E. Ann Fitzgerald:
CLASS OF 1982
Irvin High SchoolClass of 1982
El paso, TX
El Paso Community CollegeClass of 1993
El paso, TX
E. Ann's Story
Life
Since graduating from high school, I've attended UTEP and EPCC. I did get my AAS(Associates of Applied Science) Degree in PPHI(Paraprofessional for the Hearing Impaired); now known as the Sign Language of Interpreters Program, for the Heaaring Impaired. I haven't yet earned my certification, but that is still my goal. Maybe even become a teacher and work with Hearing Impaired students.
I did go on with my education, towards teaching and after earning the AAS degree, but wasn't able to finish the Bachelors Degree. I found myself taking care of my parents, more and more each year. For awhile there, I even was doing some odd jobs around the house that my father had always done. When he wasn't able to work, for about 2 years, that's when I took over. Later, he was better, but my mom ended up sick.
I became a home caretaker for my mom, especially, when she was diagnosed with Alzhiemer's, in 1997. A year later, she had a stroke and my life became devoted to her. It wasn't always easy, becoming a parent to my mom, and I did have some help with her. Unfortunately, I lost my dad first, in 1999, unexpectedly. My mom ended up in a nursing home, 2 months later, and died in 2001.
I was living in the same house until my mom went into the home. I found myself living with relatives at first and later with my common law husband. Mark and I don't have any children of our own. The closest thing is our cat, Tinker Bell. There aren't any wedding bells planned for us at the moment. (We have been together since 2000.) I have been living in different parts of El Paso. Now, we're in the central part of the city, near Austin High School.
School
I had met a special guy, who I didn't realize that I would have some feelings for, until after I graduated. I had met him after joining the House of Reps. I joined after I had lost a brother and was talked into joining by some special friends. (Thank you Brenda, Jane, and Lisa.) Over the years, I have found myself looking at his Senior picture. What an incredible smile he has. I was too shy to tell him when I had the chance, at my 10th year reunion. (I also had been through some terrible relationships and was uneasy starting a new one.) I was given another chance the day, at the picnic, but chickened out. I just hope that whatever has happened to Bill, has been good.
*(By the way...Expand for more
, if given another chance to tell him came along, I'd take it. No matter what happens.)
College
I definately had some fun times, and not enjoyable times, with a group of friends that I hung around. Some of the guys came up with a name for our "fraternity", but it never became official at UTEP.
When I was going to EPCC, to earn the AAS degree, I met some very interesting people there. Some I have gotten to work with over the years. I had joined the Sign Language Club as well as EPRID (El Paso Registry for the Deaf). Afer graduation, I was elected treasurer for EPRID.
I have attempted to go back to school, and earn my Bachelor's Degree. I'm almost done. I don't know when, but eventually I will earn a Bachelor's.
Workplace
I have done the fast food stint, as well as worked at the Girl Scout Camp (Camp Tall Pines) for several summers. I did enjoy working at the camp. Working in the great outdoors. I've done some office work; not that enjoyable for me. I even had an auditing job, for a local inventory company. During that job I came to realize just how much I hated ladders. Climbing them is one thing, but taking inventory, while sitting on a very tall ladder, isn't for me. The pay was good, but the hours were crazy sometimes.
The most challenging, but memoriable, was taking care of my parents. I didn't get much time to myself, but I wouldn't trade the time I spent with them.
Today, I'm a substitute teacher for EPISD. I get to go to my old stomping grounds, which sometimes is weird. I'm kept pretty busy subbing for Deaf Ed. Teachers at Hillside Elementary, Ross Middle School, and Burgess. Since I know ASL(American Sign Language), I get called quite often. The students are actually taught SEE (Signing Exact English) in school, but use ASL out of the classrooms. The grade levels I work with are actually PreK through high school. Not all subjects though. Sometimes the Deaf Ed. kids can be a real pain, but when I'm away from them, for awhile, I miss being around them. I've been told, in a good way, that I must be crazy for coming back; to sub for the elementary kids at Hillside. I know that I am. (I got the "teaching bug" from my paternal grandmother.)
Military
I have never joined, or attempted to join, any branch of the military. I've dated a few soldiers.
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