Intro

I was born and raised in Sumter, South Carolina where I lived with my mother, father and two brothers.  I attended public school where I participated in a couple of sports and  other activities.  My fondest memory of high school was being told I had been selected to attend college on a football scholarship.  Upon graduating from Sumter High School, I went on to Newberry College (NC) in Newberry, SC.   The years spent at NC were great in that I learned not only book knowledge, but I also gained some life experiences that I didn't realize I had learned until later in my life.  If there would be anything I would change about my college experience it would be my emphasis in my major.  I too discovered I like teaching and I should have followed the teacher tract of my degree.  At the time I was young and inexperienced and just wanted to get over with college and get out into the world.  I graduated from NC with my Bachelors degree and headed out into the world only to find that the world was not as kind as I thought it to be.  I couldn't find employment and I became frustrated.  Upon talking to some family and friends, I decided to enlist in the US Army to gain much needed experience and discipline that I lacked.  My plan was to do the initial four years, get out and move on with my life.  Well my plan didn't quite go the way I planned it to go and I ended up re-enlisting and spent over 20 years in the US Army.  While in the Army, I did and learned quite a few things that have stuck with me.  I attended many military schools during my career, but the one I enjoyed the most was the Instructor Trainer Coures where I learned to teach and train the proper military way.  This gave me an outlet to the part of me that enjoyed teaching.  I have taught in and out of the military for a little more than 20 years.  Since retirement from the military, I held a couple of federal contract jobs that I really enjoyed.  However, due to the Congress's inability to finalize or stabilize the federal budget, I lost these positions and the skills I possess are not marketable here in this area.  I am now here at OTC reinventing myself by pursuing a skill set that will make me marketable in this and many other areas.