December 1997
Holiday Memories
& More
continued from page I
“Rest, play basketball, play golf, hunt.”
Jon Presnell
What is your favorite holiday memory?
“Going to Tennessee to watch Christmas
lights and watching the Grinch with my
brother.”
Scott Howell
“All Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays
are special to me because it is a time to
remember all the things you have and are
thankful for.”
Melissa Gregory
“My favorite holiday memory is when I got
my puppy.”
Jill Stroud
“Last Christmas - We spent it with the
whole family but most importantly with my
grandmother. Little did we know it would
be the last Christmas we would get to
spend with her. I love to think back and
remember that day, all the memories of her
and all the good times we had.”
Amanda Prevette
What traditions does your family
observe during the holidays?
“We go to my grandparent’s house on
Christmas Eve and we eat dinner and open
presents. After dinner, my grandfather
passes out nut shells and when you open
them some of them have money inside.”
Michelle Furches
“We always get together for a large meal
on Christmas Day to open gifts and spend
quality time with the family.”
Melissa Long
“Go to my uncle's house and stay till
midnight and sing Christmas songs.”
Alicia Blevins
“Everyone goes to my mom’s house and
eats like pigs.”
Amanda Bartlett
An Interview With Tamara
Grayson
By Shelley Schreiber
Tamara Grayson
I had the pleasure of interviewing yet
another of WCC’s instructors this
month, Tamara Grayson, our one and
only art teacher. What follows is more
than just about her.
SS: Well, let’s start off with what
degrees you have.
TG: I have a Master’s of Art in art
education and a BSB (Bachelor of
Science) in secondary education in art.
SS; From where?
TG: Appalachian State University.
SS: Did you start out wanting a degree
in art?
TG: No - I was going to be a history
major and at the same time I took an art
appreciation history course, I also met a
young man named Lany, and he became
a friend. He was so aware of everything
on campus. He noticed how many steps
were in every flight, when the trees
bloomed, the songbirds, everything!
And as a result of that, plus taking the
first art appreciation course I’d ever had,
it made me aware of how much I did not
sec. The irony of it was that Larry had
been blind from birth.
SS: Oh wow!
TG: ft made a profound impact on my life
in terms that suddenly I was aware of
everything that was going on and what
could possibly be done if you were aware.
In art I was studying the masterpieces of
men and women. It was the best that they
had achieved, and I just liked that creative
flow. So I just sat down one day and
looked for about 2 1/2 hours at a print titled
“Guernica” by Picasso and when I stood
up, I knew I was an art major.
SS: (laughter) Well I think you’re a great
art teacher. That’s really cool. Let me see,
you took that art appreciation course as
what?
TG: It was a part that was needed for my
degree.
SS: An elective?
TG: Mmhmm... Also, it was the last of my
sophomore year at Appalachian and then
suddenly I was switching majors. I had no
natural ability, no natural gift. Um, I had
to learn from hard work and observation
how to draw...and I think that’s part of my
strength. If a student has a difficulty in
seeing something, I think that I can
understand it, perhaps more than someone
who had a natural ability from the
beginning.
SS: That makes sense. How much longer
do you think you’ll teach...forever?
TG: I feel like I’ve hit my peak. I feel like
in the last two years I’ve started hitting my
stride and so I don’t know. There are lots
of other things I’m interested in doing.
SS: Like?
TG: Well, I’m taking Tai Chi right now
continued on page 8
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