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Since 1988, hmm... okay, here goes! In the fall of 1988 I went off to NIU! I received my B.S. in Education (physical education) in 1992. After graduation, I decided to stay at NIU and work on a masters degree in adapted physical education. I was a graduate assistant, so I taught a few physical education classes on campus & at a school for kids with multiple disabilities. My assistantship lasted two years, but I didn't complete the program for awhile. I left campus in 1994 & began my teaching career. It took me forever to finish that masters program because my thesis was a pain, to say the least! Also, around that time my dad passed away & I shut down for awhile. :-( With lots of encouragement from my advisor at NIU, I finished the thesis & had it published in Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly. I finally received my M.S. in Education in December, 1998. In the fall of 1994, I began my teaching career at Morton. I subbed for 1 quarter & then they hired me as a 3/5 teacher for 1 quarter. Then I got a call from my advisor at NIU telling me that an organization in Arlington Heights (NSSEO) was looking for a part time adapted physical education teacher. That worked out well because Morton didn't need me as a teacher anymore & I was going to have to go back to subbing (plus a few of my former teachers that I was working with advised me to run fast & far). Somewhere around that time I decided to take a few more classes at NIU & get an endorsement to teach driver education. Which again, timing worked out well because at the end of the school year, NSSEO decided they didn't need me as a part time adapted physical education teacher anymore. But they did need a full time driver education teacher. I thought okay, it's a job, I'll take it. What a job it turned out to be, teaching kids with learning disabilities & behavioral disorders how to drive! At least I had a brake on my side of the car! After surviving 5 years of that, I had the opportunity to be hired by Arlington Heights District 214 (it's an awesome district)! But, I was still teaching in their alternative schools (FVAS, Nipper, & Vanguard); more LD & BD kids! After teaching the alternative kids for 5 years, I had the ability to apply for a transfer to a mainstream building. Now I teach first semester at Prospect HS & second semester at Hersey HS. Teaching in 214 opened up some coaching opportunities for me. I'm an assistant badminton coach at Rolling Meadows. I was also an assistant boys swim coach at Elk Grove for a few years, but I've given that up. I really didn't like practicing during Thanksgiving & winter breaks, I'd much rather have the opportunity to go on vacation! Besides teaching, I also went back to NIU (again) part time. I received a MS in Engineering in the area of Safety last year (Aug. 2007)! So that's it, that was the story of my professional career. Besides going to school & teaching, I've had a few other side jobs over the years. My favorite side job was working summers, weekends, & breaks at Juke Box Sport Center (aka - Juke Box Saturday Night). I wore a few hats at Juke Box; cocktail / bikini waitress, shot girl, bartender, volleyball referee. I met lots of my best friends there (kinda like a new family) & they changed my life forever!! Unfortunately, due to the death of our boss (the owner), Juke Box was closed. The friends I met there will always be a big part of my life!! Even though they always wondered how I got mixed up in their crowd; professional life & bar life (kind of like I was living a dual life)!! But it was fun!! As far as my personal life goes. I've had many long term boyfriends, but never took the next step. So many of my friends have been married & divorced so many times, I just don't see the point. I don't really have the desire for kids, my nieces & nephews are great. I have my own house in Lindenhurst, IL (near Gurnee Mills). My current boyfriend & I have been together for 3 1/2 years & things are great! We've had many good times together (& I guess a few bad). A year ago (for my 37th birthday), he helped me to fulfill my desire to jump out of an airplane (what a guy)!!! It was too cool for words to explain! I'm not sure why, but I've always been interested in sky diving & would like to do more of it. I also enjoy having most of my summers off, I usually teach 1 summer semester of driver education. Beside that, I like to relax in the sun; fishing, swimming, & boating (I have a waverunner)! In the winter, I enjoy downhill skiing & snowmobiling (I bought 2 snowmobiles 2 year ago)! I also enjoy hanging out with friends & family! Lastly, I like to vacation. Mexico is one of my favorite destinations; mainly Puerto Vallarta, but Cabo San Lucas is a close second! In the states, I like Florida (South Beach & Key West) & Nevada (Las Vegas)! Last summer, on a trip with some girlfriends to South Beach, I got certified to scuba dive! It was awesome! That was something I've wanted to do forever, but was just to lazy to do! Eventually I'd like to go elsewhere, maybe Germany or Ireland or I don't know. Well, I feel like I've come close to writing a book. I'm bored with typing, so that's all I've got to say!!
