My daughter (1 month old) and my son (4 years old)
Springfield School
District 186
1900 West Monroe
Springfield IL 62704
Springfield
Southeast High School
2350 East Ash
Springfield IL 62703
Email: cwatson2@uiuc.edu
I
knew that I wanted to be a Social Studies
teacher when I took American Studies (one period of English linked with
one period of American History) my junior year of high school. I
did not take a very direct route to the goal but ended there
eventually, 10 years later. Thanks to my parents refusal to sign
student loan papers, I decided to attend William Rainey Harper
Community College in Palatine. Turned out to be a great
choice. From Harper I was planning a transfer to Southern
Illinois University Carbondale. That is until I talked to
military recruiters about money for college as a reservist.
Turned out that active duty was more beneficial. Five years later
I did finally make it to SIUC where I graduated with my teaching degree
in Social Studies.
The
five year break from college certainly did
not mean a break from learning. I enlisted in the United States
Marine Corps and had a very successful enlistment. The USMC gave
me the opportunity to live in a number of United States cities,
Belgium, and Germany. While in the USMC I also took advantage of
opportunities to travel while living outside Illinois. I have
visited many States and a number of European countries during those
five short years. Although I enjoyed my time in the Marines (not
all of it), the goal was always to use the Illinois Veterans Grant to
pay for college, and thanks to Uncle Sam, I finished my BS and still
had benefits left over and I am now working on my Masters.