I went to Douglas County Christian School for K-3rd, and then my Mom home schooled me through 7th.  I was itching to go to public school, and we all agreed the time was right.  The reason we decided to home school in the first place, was because I was an incredibly shy child, and home schooling would offer a forum for me to grow past that.  Sure enough it did. 

 

One year after summer camp, I just came right out of that shell, burst out as a matter of fact.  So I went to 8th and 9th grade at Central Jr. High, the same as my dad.  In fact, his old coach was now my principal.  During my time as a Mustang, I was a section leader in the choir Excalibur, participated in Theater, and was on student council, a cheerleader, and honor student. (Pardon if it seems that I am a little miss braggs a lot, but after all this is my website, and I warned you going into this that I need to feel important)

 

I then went to Lawrence High School.  At the time it was the only high school in Lawrence, and it was right across the street from my house.  Lucky me.  Since it was the only one, my graduating class was around 800.  While I was a Chesty Lion, I participated in Choir, Theatre, Cheerleading, and Peer counseling, volunteered at Headquarters counseling center, and again, was an honor student.

 

High school felt long.  I spent the last two years desperately wanting to move on and grow up.  Don't know why I was in such a hurry.  But my whole life I was in a hurry to grow up.  Now I regret that, I wish I would have savored my young years more.  Oh well, too late now, I'm all grown up.

 

One night my senior year, I was driving through Burger King, and decided to attend Emporia State University, studying Theatre.  Sure enough that's what I did.  My friends threw me one hell of a going away party (even though I was only going 70 miles away), and I moved to Emporia. 

 

The first two years were rough.  Come to find out I wasn't all that good at Theatre.  I had a hard time making friends, and went through my first brake-up that I didn't initiate.  But I was determined to get on that Bruder stage before I graduated.

Shortly after the detrimental break-up, I met Larry.  Two weeks later we moved in together.  Both of us fresh out of a relationship, we were determined not to fall in love; in fact Larry didn't believe it existed.  

 

That next semester, I was blessed to get the role of Li'l Bit in How I Learned To Drive.  This show was the first for a student organized theatre company called the Independent Free Form Theatre (IF).  The show was directed by Kyle Land, who soon became one of my dearest friends.  The show was wonderful.  And it changed the course of my fate in ESU theater.

 

The next year I was cast in The Diary of Anne Frank, on the Bruder stage.  This was the first of several shows I did on that stage.  And I loved every minute of it. By the end of my time as a Hornet, I grew to be successful in a department that had wanted nothing to do with me earlier.  And I developed a group of friends that will forever be a part of my family. 

 

Larry and I continued to "not love each other" for the rest of my three years of school.  After graduating (which was one of the best times of my life), I moved back home and we broke up as planned.  At the end of the summer, before I moved to CA, Larry asked me if I wanted to get married.  I said "what?"  He said "Let's get married."  After some thought, I decided that I really really wanted to marry him.  My parents were pretty much floored.  For a long time I thought they weren't happy for me, later I realized they were just in shock.

 

Now we are married, living in CA, and very happy.  I am trying to start an interior decorating business.  I am working pro bono right now to build up a portfolio. Then I will start trying to make a legitimate business.  With employees and everything.  Other than that, I am just enjoying this city, and being married, and trying to get established so we can begin the next phase of our lives.