Spartan Magazine
Community College in nearby Lincroft, N.J., so I will
A Little Discomfort Can Be Good
still be able to call myself a librarian. So far, we’ve spent time hiking in Maine and Watkins Glen, N.Y., and
There I was practicing with my high school volleyball team at St. Stephen’s when the drama teacher
biking around here in New Jersey. Life is good and full
tapped me on my shoulder. He was casting “Blithe Spirit,” a play by Noel Coward, and he wanted me to try
of wonder!”
out for the lead. My first reaction was surprise. I had never been in a play, never thought about being in a play and was
1969
comfortable playing volleyball. Being in the play would mean leaving the team. And it would be difficult to memorize all those lines. But then other thoughts took over — this would be something different. Trying
J osh H a r r ison
something new and unfamiliar might be good. I said “yes” and decided to step out of my comfort zone. I
JHarrisonLaw@aol.com
landed the part and delivered a crowd-pleasing Madame Arcati. At 16, I had not begun to realize how much I already had started to step out of my comfort zone. I was
1970
spending my second year at a boarding school at which I was one of only seven African Americans among 225 students.
E llen J ockusch
Preparing for college, I wanted to go to a part of the country that I had never visited. I spent four years at
ejockusch@gmail.com
Wellesley College outside of Boston. And what did I major in? French, of all things, because I loved literary analysis and analyzing literature in another language was more challenging. I earned my master's degree in
Liz Burke Taylor wrote, “Hurray, my breast cancer
comparative literature at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, another part of the country that I
treatments (chemo and radiation) at MD Anderson are
had never visited.
finally over, as of March 1. While staying with a cousin
Unknowingly, I had started down the path of embracing the unfamiliar, of putting myself in situations
in Houston for six weeks of radiation, I was cheered up
outside my comfort zone. This behavior has served me well. When I moved to Florida after I was married,
by visits with Jack Welch and Nixon Wheat ’71. Pam
I had the confidence to walk into the local newspaper office and apply for a job as a reporter. I had never
Runge Wood and Sean Gardner Turner were great to
taken a journalism course and had never written a news article. But I had the confidence, the strength and
call and send cards and e-mails of encouragement to
the drive to try something new. I landed the job as the education reporter. During my years there, I had the
me throughout my ordeal. Now, I’m impatient to get my
opportunity to interview Coretta Scott King, Barbara Bush and Nancy Reagan.
strength back. I’m pretty weak and tire easily.”
In my formative years as a public relations professional in higher education, I grabbed the opportunity to add different skills to my experiences, drafting speeches and interviewing
1971
University of Maryland alumna Judith Resnik, who later lost her life in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
K ath ryn M ille r A nde r son
Now, as vice chancellor for communications for the University System
zjmiller@austin.rr.com
of Maryland, I often look back at my childhood in Houston and my years at St. Stephen's. My ability not only to survive but to thrive in situations
Mark Clark became a grandfather for the second time
outside of my comfort zone has served me well. As a result, I have had
on Feb. 19, 2013, when Taylor Coleman was born.
wonderful opportunities and have been amazed by what I’ve learned about my potential and abilities. I challenge others — especially young people —to
Kathryn Miller Anderson reported that “Larry and I are now grandparents! Our daughter, Emily Meador ’00, and
dare to be more than what they already know.
— anne johnson moultrie ’69, trustee
her partner, Natasha Barker, have a new baby, Tatiana Barker-Meador. Natasha gave birth to Tatiana on Jan. 14, 2013. Jennifer and Dee Meador ’70 are also grandpar-
Used with permission of the Afro-American Newspapers Archives and Research Center, revised.
ents, and Nancy Meador ’04 is an aunt. Other relatives of Tatiana are Margaret Miller Pierce ’72, Tom Miller ’77, Rachel Walker ’04 and Ricky Meador Walker ’68. Being a grandparent is better than I ever imagined.” Lisa Carver Collins “married a very special man, David Collins, who is from Wellington, New Zealand. We were married on Feb. 25, 2013, in Auckland, New Zealand. My hope is that David can come to live in the United States, at least part of the time, and for me to live in New Zealand part of the time. But at the present time, I am petitioning our government for permission to bring David here, while this process takes place. It can be perhaps a year for this petition to be addressed.” LEFT TO RIGNT: Gwin Steph '71, Reta McKelvey '71, Prosser Stirling '73, and Jamie Stirling '67 in Monterrey, Mexico, for the wedding of Jamie's son, Caleb
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