|
 Mayhew means a lot to me. A lot. I
have met the finest friends here and been constantly stirred and awed by the people who make this much more than a mere 'place.' Since 1990, I've been luck enough to call Mayhew, home.
For a long time, Mayhew and I have just seemed to be meant for one another. After all, we  were born the same year, 1969, and we share the same appreciation for building connections with others. Despite this, it did take us a long time to meet. Though
I grew up just down the road in Concord, I never heard of Mayhew until the end of my junior year at UMAINE (1990). As an English major, I knew the approaching summer would be  my last chance to do something meaningful before returning to finish up at school
and graduating to an illustirious career in unemployment. Fortunately, Al Cantor, Mayhew's director at the time, hired me for the summer and then decided I'd make out alright as a
member of the year-round staff the following year, joining Michelle Bowie, David Bird and Kevin Johnson. From that fall of '91 to the spring of '01, I had the good fortune to work all over New
Hampshire as a member of the outreach staff, getting to know some truly astounding boys and their families and working alongside people who became dear friends and role models.
Meanwhile, I chipped away at my Master's degree in Counseling, finally earning it in May 2001.  After two years working as a school counselor -- first at Summit School in Amherst, NH then at Rochester Middle School in Rochester, NH -- I was asked by the Mayhew
Board if I'd like to rejoin the staff in the summer of 2003. Coming back to this home-away-from-home  was mighty attractive and I've been here ever since.
My life outside of Mayhew has been deeply enriched by my wife, Kim, our wonderful daughter, Emily, and our
family and friends, making me feel, all over again, like one lucky guy! |
