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Sharp as an arrow: my high school experience 

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When I was in school, I would have described myself as a good student. Now that I am a teacher, I realize I was an excellent one!

I didn't really think much about motivating myself to do the best I could academically, I just assumed everyone was working his or her butt off as much as I was. Now I realize they weren't. I do regret not doing more social activities, but I was always busy with afterschool activities, working or doing homework.

I did make the Honor Roll Award for making it on Honor Roll five or more times, and I was fortunate enough to be inducted into National Honor Society. Best of all, my grades were strong enough to get me into college. 

    Serving as editor in chief of the Panorama

 I took an interest in journalism my sophomore year. I had already been reporting for the FFA, but I wanted to get more involved. I'll admit I was upset that I did not earn the editor in chief position my junior year, but did take it my senior year. It wasn't easy working with only eight members on staff, but my adviser Geoff Stevenson, and I made it through the year.

I wrote the Monk's Minutes, a column on moral issues, wrote the editorials, often wrote the news as well as designed and laid out the pages.

Ironically, I remember looking at the Arlingtonian and telling my staff at the time that I wanted our paper to look like it. I can't believe I would one day be the adviser of Arlingtonian! 

The absolute best experience I had in high school was working with Dave Snyder in the Vocational Agriculture program. Though my best friend Rick and I had been told by guidance not to take the class because "you are college-prep material", we both were wise enough to be defiant!

The class was more than just learning about crops and animals; it was about learning about others and yourself.

Without the FFA, I would not have ever been up to the challenges I face today, nor would I even have the job I have today.

Dave Snyder was such an inspiration to me, I decided to become a teacher so I could be just like him. He taught me how to succeed and how to have self-esteem.

I competed fairly often in the FFA, competing in six different categories, holding two offices and earning several chapter awards. During my tenure, I received . . .

• a third place in the District Reporter's competition 
• a first place in the District Job Application contest 
• a first place in an Agronomy invitational 
• a second place in an Agronomy invitational 
• a second place in the district Agronomy contest 
• an eighth place in the state Agronomy contest 
• three first places in the county Extemporaneous speaking contests 
• two second places and a first place in District Extemporaneous speaking contests 
• a state runner up in Extemporaneous speaking 
• second place state team in Parliamentary Procedure 
• three first places in Invitational Milk and Dairy Foods contest 
• a sixth, a seventh, and a ninth in Invitational Milk and Dairy Foods contest 
• a first in the district Milk and Dairy Foods contest 
• a first individual in the State Milk and Dairy Foods contest 
• member of the first place State Milk and Dairy Foods team 
• member of the second place National Milk and Dairy Foods team 
• fourth place individual National Milk and Dairy Foods contest 
• served as the chapter's reporter 
• deferred the bid for president and served as the Vice president 
• earned my State Farmer degree 
• received the Star GreenHand award 
• received the Star Sophomore award 
• received the Star Chapter Farmer award 

Outside of competing, I enjoyed hayrides, hog roasts, Tractor Day, workshop pranks and horseplay. I also spent numerous weeks at the fair or at FFA Camp.

No one could ever understand how much influence Dave Snyder has had on his students. I, for one, am forever grateful. 

 

The Dairy Foods team even made the cover of the school paper. (I know it was a conflict of interest, but Ashland High School has never placed second in a national competition before. . . )

   My involvement in the Farm Bureau Youth

I also was actively involved in the Farm Bureau Youth. We held meetings and went to a lot of square dances. We learned about cooperative training, safety and about agricultural leadership.

I also attended State School through the FBY which was a weeklong "camp" for FBY.

The most fun I had was pranking my Farm Bureau Youth adviser. One particular incident that I always relish is the night Joan thought we could roll our organizational director. She provided the toilet paper and then my car load circled back and rolled her. It was a blast! Of course, Joan got revenge later, as pictured. 

I was in a couple of 4-H clubs in my time. I mainly did projects dealing with photography, small engines or furniture restoration. I may have also did one project on raising goats. 

After our three billy goats gruff jumped on top of Dad's Chrysler Cordoba, where chased off, ran around the house and jumped back up on the car, it was no more goats, no more 4-H goat projects! (To this day, I have never seen anyone swing a broom faster than my dad!) 

While I attempted to run the miniscule youth group at the church and I spoke my first sermons at "the little church in the country", my most positive experiences through Reedsburg did not even occur on site.

I really enjoyed my time spent at Camp Otyokwah. Whether it was the Bible lessons or the camp outings, Otyokwah offered the perfect match for the occasion. It was here that I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior at the age of 8.

The place had such a profound effect on me and my first major decision that I decided to make my second largest commitment, marriage, from the very same Vesper Hill.