Janette Potter:
CLASS OF 1977
South Lyon High SchoolClass of 1977
South lyon, MI
Eastern Michigan UniversityClass of 1985
Ypsilanti, MI
Power Middle SchoolClass of 1975
Farmington, MI
South Lyon Middle SchoolClass of 1973
South lyon, MI
Gill Elementary SchoolClass of 1972
Farmington, MI
Janette's Story
I think High School friends will remember me as quiet and on the fringe of activities, kind of shy, maybe (probably) a little wild toward the end.
I didnt know what I wanted to be when I was in school. I just knew I was going to college. Tried a lot of different studies and ended up doing what I had the most credits in - psychology.
Most of my live I've been tethered to 8 Mile Road from Farmington Township (now Hills) when in elementary school to South Lyon when in Middle and High School to Ferndale and Detroit while going to college and Wixom and now Harper Woods as a married adult. I have branched out some, lived in Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Monroe, worked and lived at Cedar Point Sandusky OH for less than a summer. Lived and worked at Grand Canyon Village, Grand Canyon Arizona several times in my 20's.
Biggest surprise of my life is that I am married and have a child. Really thought I would be a career woman all my life, lonely? and single. Best thing is my child is from Vietnam. My mother wanted to adopt one of the children that came here when Saigon fell. She wasnt able to do that but I can say I honored her by going that route when we decided to adopt.
Adding to life suprises is the smallness of the world. I married a man I met in college, granted, college was only 20 m. from my family home. He had met, and performed with, and lived with, people I knew in high school. I met people he worked with and who were friends of his sister when I had my 1st career position in Monroe. My sister-in-law, who went to high school in Dearborn and graduated from U of M knows people I want to high school with through her job. I find it interesting.
If I could improve my home, well I would remodel the upstairs and the basement, adding bedrooms and living room. I want to adopt more children, older children, who have lost their parents through termination of rights. There are so many kids out there in foster care who need parents and I feel very selfish having only one, but only have physical room for one more at the most.
Mr. Seybold is someone I think I need to see. Algebra in high school almost did me in. I have come a long way but would like to get some closure that no one thing is worth the agony I put myself through.
When we graduated and some of us went to college I took a little of home along. Annette Betley and I roomed together a little over a semester. She was much more disciplined than I was. With the freedom and the opportunities in Ypsi I guess I went a little more wild. Made some good friends I still have today, some have unfortunately passed on. Didnt much like dorm life but coming home after that always felt a little claustrophobic, less indoor area to wander...Expand for more
unless I was at the mall. Started to join a sorority, decided it wasnt for me. Got more into the theatre at Eastern. That is where I met Phil, my husband, in 1980. I was props mistress and he had to move a prop. I have been telling him what to do, when, where and how ever since. We didnt date until our 1st graduation in 1985 and didnt marry until 10 years later than that in 1995.
My 1st school crush never even knew I had a crush on him. We met my 1st year in South Lyon, the last year at Middle School. Another small world story. I was at a group home in Wayne county, south of the Metro Airport. There was a maintanance or remodeler worker there for the day who lived on Sandy Bottom Lake. He was talking about where he lived and his children when I said I was also from South Lyon. Of course by then his son was happily married. Hope he has lots of freckeled red headed grandchildren by now. I dont even remember what his father said he was doing.
One do over? I wouldnt take friendship losses so hard. I've since learned that there are seasons for everything, including friendships, and I would take back anything harsh I said about people who were just taking care of themselves, doing what they found interesting with people who shared their interests. I have had, and still have, so many friends in my life and I hope they are still friends and have at least a few fond memories of our shared friendship.
I'm not sure anything would really surprise anyone. The farthest out things I have done have all been pretty distant past; working at Grand Canyon, being a MENSA groupy for about a year, traveling to Vietman to meet and adopt our son alone. I used to hate being alone, right down to having to walk the hallways at school alone. Now I have traveled around the world and across the US by myself.
My 1st job was in South Lyon. I worked at A and W, which is now Browns. I was a car hop at age 14 y.o. with a girl who left So. Lyon before graduation, Mary Shaffer. Cant remember what I got paid but my highest tip was after spilling a tray of root beer INTO a car.
I like the story wizard. Does give a base for talking about the last 30 years in a more organized way.
So much changes in 30 years and I like to think I am a much better, more interesting, friendly and fun person than I was then. Like a lot of teens back then I was self conscious and shy. Now I am one of the 1st ones to cheer, yell, jump on the dance floor or be silly. Having a child will do that to you if you want to hold their interest sometimes, along with having crazy friends. Cant say i do anything health, exciting, athletic or outdoorsy in a big way but I usually enjoy the life Ive been given and that Ive made.
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Register for Free to view all yearbooks!
Reunions
Register for Free to view all events!