John Collins:
CLASS OF 1987
Norton High SchoolClass of 1987
Norton, MA
John's Story
Updated 12/28/12
Hi! I have left the original below mainly in tact, but have edited it slightly to make sure it is current.
Recent developments: If you have already read below how I previously said I have a tendency to want to join my kids in what they are doing... well here is proof that I'm not making things up!
My son started taking martial arts at age 7, and my daughter and myself 1 1/2 years later. She was very timid and introverted at her young age (hmmm... I wonder where she got that?) and even though she wanted to join badly, she just wouldn't. So, in order to get her to sign up I promised her that if she did it, I would too. Who knew then that 7+ years later the children and I would now own and teach martial arts & self defense at Red Dragon Martial Arts Academy in Walpole (formerly in Foxborough at the Foxfield Plaza) which is one of the two schools that our "Sensei" started. In November of 2012 we re-located the "dojo" to the Iorio Skating Arena in Walpole MA right on Route 1!!! It has been a wonderful journey. We are passionate about the art and thoroughly enjoy what we do! We have students from age 5 to Adult and creating experiences with people is something I still thoroughly enjoy and my children both love just as much! My son is now 15 and a very capable black belt, but a true martial artist in all walks of life. As for my daughter, you'd never know now she was ever timid and shy (again, I dunno where that came from?!) and she just earned her Jr. Black Belt this year! I am blessed to witness how my children have grown into successful, responsible, well adjusted teens with great grades and study habits (DEFINITELY don't know where that came from lol!!!) and lots of friends!
Again, if you've read my original "book" below, you'll recall how I cherished Scott Chancey as a friend and still do even though he is no longer with us. Skit taught me how important it was to stay connected with people. He did it in business, he did it in his personal life, and the two never changed him because he was who he was no matter where he was. I had an opportunity recently to take something I do with passion in my personal life and venture into business with it! The children and I love it, and we can now share with people who are interested in it how the art has made us better people every day. It helps people on so many levels... I won't torture you with it here but if you, a family member or some friends are interested in it, please do look us up and call me!
John (Chico)
Red Dragon Martial Arts Academy
2130 Providence Highway (Route 1)
Walpole, MA 02081
(508) 317 - 8559
____________________________________________________________________________________________
2007
Hi! Those of you who know me are well aware that I DID NOT read the Member's Conduct section of the Terms of Service so I will apologize up front for any "offensive or inappropriate" behavior that follows:
Just kidding, I will behave!
I hope you all are well. Life for me is good! I have two wonderful children, am still as close as ever with my family, and have three great jobs that I look forward to every day! For me, life is all about being able to share what you know while being willing to learn as well, and just love people. If you are lucky enough in life people are ready for that and will be able to let down their guard and just love you back, showing you things too. You can never learn enough in life, or enough about life! Speaking of which... I'm divorced! LMAO! That nasty word will teach you a lot about people well beyond the immediate circle that you think something like that will affect, and I hope it's something nobody else in the world ever has to learn! Honest as it gets, life can be quite a roller coaster at times but whose hasn't?! Life is a balancing act of what is thrown at you, isn't it? The important thing is to embrace it all and keep loving! Those who are capable of loving back will do just that, and you can't take it personally if someone else just doesn't have that in them. Guess I can be a little too much for some, but that's nothing different...Expand for more
for me! I'm still full of energy and don't slow down often or sleep much but I never did! I must be afraid I'll miss something!
Not trying to damper the spirit of this bio but here is what has changed my outlook on life. Most of you that may know me also know/knew my friend Skit. Still many of you were friends with Skit of your own accord. Maybe not as many of you know that he and I were life long friends (since around age 6 1/2.) Not a day goes by that I don't laugh or smile to myself and thank him for having been in my life. His passing several years ago has still affected me more than I ever thought it would at the time and I knew then that it would affect me pretty tremendously. He was always a great friend to me as he was to a lot of people. He showed me that life can be pretty unfair and that's why you need to enjoy it NOW... not later. I used to work too much, and still do but it's different now. I used to leave work, then go to work at another job, then go back to work when that was done. I missed out on a lot! That has all stopped since Skit awakened me. He taught me that while you are busy making plans life is that thing that is happening all around you. That is why I have changed what I do to a great extent. For that and so many other things I thank Skit daily. I had the tremendous honor of delivering his Eulogy the day of his Funeral. I know that I have spoken in front of plenty of crowds before in my life but that was one of the toughest challenges I have ever faced, knowing what I was going through personally having lost him from my life... remembering what his family was going through in their loss... being asked to share my own feelings of loss... finding strength I didn't think I could find... in order to keep someone else from having to do what their eyes told me they just didn't have the strength to do... in order to help keep Skit's legacy alive. All I had to do was share my heart and soul with everyone, share how much good he had brought into my life, how much he had taught me, and how much I appreciated it and still do every single day. I pray every day that I did him justice in trying to describe what he means to me and what I know he meant to so many.
I still have a beautiful relationship with each of my two children where we look each other in the eyes and smiles, giggles, and tears of love and joy just start flowing. We are still connected in the things we do with each other. I have a hard time just watching them do something... I always want to join them and often do! I truly appreciate life more now. There is nothing to complain about. What better than to make it your business to show people what you know if they are interested in it, and do it with people that you love!?!? Skit also had two beautiful children (1 boy & 1 girl.) He and I were fortunate enough to see the kids all playing together often, as we did when we were around their ages, before he passed away. My hope is that my kids and Skit's kids will always have the opportunity to know one another. As the years pass, they haven't seen one another nearly as often, but recently did... life get's busy!
When I am not busy with my children, I do still work a "normal" schedule whereby I am in Sales visiting Auto Dealerships in NE by day. I have bumped into a few of you out there (yayyy Norm! & yayyyy Regina and Tommy even though you're not in the car biz lol!) I have backed off from the restaurant business which I HAD almost invested fully in (woohoooo Bristol Farms crew! Deb, John T., Brad, KOC, Michelle, started it all there) and only play Bartender one night every week at a place in Norwood. I live in Foxborough. In my spare time I am doing research now on my approach to writing books. I now have the method by which I want to write, I just need to make the time to write them. I have a lot to say and nobody has told me to shut up yet! LOL.
Everybody should get to do what they love in life... I truly hope you are as blessed as well!
Well I think that is MORE THAN ENOUGH from me for now... thanks for stopping by! I hope you aren't sorry you did!
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Register for Free to view all yearbooks!
Reunions
Photos
