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Opened Up a Whole New World
During that time I discovered East Central College, what a lifesaver. Founded 40 years ago, ECC gave me the opportunity to have my own identity, to build my confidence by taking a class at a time and become involved in a hobby I loved - theater.
I have to laugh when I think back to those days, taking classes like literature of fantasy, English comp I, Shakespeare, and fiction. Eventually, I ran out of English classes and signed up for music appreciation and ballet.
That sparked a memorable conversation - Spark asking me what I was working toward, what did I want to do? I had no idea. Though it was frustrating, I leaned on ECC to show me the way.
Somewhere along the line I also began singing with the ECC chorus, led by longtime instructor Carl Walker. Auditions were held for "Carousel," the first musical held on the ECC campus. I auditioned and got a chorus part. That show and countless others were directed by John Anglin. When it came to musicals, Carl and John were an incredible team who turned out professional productions.
My history at ECC went on and on. I don't have my college transcript handy, but I believe it took me 13 years to earn my Associate of Arts degree. That's not something I'm ashamed of because I got the best education possible at our community college.
Instructors Made An Impact
In Joy Davis Cupp's American history class, my pen nearly ran dry, but her lectures were fascinating. And once I enrolled in Bob Harvey's American lit classes, I could better understand how the literature and history of our country intertwined.
Bob Mahon stressed the sin of being wordy with his red pen. The "B" he gave me on my research paper ticked me off, but on a recent reread, I can understand why.
Thanks to the numbers guy, Ron Beeler, I climbed from basement math to college algebra, with lots of coaching from Chris Manhart in the math lab. Finally I was ready for my nemesis, college algebra. Without the patient help Brian Hickey offered, I'd have never made it through that class, been handed a diploma and the honor of going on to get my Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Fontbonne College, with certification to teach middle and secondary school.
Back to ECC
Two years after I started at Fontbonne, I graduated and my teenage daughters, my parents and Spark attended the ceremony. They were proud - I was too. But my joy was short-lived. There were no teaching jobs at any of the local high schools. That's when my English mentor, the late Bob Harvey, offered me an opportunity I couldn't pass up.
There was an opening in the ECC writing lab, a manager was needed to oversee the little room where students came to get help with their writing, a lab where I'd worked part time while I was a student.
And so I went back to the institution on the hill, back to where I'd started, and worked with students fresh out of high school and nontraditional students like myself who had no idea where their lives were headed.
Writing this column, I'm reminded of something I heard or read, but can't remember where. When our nation was formed, it's considered miraculous that so many great Americans were all living at the same time. Each brought their intelligence to the table and worked together to lay the groundwork for our country.
When ECC was founded, it's astounding how many learned instructors and staff came together, individuals with a common goal, to create a community college we can all be proud of.
Mission accomplished - congratulations, ECC.
