Rick Johnson:
CLASS OF 1994
Big Bear High SchoolClass of 1994
Big bear lake, CA
Yucaipa Junior High SchoolClass of 1990
Yucaipa, CA
Big Bear Middle SchoolClass of 1990
Big bear lake, CA
Calimesa Elementary SchoolClass of 1987
Yucaipa, CA
Valley Elementary SchoolClass of 1987
Yucaipa, CA
Rick's Story
Life
Living in Arizona since 2004 with my wife (Beth "Adamson", 1996) and two of our girls. My oldest is out on her own now!
Since HS, I went to Crafton Hills and lived in Mentone. I graduated in 1997 majoring in Computer Science. In 1998, I moved to the SF Bay area in pursuit of love and a job, but decided that I missed "home" too much, and came back a year later. I ended up in Orange County, Shortly after returning to OC, I was reunited online through a mutual high school friend with my old high school friend and crush, Beth Adamson. We knew that we were meant to spend our lives together, along with her (at the time) 3-year-old daughter, Alissa. We became one family at our wedding on June 25, 2000. We bought our first home together in March, 2001. Kaylee Suzanne arrived to our family on May 22, 2001 and has made a wonderful addition. In October 2004, we moved to Surprise, Arizona to live with her parents while our own house was being completed (which was August, 2005). In January 2005, I started a job with a small development firm, Pulver Technologies, which was acquired by Amazon.com in mid-March 2005. In 2007, I earned my Private Pilot Certificate (license), and love to fly when time and money permit. December 2008, Zoe Danielle joined our family.
Fast forward a few years and Alissa is out on her own working and going to school. Kaylee and Zoe are competitive All-star Cheerleaders. I'm still with Amazon, but also do photography on the side (mostly cheer portraits and action shots) via rickjphoto.com.
School
I think the teacher that allowed me to grow the most in my current direction was Mrs. Rowe. If it wasn't for the freedom to explore and grow in her classroom as far as helping to maintain the oodles of computers and technology in that classroom, I probably wouldn't have gotten the start that I did.
Some other good memories would be the AP Bio Catalina trip, and other Science Field Club trips (Mitchel Caverns and Laine Ramsey's makeup tent, Sea World, etc.), and even the Academic Decathalon wasn't so bad though the early mornings were brutal. My senior year in general was probably the best as I seemed to come out of my shell a bit more. My height was less of an issue with others (though my perverted sense of humor still got wierd looks..), and most everyone in general began to accept me for who I was.
As for crushes, I probably had crushes on most of the "popular/smart" girls in my Honor's classes at one point or another - but the one that lasted the longest was probably Colby Alexander - sorry Colby. I never came clean about it though - I was always too shy and afraid of rejection, and I had a tendancy to set my sights on people who I thought were unattainable to me. By my senior year, however, I think I had moved on a bit when my friendship with Beth grew a bit more. Her and I didn't "happen" until much later in life, but my interest was there.
As for doing it all over again, I'd probably try a similar path, but with the knowledge in life I have know which would hopefully allow me to take more initiative and risks, as well as a more chances with "love interests". No true regrets, just curiosity.
College
My college life consisted of 3 years at Crafton Hills before I decided that college just wasn't for me at the time. I couldn't remain committed to an academic path that had little relevance to where I ultimately wanted to be. My side job at the computer lab offered me as much, if not more guidance to my ultimate career path than anything else. Therefore, there were classes I'd end up dropping, or getting a D/F in and having to retake.
I enjoyed working at the lab as it gave me an inside on some of my C&IS classes. I think I went through some though a bit cocky - but Mrs. PQ helped to set that straight with a B in her Visual Basic course - I didn't finish the work, and got the grade I deserved as a result. I only wish, however, that their program offered more admin type classes to help guide me in the direction I ultimately chose. The programming classes helped to reinforce basic skills, however none of the languages (except C) have really been of real practical use in my current career.
Some of the other ...Expand for more
more enjoyed courses were Psychology and Abnormal Psychology - I often thought had I pursued a BS or higher, my "minor" would have been psych. The puzzle of the human computer (mind) is just as interesting as the computers I admin day to day.
As for friends, a few stick out in my mind. Most I met in the lab, however, but some I knew from classes in general. There's Reina, Davina (sp?), sisters Heidi and Holly (I've probably got that wrong, sorry gals), Monica, "Dewitt", and Heather. There were my lab-coworkers I couldn't forget etiher - Judy, Ellen, Scott, Lisa, Jennine (sp?), Pat (from the earlier days), Tony, our boss Ms. Creagh, and anyone else I haven't mentioned :-P
Workplace
Summary: Now work for Amazon.com as a Systems Engineer since 2005.
My job life started at Bear Mountain Ski Resort during my Junior year, where I was a stocket at one of the on-deck BBQ's. I progressed to being a cashier, working mostly at the on-the-hill BBQ's (Pump house, and Powderbowl). At times, I'd cashier, others, I'd be cooking or stocking.
Also during high school, I discovered my true calling with computers - thanks to Mrs. Rowe's photo graphics lab. I continued down this path through various jobs in college including a computer operator at Super Shops, doing freelance computer repair for other college students, and as a Lab Assistant/Computer Tech at Crafton Hills College from '95 to '98.
In the beginning of '98, I decided I was ready for a full time job, and moved to the SF Bay Area to work for Florens Container. I didn't have it too bad - I got to make up my own title and keep somewhat odd hours. However, after a year of long commutes and a high cost of living, reality set in and I discovered that w/o additional education or experience, I really wasn't cut out for Silicon Valley life just yet.
That's when I moved back to SoCal (Orange County), roomed with a child-hood friend in Huntington Beach, and took a job with PBS&J. This job involved maintaining networks in Irvine, Riverside, and San Diego - and yes, involved alot of driving between the three. I stayed with them for about 15 months, until I got the dot-com itch that just had to be scratched.
At that time, through my wife and a college friend, I got a job with XO Communications (then Concentric Networks) as a Systems Administrator. Here I made my transition from Windows NT to Linux systems thanks to some great mentors. Unfortunately, the company had some financial trouble after 9/11 and I was part of a round of layoffs. Was a shame - I loved that job and environment, not to mention the free server and high bandwidth connection.
After XO - I took a job with Medata, Inc. - a medical bill review company as their Linux Systems and Network Administrator. Here I learned to appreciate the real corporate life I once had as with Medata, I experienced the joys of nepotism and a dysfunctional, controlling, micro-managing management team. During my first year, I obtained my Red Hat Certified Engineer certification which has been a nice enhancement to my resume. Although I almost took a job with Disney after 2 1/2 years (thanks to an old friend from XO, but a 120 mile a day commute to Burbank from OC was out of the question), I ended up sticking with Medata for about 3 years, at which point we decided to move to AZ for Beth's health.
After a short contract position with DHL in Scottsdale, AZ, I landed a full time job in the beginning of 2005 with a small web development firm, Pulver Technologies, in Tempe, AZ. I assumed the role of IT Administrator, responsible for Linux and Windows web servers. In March of 2005, we were acquired by Amazon.com, at which time my title became a more "elite" sounding "Systems Engineer". So far, I enjoy this job immensely as we get to keep the small company feel and my odd hours, while having access to much larger corporate resources in Seattle. I did have a 36 mile each way commute from Surprise to Tempe, but it's nothing my 55mpg Prius and good music couldn't handle.
Several roles later, including a stint as an IT manager, I'm back to beign a Systems Engineer as part of a remote team working out of one of Amazon's west Phoenix warehouses or from home.
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