Elizabeth Jackson:
CLASS OF 1999
Grandville High SchoolClass of 1999
Grandville, MI
Ohio State University - Graduate SchoolClass of 2010
Columbus, OH
Grand Valley State UniversityClass of 2006
Allendale, MI
Michigan State University - Political ScienceClass of 2004
East lansing, MI
Elizabeth's Story
Life
I married a wonderful man in June 2006 that I met while attending GVSU. We went to Walt Disney World for our honeymoon and had a great time. We also bought another house here in Ohio, so the dogs could have a yard. And we're trying to sell my old house in Grandville. In older news: my mom died in November 2003. I inherited the house in Grandville, the dog and the cat. I had knee surgery in early 2004 for an old military injury. I never did like running much, but its not fun to know that you'll NEVER run again. I recieved an Honorable Discharge from the Army Reserve in July 2007.
Overall, life is pretty good and I can't wait to graduate with my MA from OSU in the fall. I also have another dog who still thinks he's a lap dog at 3 years old. He's a black lab! The old dog, Sadie, died in May 2007. We adopted a husky mix from the pound 3 months later.
School
I am so glad high school is long over. I had my friends and my fun and I've moved on.
I would like to say a huge thanks to Mrs. Berlin for teaching me to write so well. I tested out of all my college English class and my writing has often been used as examples for other students in my literature classes. Yes, I am still a geek.
Oh, and that Goth/Alternative thing I had going on senior year has gone far, far away. No one believes me that I was Goth once when they meet me now.
College
I attended Michigan State for a semester in the fall of 1999 majoring in chemistry, which I quickly found out was not my calling. I took a year and a half off for the "Texas Incident" then went back in fall of 2001. I left MSU in 2003, 6 majors later, as an international relations major. My mother's rediagnosis of ovarian cancer made me transfer to Grand Valley, where I quickly changed my major to Russian Studies. I graduated from GVSU Cum laude on April 29, 2006, with an award for most outstanding student in the department. While at...Expand for more
GVSU I did study abroad in Russia for 6 weeks, which was an absolutely amzing experience.
In September 2006 I begin work on my Masters in Slavic Linguistics and Literature at Ohio State. I am a graduate assistant, i.e. they pay me to go to their school. It'll be nice not to have to pay for school by myself anymore.
Workplace
After 7 years in the restaurant business, 2 in retail, and 1 tutoring, I now work only as a graduate assistant at OSU. I teach Russian Culture from the beginning to 1917 and The Vampire in Slavic culture. I will never work in restuarants again, but retail is still a viable option for a summer job.
Military
From July 1999 to July 2005 I was assigned to the 415th Civil Affairs Battalion in Kalamazoo, MI. I attended Basic training at Fort Jackson, SC from March, 2000 until May, 2000. I then attended AIT at Fort Bragg, NC from May, 2000 until July, 2000. From August, 2000 until January, 2001 I drilled with the 321st Civil Affairs Brigade in San Antonio, TX. I then returned to the 415th until I got out in July, 2005.
From July,2002 until October, 2002 I deployed with my unit to Kosovo. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I fell in love with Slavic culture and the Balkan area. My favorite city was Sofia, Bulgaria where I had a four day leave. I can't wait to visit again.
I returned home from my deployment early because my mom's ovarian cancer returned and she was given 12 months to live. She made it 13.
The rest of my military career was uneventful as my mother's health and my knee problems kept me from being deployable.
I am one of the lucky ones since I only knew two people who died in Iraq. That first funeral I attended was the second worst experience of my life.
I may not like the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, or our president, but I sure as anything support my brothers and sisters in arms along with their family and friends.
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