Gwendolyn Aiken:
CLASS OF 1977
Interlochen Arts AcademyClass of 1977
Interlochen, MI
Ohio UniversityClass of 1981
Athens, OH
Ohio University - Fine ArtsClass of 1981
Athens, OH
Atlantic City High SchoolClass of 1977
Atlantic city, NJ
International School of BangkokClass of 1976
Bangkok,
Gwendolyn's Story
1973-1977 IAA/1977-1981 Ohio Univ. Married Dec.31,1981. Dec.7th 1982 Katie,(my one and only)arrived.Last summer 06/13/09 Katie got married. For those who remember what I looked like,here's a near perfect image of Katie...she could easily be Kate Hudsons' stand-in. 5'8", blue eyed and blonde. All Ackermann.Speaking of that name, her father was my old-time and long-time boyfriend from Bangkok-Thomas.21yrs married,now not married. He's re-married. Me? Single.Happily.
Since OU, worked within an eclectic range of jobs & predominantly, because of dance...85% were movement based. I actually taught aerobics for Jack LaLane in San Diego,Ca.(Thomas-Navy)
It was 1982 and the birth of the Aerobic Industry.I was bitten, although for 3 yrs while Thomas went back to upstate NY-complete engineering degree, I taught adult and childrens' ballet classes through the university. 1985-1st job he landed postgrad took us to Wash,D.C. and my formal immersion into the world of aerobics. At the height of my passion and involvement-1988 I was the exercise coordinator for The Skyline Club in Falls Church, Va. I was in charge of 26 instructors and can't remember now how many classes per wk.
I taught about 8-10. The highlight of that time was making your own music mixes.I used all my favorites. Phil Collins was great. The icing on the cake was to go to Los Angeles annually for t...Expand for more
he IDEA conference. I once took a class with 1000 people and met Jane Fonda. She was highlight for most people, I was more excited to go home with whatever was the latest greatest footwear Reebok and Nike gave us to promote.Final tidbit before ending this long story:teaching classes back then w/50+ people following along was a blast.The magic of performing "art" it was not, but it felt lovely.
In 1990 Thomas landed a creampuff position w/ the FAA. It was/is the testing center and that took us right back to So. Jersey-home.
My mother was already teaching and the pressure for me to "get into a real profession of value" became my mission to appease. Took NJ courses/tests ect. and became certified for Elementary Teaching and Special Education. Began teaching in 1993 and in Dec. 2006 made a huge decision.With 2yrs into a Masters Program,gave up tenure, sold my house, and drove across country w/ Muldoon, my english springer to San Antonio,TX.
A sabatical? A time-out? For me, it's geography and much more.
This Friday, 29th, I drive Muldoon up to Austin, Tx for him to hang-out w/ his 2 jack russell buddies and I will fly back to NJ for a week. On Weds.2/3 I will turn 50. An event I wanted to share w/the important circle of women in my family. My aunt is flying from Hawaii. Marty, my sister, was supposed to keep this a secret....: )
And that's my story.
gwen
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