Sherry Bryant Hometown: Rolla, ND Current Home: Brookfield, NH Major: Elementary Education Email: sbryant_rms@hotmail.com
Concordia’s education department prepared students for careers that allowed them to pursue the wide open roads. The road first led me to White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The first grade teachers were truly welcoming, sharing their techniques and lessons. I had begun my career in heaven. Then my path led to Austin, Texas, for one special, memorable year of new landscapes and culture. At a private school, I taught 14 talented first graders. At my going away party, the director of the school said, “Well, you aren’t one of us, but we’re sure glad you came.” I was, too. Next stop: Kenosha, Wisconsin, on glistening Lake Michigan and another great school system. This time in my life exposed me to new worlds: consciousness raising groups, the women’s movement, The Art Institute of Chicago, my first trip to Europe, the pleasure of a good game of bridge and the aroma of Woodstock. My life was changing. Thirty-eight years ago my journey brought me to New Hampshire. Here my soul is fed by the peaceful woods, blueberry fields, and strolling for hours with friends through the trees, over the frozen lakes and along the railroad tracks. I often feel that coming east was in my DNA as my ancestors arrived here in the 1600s. My paternal great grandfather moved West, and I came back to the East. Travel opportunities took me to Ecuador for the wedding of two former students, to Australia via French Polynesia, and to India where I took a three month course and lived in communities with Moslems, Hindus, Sikhs, Tibetan Buddhists and Christians. I fell in love with India; the foods, the rituals, the color, and the generosity of the people. This amazing experience was organized and taught by my brother Darrol (class of 1964). Life is filled with lots of twists and turns, and I am so grateful for new experiences that have come my way: operas, canoe trips, bird watching, month long solo journeys to the United Kingdom, catching mice, divorces, teaching middle school and living alone for 23 years. I am an avid reader and enjoy playing games, listening to podcasts, doing Sudoku and watching TV. I am grateful for my 11 years of retirement. I give thanks for my health, hot running water, the sweetness of sugar, friends and family. I have truly been blessed. I continue my love of learning and exploring new places. The roads are endless. I look forward to reading where the roads have taken you.
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