James Stanton:
CLASS OF 1979
Superior High SchoolClass of 1979
Superior, WI
East High SchoolClass of 1979
Madison, WI
James's Story
Life
After being "asked" to leave High School in my senior year, I went to work as a "Ceramic Quality Control Engineer", and later worked my way up to fry cook for a local mom & pop restaurant in Madison. I soon went on to become "Lead Fryer Operations Technician", but unfortunately lost that job after disappearing for a week, in what was later found to be a blur of psilocybin, tequila, and aural self-abuse that involved an oddly talented wood chuck named Dixon, an old Indian Medicine Man, and a stereo with a blown left speaker, (which is why I never made it as a guitarist as I only learned half of the rhythm parts). The Medicine Man still wonders the northern woods of Wisconsin, and Dixon disappeared in a haze of alcohol, though I recently learned of his demise. Anyway, Dixon wrecked a car, and I told the cops I was driving, which kinda upset local law enforcement. Who would have thought theyâÂÂd get so upset, but the ensuing arrest led to me being forced to get my G.E.D., as well as working with the elderly. The latter led to the re-assessment of the Community Services assignments doled out by the local courts system, though those folks seemed have fun and left with a smile. Retreating back to Northern Wisconsin under the guise of helping my Mom out, I returned to my learned profession. There I met the only woman capable of consuming enough alcohol, (without dying), to have sex with me and later bear my two wonderful daughters. In the alcoholic haze that led to these events, I was tricked into moving to a "quaint fishing village", (that's what it said in the brochures), in AmericaâÂÂs Wang. I continued my profession, now to the level of Lead Grill & Fryer Technician. A mid-life crisis, along with encouragement from a great friend, sent me to a local technical college, where I became a Certified Computer Electronics Techni...Expand for more
cian. The financial void left by me working only 1 job, led us to cutting back on our drinking. It was then that my wife and I realized we should've just stayed friends. My divorce started a chain of events that lead me to being a mile high for about nine months. Thanks to a friend, I got a good job with IBM, (no, really!). The end of a contract as well as missing my daughters brought me back to FLA. With some uncanny luck, I finally landed a position in an IT department of a major cable operator, (they own me now, and they'd rather not be publicly associated with my name), where I do desktop support and administer a large wide area network and telephone system. My daughters have grown and make me proud every day.
School
I was asked to leave school a few months before graduation. It seems they have "issues" with telling the Vice Principal to "go f*** himself". I got my GED in 80 and have since gotten Florida Certifications in Electronics and Computer Electronics.
Workplace
I started cooking as an after school job when I was 14 and ended up doing it for 20 years. I did quite well doing that, actually holding a couple of Sous Chef positions. I was getting burned out as I worked two jobs, which was necessary to be able to support a wife and two kids. I quit one of the jobs and went to school for Computer Electronics, something my Uncle had suggested I do ten years prior. That and some additional prodding from a good friend, I finally gave in. With persistence, and the luck of getting into that field just as it was taking off, and the better luck of being in a position that was unaffected by the tech bubble burst, I am in a good position. I have been working for "a major cable company" for the past 13+ years. So far I have avoided being laid off and I feel lucky for that, though in these changing times the shoe could drop any time.
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