Carolyn Greenwood UnderwoodPilot Mountain, NC

Two teachers stand out in my mind because they made a difference in my life, though it took a while for me to realize just how much. The first and most influential was Mrs. McCann. Because of her, English was easy throughout high school and college. I was fortune to have her in the 7th and 9th grades. Mrs. Levering who taught World History and was a world traveler, fostered a love for history in me. I worked hard to earn those three bonus points on the tests for my row. Richard Banner, who sat behind me, told me at the end of the year that I helped him pass that class.  In reading the reflections of other classmates, I see they agree. But there were other teachers that helped our class prepare for our journeys' in life.

I also met Billee Faye Horton in Mrs. McCann's 7th grade morning class. We became close life-long friends. We went to Surry Community and Appalachian together and we were in each other's weddings. Sadly, Billee Faye Horton Willard passed away five years ago. I miss her! She was a true friend who stood by me through life's triumphs and challenges.

Sometimes older siblings blaze a trail for their younger ones.  In my case, it was my nine-year older brother, Charles. On the first day of my junior year in Mrs. Neal's class, she walked back to my desk and said, "you're Charles Greenwood's sister aren't you?"  "Yes ma'am, how did you know?" "You look so much alike and have similar mannerisms, and you have similar names."  I said, "But I am much better behaved."  She chuckled and said that he was a bright, well-behaved student. Sitting in that same class was another brother of mine - my twin brother Carroll.  I assumed that she knew that. My schedule had to be changed to get a class that I wanted, so I was put in Mrs. Neal's later class. Days later, she walked to my desk and said that she did not realize that Carroll and I were related until she looked at our records and realized we had the same mother and deceased father. She added, "You look nothing alike." TRUE!

Unlike many of my classmates, my senior year was a very difficult time in my life. My mother was in the hospital for quite an extended time. She did not get to see Carroll and I graduate. At work, my new King Burger manager was incompetent and did not relate well with teenage females. His supervisor humiliated him by telling him in front of me that I could change his schedule for the girls as needed. This manager tried to make my life miserable at work hoping that I would quit. That didn't happen. He got fired. At that time, I also had low self-esteem and had no one that I felt comfortable talking with about these challenges. Even worse, I had no idea what I wanted or could do with my life after high school. That's a scary thought to have while sitting in a senior class.

Then I had a plan, I went to DC to a school to be a Store Buyer. The school was worthless so I dropped out after two weeks. I remained in DC and worked at Woodward and Lothrop for several months. I was on my own and making it. I had memorable experiences and made many friends who helped me get my life back on track. I realized that I would not be happy living in a big city for the rest of my life.

MOUNT AIRY CALLED ME HOME!  I enrolled at Surry Community. I did well there and was involved in many activities including working on the yearbook both years. Then I transferred to Appalachian and enjoyed my undergraduate years. I student taught at North Surry and hoped to teach there. I started grad school soon after graduating and realized that a work-study job wasn't going to be enough to get me through school. With a friend's help, I got a third-shift job working at Blowing Rock Hospital working three or four nights a week along with a fifteen hour a week work-study job and a full graduate class load. I thought four straight hours of sleep was wonderful because sometimes more than twenty-four hours would pass before I got to sleep. Tough but happy times!

After graduation I began teaching in the Surry County School System at Shoals, a small rural elementary school south of Pilot Mountain. My principal was an intelligent, kind Christian man with an amazing sense of humor.  I had prayed that God would allow me to teach at North Surry High School. I soon thanked Him for saying no to that. He had a better place for me; it was at Shoals where I became part of the school family.

After my first year at Shoals, I got married and we had and raised two great kids. No twins. I came with the experience of twins so I could have raised them.

At Shoals, I taught reading resource classes and then in the 7th and 8th grade regular classes. Mrs. McCann's and Mrs. Levering's instruction was an important part of my own class instruction. After nineteen years I was transferred to Pilot Middle School when a new K- 8 Shoals Elementary was built. I was teaching 8th grade at the time.  At Pilot I taught 7th or 8th grade for five years. Then my principal wanted a certified teacher in the Discipline Center with additional reading certification who could also handle challenging discipline issues. Somehow, I fit that description. Some years I also taught resource classes and took care of After School Detention. One year I had a full resource class load, In-School Suspension and After School Detention. I am not Superwoman so I made sure that did not happen again.

During my years of teaching I tried to be fair and have a safe and comfortable classroom environment where my students could learn. I compared Mrs. McCann's and Mrs. Vera Thomas' classroom environments and I choose to use Mrs. McCann's in my class. Because of my own childhood experience, I could better understand and help some students with issues they faced. Teaching was my calling and I am thankful that God made a way for me to follow that path. That fearful senior sitting in class has made mistakes and done things which I deeply regret. But over the course of fifty years that same senior has achieved some worthwhile goals and helped others along the way.

After a rewarding teaching career, I retired in 2006. I am enjoying my children and grandkids. My daughter Melissa lives in Winston, Oregon with her husband and daughter. My son Travis lives in Mount Airy with his family. He has two sons and a daughter. I also have a brother who lives in Ogden, Utah.  Over the years I have traveled some.  Before I retired I started riding a bike and hiking with a group of friends. We ride the local trail, New River trail, and the VA Creeper and occasionally other places. We have hiked around Pilot, Hanging Rock, Stone Mountain, and some places along the Blue ridge Parkway.

I am looking forward to our 50th Class Reunion. I do have some wonderful memories of my years there. I also want to join my classmates in thanking all who are making our reunion, our reflections, pictures, and the events possible.