Jim Chandler:  

I can honestly say that my six and a half years at Jefferson High were the best of my life. After graduating "Best All-Around" (its just a state of mind, after all), I've endeavored in every respect to live up to all the expectations. After leaving TJHS, I took a year off to travel around Annandale, and I came back to Alexandria with a broadened perspective and a renewed sense of purpose. Applying at numerous colleges, you can only imagine my joy when I was accepted for a class at NOVA (Photography 101). When I finally finished this undergraduate study, I had no idea what a significant impact it would have on my life. The knowledge I gained in that class, and the relationships I forged, provided a foundation for my future. Sure, I've had my share of ups and downs, but no one can take that achievement away from me, and I've always been thankful for that foundation. Unsure of my career path, I accepted a position with a Fortune 500 company. I wanted to learn the business from the ground up, so I started as a cashier. The experience proved invaluable as I fought my way up to Front-End Manager within the short span of ten years. In retrospect, given such a meteoric rise, I suppose the burnout was to be expected. By 1986, I was used up and spent, and all the late hours had led me to divorce. (Donna, if you're out there, I'm still waiting for that entertainment center I bought during our honeymoon in Manassas. I know particle board is heavy, but that's no excuse.) I'm not sure what precipitous turn my life might have taken at that point, had I not chanced upon the "competency test" at the Computer Learning Center. I mean, what's "competency" anyway? Its a nebulous term, at best. ...Expand for more