Debbie Dambro (Debra Peppel) '75
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Abstract
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From Debbie:
"I started out at Alma intending to be a Biology major. My elective courses were in Art History, because I had had very little history in high school due to all of the Viet Nam War news and black civil rights activity in the last 1960s. As the years progressed, I had Embryology, Physiology, Endocrinology. Then I learned about needing to have 50% of my courses in the sciences: Bio, Chem, Physics, and Math!! Well, I knew I wasn't as bright as all of the guys that we going into medicine and dentistry. Physics and math would be overwhelming.
I changed majors to Physical Education. Not an athlete, but I loved the human body and motor skills. We had excellent teachers: Charlie Gray, Art Smith and Ms. Southworth. We had a visiting prof from CMU teach Kinesiology. I took 7 more activity courses, team sports (field hockey, basketball, and 2 more) and individual sports (tennis, badminton, golf, and archery).
After Alma, my student teaching (middle school physical education) allowed me the opportunity to meet the science teacher that would be the Director of Camp Daggett summer camp on Walloon Lake in Petoskey. He hired me to be the Recreation Director for that summer.
The continuing education courses would then follow in the areas of Folk and Social Dance and Recreation at CMU.
I taught middle school for Saginaw Community Public Schools (Saginaw Township) for 4 years beginning fall of 1975. I also started teaching Folk and Social Dance for the Bay Arenac Intermediate School District Adult Education for 17 years: 6 weeks adult ed in the fall and again in the winter months.
With teacher layoffs in 1979, I took a full time job at a prominent law office in Bay City, MI. I worked as a legal secretary for 11 years. Alma really taught me organization skills for office and the classroom.
I had a family. Stayed at home. Started working in the preschool after my children attended, and then I was the computer teacher in 2000 until 2010. Returned to the law office part-time and substitute teaching spec. ed.
I lived on 3rd floor Bruske for four years. It was heaven. I continue now 50 years later to maintain contact with Bruske "chickies" from MA to OR and all over Michigan.
I received a BA in Physical Education, Secondary education 7-12, and Physical education K-12.
Alma is with me every day in every activity."