Shelley Wentz:
CLASS OF 1985
Mendota Township High SchoolClass of 1985
Mendota, IL
No.Illinois UniversityClass of 1989
Dekalb, IL
Holy Cross SchoolClass of 1981
Mendota, IL
Shelley's Story
Life
I currently live in northern Belize, Central America with my 3 North American expatriot cats, 3 NA expat dogs, and 2 local Belizean "potlickers" (our term for mutts). I live in Copper Bank, a small village that sits on a quiet lagoon (about 380 people, some pigs, a couple cows, a horse or two, and many, many, many chickens). Most of my free time is spent outdoors with my pets or fishing, hiking in the jungle, canoeing, swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving, transplanting orchids and other plants from my jungle hikes to my yard, or harvesting fruits in my yard (banana, guava, craboo, bread fruit, orange, lime, sour orange, custard apple). I attained a black belt in Tae Kwon Do in 2001 and have been teaching women's self defense since moving to Belize. I also enjoy visiting with my neighbors and friends. My home is frequented by young students from the village nearly every evening for help with homework and use of my computer. I don't have telephone service, cable tv or internet access at my house; it's really "bushy" and we don't have service there. I recently bought a cellphone, but I can't get a signal anywhere near my home. I have no desire or plan to ever leave Belize or move back to the USA. I only have a couple of American expat friends and feel as though I have found my home.
School
I am ashamed to admit it, but I don't remember much from high school. Mostly I remember getting into trouble for being a smart ass in class, being really shy with people who I didn't know (and I think being mistaken for being aloof - but I was really afraid of having people not like me), playing sports and spending most of the time on the bench, knowing the answer to one question for Senior Bowl, but still being on the team, goofing off way too much, having some fun friends to goof off with, and of course, D.R.s I've lost touch with nearly everyone from high school, except for Teresa Joerger and Nancy Walter. When I visit my parents they always say "remember so and so from high school" and I frankly can barely remember anyone's name. Maybe it's early dementia and...Expand for more
maybe my brain is so full of people's name that some got deleted to make space in my memory...
College
Earned a BA in psychology with minor in family life from Northern Illinios University, DeKalb, IL. Went to graduate school and completed all course work for a MS in social work/marriage and family therapy, but never finished my thesis - too much work to do as a full-time social worker to devote to research. Am planning to go to graduate school summer 2005 to get an MA in English/Multicultural Literature at University of Belize in coordination with East Carolina University.
Workplace
First real job was working with adults with developmental disabilities in the community and then as a social worker with families with child abuse and neglect in DeKalb, IL. In 1995, moved to Madison, WI where I worked as a job placement specialist with people with various disabilites, as an intake coordinator for in-home personal care and health programs for people with physical disabilites, and as an aid for children with severe disabilities in the Madison school district. While in Madison, I also held part-time jobs doing personal care with some of my friends with disabilities and as a fitness instructor at a local health club. Upon moving to Belize, Central America, I became a terrible housewife for 2 years while waiting to get permanent residency and the ability to work legally. Too much education and too little motivation ended my career as the anti-Martha Stewart. I am currently an English instructor at Muffles Junior College in Orange Walk Town, Belize. I teach 145 first year students grammar, literature, and speech. I really enjoy this work, but it's very difficult and time consuming. I have taught several workshops for young at risk females in Belize City in self-esteem, preventing abuse, sexuality, and HIV/AIDS prevention. I had an article published in the national newspaper, The Reporter, on women's safety. My real passion is my volunteer work with my S.H.E. Thing Women's Self Defense Program. I have taught over 100 women and girls self defense in Belize.
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