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I wrote my first newspaper column when I was 15 years old after proposing to the local paper that they needed a regular report on happenings at the local high schools. They agreed, and Au Courant was born. I thought I was fancy, with some fancy French phrasing, and each week I wrote up whatever I learned about events and student accomplishments, trying to keep it as “current” as promised.
Since that time, writing has been a pretty big part of my life. I have been loosely associated with several different newspapers over the years, and I have enjoyed learning about the various steps involved in producing a final product. I have done some page layout, writing and reporting, and proofreading….lots and lots of proofreading.
Teaching was my profession. I spent 31 years teaching teenagers about reading and writing effectively, which involved more proofreading—doing it myself and teaching kids to do their own. The majority of those years were spent at Angleton High School.
Shortly before retiring from teaching, I spent a summer at Triple Crown School for Dog Trainers, and since then I have enjoyed meeting people and their dogs to help them with communication. There’s a lot less proofreading, but it’s still about communication! Training someone’s dog actually consists of training the people to communicate clearly with their pet using positive reinforcement strategies. Naturally, I like dogs a lot, but mostly I love seeing the results of applying principles of behavioral science to our interactions. It can be really rewarding to see that light bulb go off above a dog’s head when he realizes he knows what to do.
The West Brazos Herald gives me a chance to continue doing something I enjoy and gives me the opportunity to visit with people in our community and then share what I learn. Let me know what you want to learn about.