50-Year-Reunion

Steve French 330 Ashley Lane, Princeton, West Virginia 24740 (304) 960 - 3700 (please leave message) ncscs@yahoo.com

Graduation evening, June 1975, was a very emotional moment in my life. Honestly, there was no joy or reason to celebrate much of anything. For you see, all I had ever known, twelve years of attending public schools, had come to an end. I was lost and felt I had no purpose (if only Bruce Cameron had written and released “ A Dog's Purpose ” back in 1975 … if you haven't read the book and viewed the movie, you must add both to your bucket list). At the close of the next week, I was on a plane to Washington DC to work for the United States Federal Government, Department of State (Henry Kissinger) where I intended to make my fortune and fame. Thus, I began a chapter in my life that was both challenging and exciting for a boy who had never ventured far from home. Was this really what I wanted? I was reminded of the desire of my heart when I was just a child and the prayers I had prayed many years earlier. God remembered those same prayers and He had other plans for my life. Eventually, I found myself lost again. This time, I was in the midst of the hustle and bustle of our national capital and my heart kept beating a rhythm that reminded me “ teach, teach, teach. ” I listened to my heart and I headed home to West Virginia to pursue my childhood dreams. The plane landed at Mercer County airport on Sunday night. Monday morning, I registered for classes at Bluefield State. Classes began the next morning at eight. I completed all the requirements to become a teacher in three years instead of four. I enjoyed my time at Bluefield State because I was with many friends from the previous years of my life. (Flashback: While a student at Bluefield High, I was selected to be a member of the Yearbook staff. At that time, in my mind, the '75 BEAVER was the greatest accomplishment of my life and I shall forever be indebted to Mr. Doug Bourne, “ Daddy Doug, ” for giving me the opportunity to do something that shaped the remainder of my professional and personal life.) During those three years at Bluefield State, I was honored to be the Editor of BLUEPRINT, the college yearbook, for two consecutive years. Thanks to Mr. Bourne, “ that Yearbook thing was alive and strong ” and I was ready to forge ahead! During the next 9 years, I taught for Mercer County Schools. I took night classes and spent my summers at Radford University, living in a dorm and completing requirements for a Master's degree in Educational Media, Technology, & Library Science. My closest friend and comrade was fellow high school classmate Don Poe. Guess who was taking many of the same classes to complete their degree? There she was, Mary Chmara, from our high school days. She and I spent many hours working together to complete research papers in the den of her beautiful home. She was one of the kindest and most gracious ladies I ever met. She instilled in me the true understanding of gratitude!

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