Judith Reeves:
CLASS OF 1982
Woodridge High SchoolClass of 1982
Peninsula, OH
Judith's Story
Hi I attended Woodridge High School, ahhh looking back at those times, let's face it I was pretty much unpopular and a super geek all through High School! A lot of you probably won't even remember me. I remember seeing all the beautiful girls in our class like Gail Mottice, Wendy Erdos , Chris Taylor, Joan Myello , Wendy Myers , Laurie Lusk and all the other totally gorgeous cheerleaders in our class. I was chubby & not pretty , pimply so completely dateless all through High School but don't feel sorry for me. I still managed my way through all the teenage awkwardness and I got a lot more interesting and less awkward as I got older. Back to High School, I remember I had a huge crush on Mike Schmidt early Freshman year but he moved away . So then I had a super crush on Mike Short in my class for at least 3 or 4 years . I took French class (hated it) just to see him. I didn't learn a thing after 2 years in class really amazing now that I look back. I was clueless. I also managed to have an enormous crush on Roger Minns another redhead like Mike Schmidt, (I must of had a thing for redheads). Anyway Roger was an upper classman (totally unobtainable) in my freshman world think Pretty in Pink except I didn't get the guy and he didn't even know I existed. I believe I made a complete fool out of myself , but I hey I was a teenager and dateless it was all in good fun. I still managed to graduate from Woodridge, high in 1982, then I attended Akron University for almost 2 years . I still had no clue what I wanted to do in life so I quit. I then moved to California realizing I just did not want to scrape ice off my car anymore at age 20. I left Ohio February of 1984 , still clueless again (running theme) but I immediately landed a job on my first and only interview. They hired me on the spot. They hired me because I could type 20 words a minute accurately can you believe it. All that typing in High School paid off. They just wanted accuracy. I started to finally blossom I was working as a receptionist for General Reinsurance in Los Angeles, an International company. I became a lot less awkward and a lot more confident in myself.
I have been at this company now for 31 years moved over to subsidiary General Star, a lot more opportunity I graduated with a Bachelors degree in Business Management while working full time at the company , they even paid for me to finish. They moved me up through the ranks and I am now an Executive at my company currently an (AVP). Wonderful company, absolutely love it. My husband is a California native. He works in the insurance industry as Senior Vice President of his company, which is actually a huge coincidence since we didn't meet there at any functions but met at a big casual party. It was love at first sight for me in a crowd of over 100 people. This time I got the guy ! Told you I was less awkward and blossoming into a confident woman. We found out at one time we worked in Los Ang...Expand for more
eles same building different floors at one time. I was on 3rd he was 5th for 2 years. He actually remembered seeing me in an Elevator. We lived in same town , and even 3 of my co-workers worked with him in the past. Small world! I was married previously for 11 years but don't want to go down that road, we were young when we met. Yada Yada I consider that relationship as a detour to get where I am now. Thankfully we did not have children so split was easy for us.
Ok back to present, I am remarried with my Insurance guy , and now have 2 wonderful step kids they are true red heads (running theme) for me. 3 dogs just added a Tibetan Mastiff puppy getting no sleep currently! I absolutely adore our dogs, as you can see by my photos. I only like my pic taken with the dogs or with my hubby. We love to travel and be physically active all year round with hiking trails, running and working out and you can easily have your own personal trainer . I just love California there is so much to do here.
I still consider Ohio my hometown & I return every year to Northampton to see my parents, brothers and my friends Kelly Sommerville, Irene Port (Cramer) and Rachelle Jaynes (Freeman) . They are terrific friends! Couldn't have gotten through school without them. Time stands still for all of us and we carry on like we are kids in school all over again. They are and always will be my very dear true close friends. I am so happy I grew up here and I made such a tight bond with my friends that it has lasted all these years.,
p.s. Sorry Roger & Mike if I embarrassed you in my intro above it was all in fun. Honestly looking back you both really helped me just an awkward teenager have fun , dream and get through High School. I just wanted to acknowledge in my story that I knew I was not pretty or popular and that I still made it through those 4 years at Woodrige actually pretty ok. It is ok to be average or ordinary and not perfect in High School.
We all have to be able to look back and see ourselves realistically from where we came from to where we are now. I am glad now that the best part of my life wasn't High School. My past as an awkward Teen and middle class upbringing in Midwest molded me to who I am now. I am able to really talk and meet with all types of people no matter who they are from Ceo's , District Attorney's , Clients etc. to the Parking Attendants and Servers at Restaurants. We all are important and have a story. What an amazing journey it has been for me. I hope it has been for you as well. Drop me a line and tell me your amazing story. Would love to chat .
Update: Early June took a road trip with my hubby and dogs to see my family. We ended up buying a house down the street from where I grew up in Northampton. It feels wonderful to be back here. I love Northampton it is still so beautiful & special to me. I never considered myself as a Californian even after living there for 36 years. Always an Ohio gal.
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