Steven Smith:
CLASS OF 1974
Pine-Richland High SchoolClass of 1974
Gibsonia, PA
Steven's Story
Dear Friends:
I have decided to officially join in the exchange here at Classmates.com
I am not going to try to complete a 39 year summation in one sitting. So, I'll slowly document my evolution over the next month. Perhaps that will bring you back often to note the updates and get the Steve story.
Thanks!
April 2013
I've been trying to come up with what I'd like to say about my high school years. To be perfectly honest; it's been difficult. While I did have a great time, I can't say that I'm proud of that kid. Having a reasonable amount of skills, I didn't have to work very hard to get by. Unfortunately, I was happy to coast along and never really challenged myself. I sure regret that now. The skills manifested themselves with over confidence and a large ego. Of course, being relatively personable and courteous camouflaged that from some folks. The other regret was developing a taste for cannabis. This helped to develop a greater desire to coast along and not challenge myself. However, I met lots of great people at RHS and still maintain contact with some; and, I did have a great time!
1974 thru 1978 were just jam packed full of that party guy. Having way too much fun and lacking motivation. I was beginning to see that buckling down and setting goals could be beneficial, but, I just never seemed to get around to it. College was a loss and I just drifted from one job to another. Clearly, I was heading down the wrong road. My parents were letting me find my own way; as long as I did something, whether work or school, it was ok. I'm sure it was clear to them that I had lots more potential than I was using. Well, in the summer of 1978, I was about to discover my potential the hard way...
Doctors discovered that I had a large tumor on the cervical area [neck] of my spinal cord. Went through the surgery, recovery, radiation and rehabilitation. Just before discharge, I was approached by a guy who said he was from OVR and that he could help me to turn this situation around by helping me to find a way to work and be productive. I thought that was a GREAT idea! In fact, I felt that I would love to do his job; finding ways to help people with disabilities get out there and be fully participating members of the community.
So, OVR provided some tuition money and I got a student loan for the rest. My parents provided room, board and a vehicle [yes, still at home in Wexford] and off I went to academia. It was truly amazing how much I could accomplish when I set my mind to a goal. I was able to earn a BA degree in 2 years and 8 months! A while after graduation, I got a job working with adolescents at a youth home in Zelienople. While I wasn't focussing on people with disabilities yet, I was honing my counseling skills and learning about the many challenges that we all face.
Three years later, it was time to get back on track. I applied and was accepted into a Masters Degree Rehabilitation Counseling program.The curriculum was designed specifically to counsel people with disabilities and help them to adjust and adapt to their situation. Once again, I hit an educational bull's eye and graduated one year and 8 months later. I immediately landed a job working with disabled students in the com...Expand for more
munity college system. It was 1987 and my life finally seemed to be going in a positive direction! I was doing what I loved doing and I was pretty good at it!
The next four years were a real whirlwind of activity. I was moving along in my career, moving in with a woman, helping to move her business along, moving into a house, getting married, getting a dog, getting a lawn mower; I was busy! I felt like I had everything thing in order and that with continued hard work, all the rewards of this course would fall into place. Well, there was a fall and it wasn't a reward, it was the falling crash of life around me.
1992, what a year. That's when I was diagnosed with a recurrence of the tumor in my neck. It's hard to say that surgery was a success; I lived. However, all those activities that we all need to perform on a daily basis took a real turn. Due to the shock to my nervous system, I was in real trouble. You name the category, it had changed: walking, bathing, dressing, eating, you get the idea. I was in rehab for 4 months. But with more guts than brains [as some would say], I returned to work and struggled with life.
By the end of 1992 [affectionately called Steve's year of loss], in addition to my health, I lost my wife, my house, my dog, and my lawn mower. I was able to maintain my job. That fact, and, with support from my work friends, life friends and my family, I was getting by. Soon, I was doing pretty well in spite of the physical challenges. As long as I had access to all the specialized equipment, I was living independently in an apartment, driving, dating and living!
My life found an equilibrium and I was back in the groove. My work life was going well. The professional Rehab Counseling organization elected me as Counselor of the Year in Pennsylvania which put me in the running for the award for the seven Mid-Atlantic states which I also received. My love interest was going well and I had just purchased an accessible new condo. Steve was back.
That is until 1995 when I smashed up my hip in an auto accident. Here we go again: surgery, rehab, recovery. The hip repair did not work. Hip replacement, rehab, recovery. Six months later, returned to work. This time it was that much harder to come back. Even so, I found my equilibrium again, got married and continued forward.
That is until 1998 when I was diagnosed with cancer; a tumor growing in my abdomen. Here we go again: surgery, chemotherapy, rehab, recovery. This time, though, I knew I couldn't return to work. I didn't want to use the energy I needed to keep healthy trying to keep a job. My wife, Deb and I were in agreement with the plan. We downsized; sold the condo and moved to Ligonier.
I began doing web and graphic design projects from home. In 2001, I was chosen to be a Torchbearer for the 2002 Winter Olympics. That was a really unique experience! Here we are, 15 years later, cancer free and trying hard to maintain as much independence as possible.
I am hopeful that you readers will be comfortable and drop me a line. I'm at the computer pretty much every day. I look forward to hearing from you. I am trying the facebook thing: [Steven J Smith] or email me: steve at stevenjsmith.net.
Have a blessed day!
Steve
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