Derek Robertson:
CLASS OF 1985
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Osceola High SchoolClass of 1985
Seminole, FL
Derek's Story
Life
After high school I went to SPJC for a while, but I'd already had too much school, so I quit. They say "While you are going to school, you can't wait to get out and when you're out you can't wait to go back". I can tell you that's true. I have been trying to go back for years, but it just hasn't worked out.
After school, I worked in several dead end jobs, same as while in school, mainly working in a warehouse. I looked hard at the guys that I was working with and saw 60 year old guys carrying 50 lb bags all day and told myself "I am not going to be that guy".
Tried my hand at flea marketing, sports card shows, had a comic and sports card shop (not a very good one and it went out of business after about a year, but not before putting me way in debt. Met a great woman in 1991, got married in '98. Got into the hotel industry as a bellman in 1995. Best move I'd ever done, wish I had done it a lot sooner. Worked my way up to being a General manager in 2001, and been doing it ever since. Gives my power hungry ego all the nourishment that it needs. I had a couple of kids late in life. First one at 39, second one at 41. Wow, what a life change. Overall I'm having a great life. Let me know how yours is doing.
School
Biggest Crush: The girl next to me from 12th grade accounting class. Very hot and very cool. Unfortunately, I was way too shy to talk to almost anyone back then. Oh well, that...Expand for more
's what regrets are for.
DO IT AGAIN?? When I was in high school, I didn't really want to be there. But now I would love to go back and redo it. Of course I would like to retain my current knowledge. Oh well.
Pretty much went to school, went to work, not too much else.
College
Shoulda finished...oh well, you never know what the future will hold.
Workplace
Worked warehousing in high school.
Drove trucks for a while (kinda bad with tickets though)
Sold various items at the flea market
Did sports card shows and then owned a comic book shop
Was a cabana boy for a year (AWESOME)
Bellman at beach hotel
Concierge, front desk, bell captain, front office manager
General Manager of Marriott Fairfield Inn (Did pretty good. Got Regional General Manager of the Year)
General Manager of Marriott SpringHill Suites
Regional Director of Operations (oversaw 10 hotels)
Had my son and decided to go back to managing a hotel. So, back to SpringHill Suites.
Managing a Hilton Garden Inn now. Full service is a lot of work.
Got out of hotels, when I was working 60 hours a week and got canned for BS procedural issues. It all comes down to politics.
Now I am opening a Outreach and Thrift Store in Montgomery, AL. Armpit of the US, but it's home for a while longer. I get back to FL sometimes (mom's still there). Overall life is pretty good.
You're up to date
New update - opening a second thrift store. Woo-Hoo
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Reunions
Photos
![Just Me (with a little less hair)](https://images.classmates.com/pho103/E/t/P/U/147603318_display.jpg)
![imgp0475](https://images.classmates.com/pho118/G/8/L/L/138905872_display.jpg)