, Ohio and we have three children (Sarah, Matthew, and Allison). Oh yes, and our two Australian Shepards, Maks & Mika, who are now 7 years old. After the death of our first Australian Shepard - Quesdilla, who died at 17 1/2 years, almost 7 years ago, the house was empty. So, I got two more. Although the memory of Quesdilla, will always be there for me. She (dog) was an interesting story as we found her in the desert as I was cross country running and she nearly became dinner for a pack of coyotes. Taken to the dog pound (animal shelter), we later debated not leaving her there as we ate Quesadillas at a restaurant, in California's Mojave Desert. Yes, it became her name. KC for short. We had to perform emergency surgery on her using needle & thread, masking tape and clear plastic wrap. And she survived!
TRAVEL:
America: I've been to all 50 states, Guam, Wake Island, Midway, Puerto Rico, and the American Virgin Islands. I've lived (more than 1 year) in Texas, California (Northern & Southern), Ohio, Colorado, New Mexico and Florida.
World: I've lived (more than one year) in Viet Nam, Taiwan, England, Thailand, Okinawa, Japan, and six months in Turkey, Iceland and Germany. I've traveled to 40+ countries throughout my adult life, covering all the major continents, except the poles, but I did visit two cities in Greenland and flew above the North Pole once. Now I like to cruise and visit as many island nations as possible.
EDUCATION (Degree): Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio (Criminal Justice and Sociology); BS (1979) with minors in History and Psychology; and Golden Gate University, San Francisco, MBA (1987)
EDUCATION: (at least 18 months coursework): McGeorge School of Law (1984 - 1986), University of the Pacific, and East Texas State University (1981 - 1982), Fort Worth, Texas. I had to withdraw from law school after being in an accident which left me in a 3/4 length body cast for nearly one year. I think it was called a Hip Spica cast. What money I had left I chose to get an MBA degree. It's what makes life so interesting as it is filled with so many "twists and turns."
OCCUPATIONS: The best way to express this would be a "Jack-of-all-Trades" from A to Z. Best job: Teaching! Worst Job: Working for a company too "financially strapped" to buy a plastic cutting machine. I would have to spend the day breaking 4-inch squares of plastic into four 1-inch smaller pieces by bending and ripping by hand under an authoritarian foreman.
Oh, a few last remarks! I remember NO McDonalds and when they opened, they were tracking hamburgers sold in the hundreds of thousands. Also, the cheapest gas I ever bought was during a "gas war" and bought it for 12 cents/gallon. And I still remember when my father wanted to change TV channels, I had to climb on the roof and physically move the antenna. A TV remote was having to lay next to the TV and change channels yourself. Yes, the "Good Old Days" when you dared put aluminum foil on your TV's rabbit ears to get better reception AND when America nearly produced, manufactured or made almost everything we needed.
Who am I - just nothing special, but only me - a traveler and storyteller.