Brenda Lyn Williamson:  

a transfer student from California to Gay Jr. High in Harlingen (I've had to explain the name of the school many times as an adult living outside of Harlingen!). The Latin-Americans didn't know that I understand Spanish quite well and they often spoke "behind my back" in spanish...lol!... joke on you! *wink* *wink* I only knew about California history and geography, etc., and failed the tests regarding Texas, which I knew nothing about except for stories about giant mosquitos which could carry a man off!! I got my first several "C"s, "D"s and "F"s. I thought I was "slow" all of a sudden, even though I was put at the "average" level, and with those who plan to attend college. I had to work extra hard to bring up my grades!!! Ick!!! I hated being in that school! I just didn't seem to fit in very well and was grateful to those who eventually became my closest friends... Maggie Cruz, Jimmy Longoria and David Castillo. I attended Harlingen High School. Made much better grades. Took 2 college classes: English and History in the evening for a couple of semesters, while still in HS. Graduated with a 4.0. I had taken drama (would know my lines 100% offstage just to forget them at 5% while onstage with the curtains drawn and with everyone looking at me and having to be prompted throughout!!!), intermediate/adv. Spanish (only English surname in my group and still got the A's!), and very many business courses in addition to the required courses. I had a difficult time in High School with malicious gossip, but was fortunate to have met MANY NICE people who got to know me better and who made the time there more worthwhile. Thank you for digging deeper! I was a member of the Pep Squad and rarely missed any games. (See my mouth caught in mid-yell in the yearbook....scary!) I also enjoyed doing the UIL Poetry Interpretation competitions in the other schools. My regret is that my shyness had kept me from becoming more active in other school activities which would have enabled me to use or to improve many of my skills and talents. I graduated in 1975 at 17 years old! Leaving home was frightening!!!! College I attended Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. Met Alan, who agreed that if he wanted to date me, that he'd have to devote time to study with me first. David Castillo visited me from Lincoln, Nebraska! Alan and he hit it off as friends, too. I hated to see him leave. Had to leave 3 semesters later with "incompletes" and without my degree (!) due to double pnuemonia that had difficulty clearing up. Told to go on home and try again another time. That was in Nov. l976. Well! Alan came after me from Idaho and married me on Feb. 25, 1977 which put an end to my returning to school.... busy getting pregnant over and over and over and over again!...and placing "parenthood" above "student". Workplace I've worked as a clerk, receptionist/bookkeeper, secretary, and have done sales over the phone (yep, I was one of those pesky pain-in-the-butt people who disturbed you while you were cooking, watching a favorite TV show or game, or while you were in the middle of lovemaking! K? Get over it...lol!) while in my very early years working my way through school, or while as a young mother making extra money. I worked 12 hrs shifts MWF as an attendant & personal trainer in a family gym where I had also done my own training as a competitor-hopeful back in 1984. Eventually I invented my own program for children ages 6-14 and sold the idea to that gym for a summer program. I supervised it for 9 years before I retired from it. Paid good money to have lots and lots of fun teaching kids basic and advanced exercise, health, sports and weightlifting skills. I brought on teen mentors and adults who volunteered their time to teach some of these skills to motivate these kids to eventually join an organization that they can stay with to maintain a much healthier lifestyle throughout their growing years... and hopefully into adulthood. This program also allowed for me to hire my own kids to work with me in the summer so that they can maintain better sleeping and rising schedules, AND attain good work ethics that I instilled at their young age. I hired only kids that I have known for years, or who had fantastic ability to work with children. In 1996 I went to work for a Day-Hab program where I helped disabled adults with various impairments (physical, mental, emotional, social, in any combination thereof) to socialize properly, to emote more effectively and acceptably, taught my own technique of speech therapy, assisted them with fine & gross motor skills, i.e. to walk, exercise to strenthen withered limbs and spirits, etc. Other than motherhood, this has certainly been the most rewarding of jobs. It is a great feeling to daily be of service to someone who truly needs and appreciates and loves you despite yourself. I love it! To KNOW that YOU have made a difference in someone's life that is obvious and useful and helps another achieve positive results that can actually be measured. These feelings are also reflected by my co-workers. Very humbling! This job has meaning. Too bad it doesn't provide better pay. Another bonus is that it was merely 3 minutes driving distance from my Blue Springs home! I've walked it in 15 minutes, up and down the hill I live upon! It was a joy to work with my clients who came in daily from their homes to learn, to play, and to socialize in ways that provide them a better quality of life! It was truly a sad event when I had to leave that day/hab on May 2006. Now my workplace is my home and garden, and where ever anyone needs me to be on days that I am more physically capable of functioning "normally". LOL! (What's normal...hmmm?)