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I was born in Daytona Beach on a Tuesday afternoon. I was the fourth child to Tom and Carolyn Lightsey. My mother loved this newborn picture as she thought I was already winking at the world. She said it was like I was letting the world know that I knew the truth. Whatever that truth may be.
Weren't my parents glamorous? They met at Stetson in front of the library. My mother taught English at DBCC for 35 years. My father taught history and coached high school football, but after my mother gave birth to my brother, their third child, he left the teaching profession to earn more money. He built and ran all of the Holiday Inns in the Daytona area. At some point, all of my siblings and I worked a part-time job at a Holiday Inn. I was an unexpected child. Surprise! For your fortieth birthday you get a baby girl!
I attended Ortona Elementary, Seabreeze Junior High, Campbell Junior (for one year because Seabreeze Junior closed), and Seabreeze High School. As you can tell, my mother always made sure my hair was curled perfectly.
I loved to dance. I took ballet, tap, and jazz lessons from kindergarten through my senior year of high school. My last few years at Lannie's Dance Studio, I taught dance to the younger students. Who knew I was preparing myself for my future career?
If you look closely, you can see the bruises all up an down my legs from playing tackle football with my brothers. I loved rough housing with my brothers, but my mother hated it!
I graduated from Seabreeze High School in 1987. As a student, I was a majorette and on the color guard. My senior year, I was a captain. In the spring I played my flute in the concert band. Truthfully, I was much better at twirling than playing the flute.
I earned my bachelor's degree at the University of Florida. Go Gators! While at UF, I was a member of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, an Alpha Tau Omega little sister, a director on Gator Growl, and a member of Florida Blue Key. Check out that 80's hair for my sorority composite my junior year.
I met my husband my senior year of college. We married a year after I graduated. Our first home was in Orlando, but we could not handle the tourists and the traffic after five years of living in the area. My husband thought it would be cool to live by the beach (he is from Keystone Heights), so we moved to Ormond Beach. He is now an RN for Hospice.
Soon after we moved to Ormond Beach, I started my first teaching position at Holly Hill Middle School. Those were rough and tough years, but I would not trade them for anything. I loved my students and teaching 7th grade language arts with no textbooks taught me to be creative and innovative. At this time, I also earned my master's degree at UCF. Go Knights! In 2004, I was truly lucky to transfer to Seabreeze High School to teach English. I love teaching at my alma mater, and it is always a great day at Seabreeze High School! You cannot beat the Sandcrab life!
In my spare time, I like to read by the pool, swim in the ocean, and cuddle our rescue dog, Annie.
On a side note, this is my best friend at my wedding (26 years ago). We are still best friends. I met her the first day of band practice at Seabreeze. I think that is pretty awesome.
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