Jeff Stickler:  

Life's not always what you'd expect! It'z tru in my case, neway! Since I graduated from MHHS my life went crazy. I left for the Navy on the 4th of July, 1989. Made it through boot camp and apprentice training. Then was sent to an F/A - 18 squadron as an aviation electrician's mate in Jacksonville, FL. I got my choice of orders out of training - I graduated 3rd in my class! The Navy took me around the world. I've stood outside the gates at Buckingham Palace, toured the Valley of the Queens and taken a ride down the Nile River in Egypt, I was in Italy for Christmas (where I could've gone to Mass with the Pope!). I was in Operation Desert Storm/ Desert Shield/ and Provide Comfort (the one you never hear about) and the huge ticker tape parade in New York City afterward (our carrier was on the Today show!). I worked on the flight deck of the U.S.S. America when my squadron went on cruises! (I know, 4th of July - USS America - weird.) I've been to Spain, Greece, Crete, Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia, London, England, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. Croix (Virgin Islands), and Egypt. I met so many people in this world. You just can't understand . . . In the Navy, I took 2 college level Freshmen English classes to see how I'd do. I got good grades, so I took my ACT's and applied to Ball State in 1993. I got accepted, got out of the Navy, and went to Ball State from 1993 - 1997. (My Bachelor's degree is in Sociology.) I also married my wife, Carmen, in 1997 (November), and we've been married since (almost 12 years now). After that, I worked as a social worker at the Madison County Youth Center. I counseled teen offenders & their families for 5 years. Then, our daughter, Cassie, was born and I wanted to work closer to home (I live in Muncie). I became a social worker for the local area agency on aging where I managed home health care services for my clients. Eventually I got tired of doing that. I wanted...Expand for more