DO-IT Staff Profile

My name is James O'Connor and I have been given the opportunity to help the DO-IT staff prepare for the 1998 Summer Study for Scholars. I have been part of the DO-IT Family the past three summers ('95, '96, '97) as a "Dorm Dad."

I will share a little about myself. As a young kid I grew up in Southern California in the city of Ontario. After three years of school it was determined that I had a learning disability (dyslexia). With the help of some great parents, friends, and teachers I made my way through primary and secondary school. After graduating from high school I attended Mt. San Antonio Community College for two years. I then went to South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. Why SDSU? Well, I received an athletic scholarship for cross country and track. After 1.5 years in South Dakota I could not handle the cold any longer so I made another move. I transferred to Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. At Central Washington I completed my B.A. in Education. I am certified in special education and physical education. My interests outside of school and work are hiking, camping, all sports (currently coach of a JV fast pitch team at Juanita High School), dancing, music, and hanging out with my dog, Nugget.