Pattie Ridenour
Home Is Where the College Is: A 41-Year Ventura College Story
Where do I start? I graduated from VC in 1981. My twins were born two years later and I started working at VC in February 1985 as a "Division Secretary" in the Technology & Apprenticeship Division. After about a year and a half, I transferred to the PE & Athletics Division. I also worked at the district office when it was on Day Road, then went back to VC to work for the V.P. of Instruction. Oh, and while I was working in the PE/Athletics department, I also operated the shot clock for the men's and women's basketball games for five years. (for $10/game--whoo hoo!)
In the meantime, I had divorced when the kids were two years old and I decided I needed to continue my education. I did so, but it took another 12 years or so to earn my Bachelors Degree in Liberal Studies from CSU Northridge. I was attending CSUN's extension in Ventura at the time. I was still working full-time and most often had a part-time job on the side as well. Hence, that's why it took so long to get the Bachelor's degree.
I kept going and finally earned my Master's in Art in Geography from CSUN in 2007. Again, I was working full-time at CSUN at the time, had at least one part-time job and only took two classes a semester so I wouldn't go insane. While I was working at CSUN as an executive assistant, I was able to take 10 weeks leave without pay so I work as an Interpretive Park Ranger in Yosemite Valley. I now volunteer in Yosemite Valley for a month at a time during the summer to assist visitors as a "Volunteer in Parks."
I actually started teaching part-time at VC in the BIS (Business Information Systems) department in 1999. I was teaching skills based classes in MS Office and Research on Internet/Computer applications.
When I finally earned my Master's Degree from CSUN in 2007, I was hired to teach Geography at VC part-time. This was my DREAM JOB! And, here I am, still teaching in the Geography department today. I also taught Geography at CSUN for a couple of years.
That's kinda the bare bones of my life for the last 41 years at VC (as an employee)!!
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