Gary Michalosky:
CLASS OF 1985
Rhodes High SchoolClass of 1985
Cleveland, OH
Lorain County Community CollegeClass of 1997
Elyria, OH
Cuyahoga Community CollegeClass of 1994
Cleveland, OH
Charles A. Mooney Middle SchoolClass of 1982
Cleveland, OH
William Rainey Harper Elementary SchoolClass of 1978
Cleveland, OH
Gary's Story
Life
Where do I start, went from being a cute little kid, to a professional School truant throughout my teens (Cleveland Public Schools taught me little, except how adults blame children for their prejudical mistakes by busing us out of our communities!!), Fortunately, finding the right mentors directed me towards Serving 2 years active duty in The US Army (glad I seen life outside Cleveland!!), becoming a Registered Nurse, Deputy Sheriff in South Florida, a Retired US Coast Guard Reservist, following 2 tours in Kuwait (US Army and Army Reserves the First 10 years) and a Divorced father of a wonderful 13 year old son. I am what some consider "already semi-retired" by living in Sunny Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. As of 2011, life is good to me so far!!!
School
What can I say, Cleveland Public School system. Only thing neat about the end experience is having a sheepskin Diploma bearing the name of a high school now being satired on a sit-com that I can bragg about getting!!! (Thank you Drew Carey for saving some sentimental value out of wanting to Graduate from there). Needless to say, prom and extracurricular were not even a thought, I woke up one September late afternoon and walk over to the High School Office to pick-up my Diploma (My idea of commencement for the experience CPS took from me), how I got one to this day I've yet to figure out!!!
College
Participating as President of the Student Veteran's Organization the last Two Years there was one of the most memorable parts of attending Parma University (P.U.) aka CCC. That and the demented instructors I met in half the classes and the Chemistry Teacher that reaked of smoking weed!!!! Needless to say I had to move on to another college to pursue my nursing studies...
Military
Ahh yes, the US Army, the place where my life finally began to make a who...Expand for more
le lot of sense!!! Serving in the last days of the Cold War in Germany was a wonderful experience. It took almost Fifty years, but our maintaining peace paid off. Serving with the 1st Infantry Division was a privilage (especially supporting the 4.2 Motar Plt. in Bad Tolz for PCT). I will always cherish, my regret was I wasn't still there when they deployed to the middle east in 1991.
The Army National Guard and later the Army Reserves was a culture shock transition from Active Duty. Later, after I had moved to South Florida. I had found the place to hang my hat with the US Coast Guard Reserves until I retired in June 2010, even though I still had found myself wearing camoflauge!!. Thanks to being assigned to a US Naval Expeditionary Unit for 8 of those last 22 years, I got my chance to deploy to the middle east and spend a ambivalent year in a combat zone (Good experience the First tour, and a very hellish one the second tour). I made it home in one piece, which is all that matters most.
As of March 2011, I have only 11 years to go until I feel like I can relax. Can't say I'll stop working then, just the feeling that I can say I actually made it. All being said, High School was a drop in the bucket compared to what truely awaited in our lives and the obstacles that challenged us over time. I can only hope that most of my friends found themselves where they wanted to be in life.
It was unfortunate that Michael Ciamacca passed a couple years back, I was just glad I was able to see him in the months prior, he didn't ask for much in life, and in return, was happy where he was at for the most part. I just wished he could have stuck around awhile longer..
That being said, make the most out of what you still have and take the time out for your friends at least once a year. It goes by way too fast!!
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