Debra Votaw:
CLASS OF 1974
Freeport Area High SchoolClass of 1974
Freeport, PA
Chatham CollegeClass of 1999
Pittsburgh, PA
H. L. Bourgeois High SchoolClass of 1976
Gray, LA
Debra's Story
Life
I left Freeport High School kicking and screaming! I did not want to leave all my dear friends like Patty Cole, Laurie Macurdy, Cheryl Brant, Patty Roenigk, Denise Golumbesky, etc...and of course...some of you guys that I thought were hot. Some of my best memories were from Freeport. I was with many of you from 6th - 10th grade. I cried many nights over the good friends I left behind.
When my parents moved me to the deep south at age 15(against my will), I went through some major adjustments but did manage to get through the culture shock enough to graduate from high school. Actually, I graduated early that year instead of in May. Perhaps it was senioritis - who knows!
I met some really nice people when I attended high school at
H. L. Bourgeois. Thanks to all of you for being a wonderful source of support. Even though I went through a major culture shock, many of you were instrumental in my personal growth and development. I will always be grateful for this experience. One day, I would like to write my story and try my hand at having it published. I am certain it would be a bigger hit than "The Divine Secrets of the YA - YA Sisterhood."
I even like that I still have a mixed accent and can put on my southern belle side whenever I choose. Thanks to all of you for your support, generosity, and caring ways. I would not have made it through the transition without you. I am a better person because of you.
It is also worth mentioning that Keith, the football player from Terrebonne High School, was very kind to me. Your kindness left a lasting impression on me.
My first job out of high school was working in a bank. I also married one of those southern boys, had 2 wonderful sons, was married for 15+ years (give or take a few for the times I left him and returned), and then legally divorced the southern boy in 1992. I am currently an unmarried and independent woman who lives by the motto, "one ex-husband is enough." I want to get it right the next time around.
I moved back to Pennsylvania in 1986. I went back to school in 1993 and kept my nose in books at college until I was able to look up and find that I had now made it through the pain of divorce, the fading memories of 2 past fiances, and adolescence. I also managed to get three college degrees and completed an additional two year graduate program for teaching certification in PA. I highly recommend this method of self-improvement. It is good to put negative energy into positive activitie...Expand for more
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My sons are now fabulous looking young men in their twenties, and I am very proud of them and their accomplishments. They are my heart. I succeeded in school because of them and for them. I thank them for their loving sacrifices and loving support.
My theme song is "I will survive!"
I am thankful to be employed in Pennsylvania and have begun an interesting career. At present, I do not live in Sarver or Freeport but am just a few miles away.
Email me if you want to know more. I would love to reconnect with you!
School
As you know, I moved away in 1974 and did not graduate from Freeport. However, some of my classmates from Freeport have given me some wonderful memories. It would be great to hear from you!
I was forced to move to the deep south (against my will at age 15) and was exposed to a whole new culture since I lived in bayou country, otherwise known as Houma, Louisiana. This story is too long to tell here; email me and I will offer you my cell phone number so we can chat.
I can say that as my resistance to southern culture subsided, I learned to be somewhat of a southern belle and can now cook some interesting Cajun food!
College
What can I say? My college years were insane! I was a divorced single parent, and I was dating when I was in my thirties while studying, but I managed to get my first degree - an Associate in Science in Business Management.
I wanted to transfer to a four year college that offered small class size and was recruited by Chatham College which is an elite all woman's college located like a beautiful oasis in the middle of the city of Pittsburgh! I felt comfortable there since my experience in the south taught me how to build a support system around myself of strong and intelligent women.
Dr. Helen Faison was and is a saint and was my academic advisor. With her support and the
encouragement of others, I learned that I could achieve anything I set my mind to. I will never forget how she could solve all of my life's problems with a walk down the hall between classes. Her calm and caring ways is something I would like to pass along to others I meet if I could develop this skill; I'm working on it!
With all this support and the support of God and my sons who made personal sacrifices, I was able to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Degree with a minor in Economics, Complete the graduate program for PA Teaching Certification in Comprehensive Social Studies, and a Master of Arts in Teaching Degree.
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Reunions
