Stephanie Watkins:
CLASS OF 1982
Bishop Dubourg High SchoolClass of 1982
St. louis, MO
Annunciation SchoolClass of 1978
Webster groves, MO
Stephanie's Story
Life
Have had quite an adventure since leaving DuBourg. I graduated college, moved to Chicago,
(am in Connecticut now) I joined a Fortune 100 company 22 years ago and rose to Senior Vice President ranks. I joined another Fortune 100 firm 18 months ago as a Senior Vice President and have an equally rewarding career with this fine company. I have had the good fortune to live in several different states, travel all over the US and some parts of the world all due to my career. ...Mr. Schnabel would be shocked given my grades in Algebra. All goes to show that God has a plan. I have a great husband who loves me and is faithful...he is a stay at home dad to our beautiful daughters. Our youngest has/had autism but even she is beating the odds and is now in mainstream second grade...we are truly blessed. Our daughters are into equestrian, lacrosse, swimming as well as academics, their friends and well, anything Disney. Our goal is raise two more strong women for this world.
We have lived in St Louis twice in the last 6 years (Compton Heights and Central West End) but the East Coast and my career keep calling us away from STL. Remain a faithful Cardinal Fan. Husband is from New Jersey so I have grown to tolerate the East Coast teams. Went to Baseball Hall of Fame to see Ozzie inducted and will see Whitey Herzog, too. Living near NY has its advantages.
On the downside: :-)
I am told that I no longer have a flat Midwest accent and sound like the women on "Housewives from NYC"...personally, I refuse to believe that. I don't say "wicked" all of the time and I don't put inflection in my words and cadence the way Northeasterner's do...although I stopped pronouncing Washington as "Warshington" ...years and years ago when I moved to Chicago. We go back to STL usually once a year to get my Ted Drewes, the Hill (Charlie Gittos), McGurk's, Hodak's, Steak and Shake and Michael's (near McCausland)---the best hummus I have ever had--- fix.
My husband is an East Coast pizza snob...best pizza is in New York he says...so I don't get much Imo's as he finds it disgusting. Sigh. Anyway, when we go to STL it is a multi-day feeding frenzy to get what i can't get in CT...and oh yes there is Cunetto's (best bacardi and diet coke in the city) and well I could go on and on re: food on the Hill....and then there are all of those places in Dogtown and then, well, there are those places by the brewery and well, let's just say there are some great restaurants in STL...fine wine (cabernet or shiraz is all I drink...the dryer the better) steak and being with my family make for the best me...Expand for more
al ever. Then I work out on my Pilates machine for an extraordinarily long time post the visit.
If I am not at work (which isn't often)...you will find us at the horse stables, lacrosse field, piano lessons, Girl Scouts, Brownies, NYC Theater district, Long Island shore in the summer, Disney World...as that reflects what we do when I am not sleeping. Ahh, sleep. When did anyone get a full 8 to 10 hours and wake up feeling refreshed? All is good...no complaints. Just life goes very fast.
Some of the best decisions I ever made are as follows:
Graduate from college
Moved to Chicago
Divorced my first husband---post this event, I asked God pick out a Man/Husband for me since I was somewhat lousy at it...HE picked correctly.
Moved around the country for my career
Never said no to a promotion
Said yes to the blind date in which I met my husband
Had two of the most beautiful and amazing daughters
Go to Church on a regular basis
Travel across the globe for my career
Switched companies (after 20 years and left all of that credibility) when presented with the amazing opportunity that I have today...smart, smart move (Divine intervention was definately at play here)
Laughed at the professionals when they told me/us that our daughter would never recover from autism and likely live in a group home
Chose integrity over the easy way
Thank God on a daily basis
Outside of marrying my husband, the best thing that has ever happened to me is my daughter's autism. We were told that she would never talk and likely end up in a group home. So 6 years and 14,300 hours of therapy later...we have a child who is officially off the autism spectrum and in mainstream school. Autism has convinced me that life is really about the little things, celebrating eye contact, reading a book, riding a horse, playing on a school soccer team, singing in a Children's Choir, taking piano lessons, GIVING, a hug and a "i love you, mom" are the MOST amazing things ever...especially when the "professionals" tell you that it will never happen. The human spirit can accomplish the impossible so at times one must extract the toxic people and thinking from your life to make progress and to make the impossible possible. I know I sound preachy so forgive me but autism has re-defined me and my family.
Here is my philosophy on life-
You have two choices...do something with your life and create your path with God's winks along the way
OR
believe what really insecure and unhealthy(toxic) people tell you about yourself, play it safe and never step out...
I chose the first path. What a ride.
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