Mary Hoagland:  

Life I graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in December 1989 with an associate degree in clinical laboratory science and in December of 1995, I graduated with a bachelor's degree in the same field of study. I'm employed with Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center in Danville, Kentucky where I have worked in their medical laboratory for 18 years. School There were a few fond memories. Freshman Year: Going to the basketball homecoming dance with John K. and him presenting me with a red rose, which I still have by-the-way, pressed in a book. He gave me the rose at the dance. It was supposed to be a surprise, but thanks to the junior varisty cheerleaders not being able to keep a secret, I knew beforehand. Thus, I had to "act" surprised when John gave me the rose. I gave him a hug to the accompaniment of "ahhhs", "ohhhhs" and "that's so sweet". I turned around and there was a group of cheerleaders and their dates watching the whole thing. Quite embarassing! I, also, went to my first prom that year....with a different guy. Oh, high school loves....they come and go! However, I still hold a fondness for all the guys I dated and always will. Sophomore Year: My most fond memory of that year was tutoring Susan E. in Shakespeare. Susan was struggling with it, but the whole time I was helping her, I could tell she knew the subject. She was just putting up a "mental wall". She and I had Mrs. Duggins' Honors English class, second period, and each morning, before class, we would have a cram session. Mrs. Duggins would assign us a section of one of Shakespeare's plays and then give us a quiz over that section. Thus, I would help Susan interpret the section and I would quiz "her" until the time of Mrs. Duggins' quiz. I'm happy to say that Susan made it through Shakespeare and I was very proud of her at the end. I knew it was in her. We just had to break down the wall. Susan, if you should ever read this, "Thanks for the memories!". I had a blast, but I'm sure you didn't. ;) Junior Year: Okay, this year was my worst year! I had problems going on in my personal life and at home, that carried over into my school life. This was really not a good year for me and if they ever invent a time machine, I would go back to this year and fix some things. I wouldn't be able to fix all of it, but some parts of it would, definitely, get fixed! I just shudder when I think about my Junior year! However, there was one bright side. I made All-State Chorus, for the first time that year. I was a nervous wreck, during the auditions, and the judges looked very stoned-faced afterwards. I really didn't have my hopes up. A few days later, Mrs. Terry pulled me into her office and told me that out of the 38 altos that auditioned in our region, I had the highest score (98). It didn't hit me as to what that meant, because the All-State committee could only take a certain percentage of people from each section (alto, soprano, tenor, bass). Mrs. Terry looked me in the eyes and said, "Mary Beth, your score is an automatic entry into All-State!". After I picked my jaw up off of the floor, I was the happiest I had ever been that year. The All-State experience was awesome and I feel very honored to have had the opportunity to sing in such a magnificent choir. The only other "school" memory I have of my Junior year is an embarassing one. It was Christmas and I had a Santa Claus lapel pin that played "Jingle Bells". Well, I'm sitting in Chemistry II class and Mr. Long is giving a lecture. I had to turn away from my desk, in order to see what Mr. Long was writing on the board. Thus, I had my notebooks in my lap. I raised one of the notebooks to my chest, to make more room for my other books. The notebook hit that Santa Cl...Expand for more