I definitely benefited from the college system in California. I went to junior college in Huntington Beach for a year where I “red-shirted” as a baseball player, which means that I did not play in any official games to give me a year to get bigger and stronger. I did well academically posting above a 3.0 that first year.

Hartnell College

The next two years I went to Hartnell College in Salinas, mainly motived by getting a starting position on a college baseball team. I took the reigns as the starting catcher that year and had a phenomenal first half of the season. After about 20 games I was hitting .637 with 22 RBI and two home runs. I was throwing runners out as well. My academics took a hit because I was also working at Red Lobster 20-40 hours a week. I got injured making a diving play at third base around this point in the season and never was quite the same that year. I still finished as a 2nd team All-League selection.

My second year at Hartnell I had a great fall season. I felt like stronger than ever, was playing very well and could not wait to start the season. That year we ended up having rain almost everyday and as a result practiced in the gym a lot. I injured my hand playing pickle with a friend right before the first game and my swing was maybe 50% the batspeed it had been. It was a tough year. My grades really started sliding and I got into partying a little too much.

California State San Marcos

College baseball ended my fourth year of college and I decided to get serious about finishing school at Cal State San Marcos in San Diego. I still had a ways to go to finish an actual major, so three years and I finished my history degree along with a lot of ancillary courses including some of my first teaching classes. I finished with slightly above a 3.0 as an undergrad.

A Gap Year or Four

I moved to Mammoth Lakes after graduation with a friend as I guess what would today be called a “gap” year. One year turned into four and by the time my time up there was over I had met my first wife and she was pregnant. I had moved back to Crestline for a nine months at one point during this time do complete my teaching credential at Cal State San Bernardino. I had a 3.8 through this program.

The Master’s Degree

After teaching for ten or so years I got my Masters in Teaching Leadership online through Cal State San Bernardino. I finished this program with a 4.0, which really felt rewarding to me. 

The Future

What does the future hold? Will I become professor Bunch? Probably not, lol, I think blogging and web design will be the direction I go next with my education although, maybe when I retire from high school teaching it would be enriching to finish a doctorate in education or history.

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Thanks for reading The Lifelong Education Blog! Wishing you the happiest of New Years if you are celebrating tonight! Check out some of my other recent posts if you have a moment!

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