Laurie Haffelfinger:
CLASS OF 1989
Barbers Hill High SchoolClass of 1989
Mont belvieu, TX
Lee CollegeClass of 1991
Baytown, TX
University of Texas Class of 1990
Austin, TX
Cedar Bayou Junior High SchoolClass of 1985
Baytown, TX
Laurie's Story
Life
After high school, I went to Lee College, then to UT for a year, and then graduated from UHCL. I worked in the conservation field as a publications editor for several years. I got married in 1997 to a hometown guy named Clint. We have three kids (daughter Austin, 9 and sons Erik, 6, and Isaak, 5). When they were babies, I mostly worked part-time or did freelance graphic design and desktop publishing. In the fall of 2005, I went back to work full-time as communications director for a nonprofit in Houston that works on air quality issues. Ultimately, I decided that wasn't the best fit for me, and I decided to pursue my teaching certificate. I landed a job teaching journalism, and so far, I am really enjoying it. We live in Baytown. My husband is a systems administrator, and plays in a band on the side.
School
I'm not very nostalgic about high school, and just a little about college! All in all I would say I had a good high school experience, but those teenage years are just not something I miss.
My favorite teacher (other than my mom, who got me into journalism and thus my career) was Mr. Dean. Math was always more of a struggle for me than other subjects, so when I had a math teacher who really made things click for me, it was special.
Fun moments: working in the dark room, pasting up the school paper, school dances (LOL), play practice.
College
Mmmmm, college. Now that was a fun time! At Lee College, I made some great friends in journalism who talked me into getting a job at Casa Ole (John and Jeff, primarily). That was much fun... we'd go to school together, work together and then party together afterwards. I remember one particularly late party at my house when we all had to get up early the next morning for a staff meeting. Ugh.
And what can I say about UT...Expand for more
? Austin is my town, still. I love it, and culturally, I felt so at home. But school-wise, what a shocker. I went from small classes and a structured schedule to large classes and teachers who didn't seem to notice when you didn't show up or if you slept through class (both of which I did.) The first semester I was in a girls dorm. My roomate's name was Jana, and we got along pretty well, but it was Katherine Sister from down the hall who I really clicked with. We spent many a Thursday night at Double Dave's drinking Shiner Bock. My second semester I lived in an apartment with Stacey Ricketson, and we got along great. Some of my best memories are of speeding down the curvy roads on the way to Sandy Creek Park on Lake Travis, of working out in the gym at the apartments, and of that crazy Halloween night when we were all dressed up with no place to go but HEB... LOL.
After one year at UT, I ended up back home, working part-time and attending UHCL. I put my nose to the grindstone and finished up, graduating in August 1993.
Workplace
"My work life has been a dream thus far. Before I was even out of college I got a job working for the National Association of Conservation Districts doing a newsletter with a water conservation angle. Being able to pair my interest in writing and communications with my interest in nature and the environment has been awesome. It's hard to imagine doing anything else." - 2004
May 2007 - Well, things do change... right now I am imagining myself doing something different - teaching. I just finished a class to get my certification, and hope to start this fall. I am both nervous and excited about changing careers. Now I just have to find a job!
July 2007 - I got hired as a journalism teacher! I'm very happy and am looking forward to the school year.
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Register for Free to view all yearbooks!
Reunions
Register for Free to start a reunion event!
Photos
