Class Agents: Stacy Emanuel and Amy Ham

Dear 1997,

Life has definitely not turned out anything like I would have planned, but when does it ever?

After high school, I moved to Oklahoma City where my mom was at that time. I decided to stay there and start college. When my mom's husband rejoined the army, they got stationed in New York.

So after being in OKC for 2 years without any family, I decided I was going to Andrew's University with a very close childhood friend. Things didn't work out there either.

After being in Michigan for 3 months, I got talked into moving back to Texas with my dad and stepmom...where I belonged. I had finally made a smart move. I began working and going to college here in San Antonio.

I decided that I wanted to go to school to become an x-ray technologist, then move on to become an ultrasound technologist. I found one of the best schools in town, applied, and was accepted into the program. I made it through 3 straight years of school, graduated, and am now working at an imaging center. And I love my job and love what I do.

Last summer (July 05), my stepmom very unexpectedly passed away from complications from a hernia surgery. So I now help my father with my 16 year-old sister and twin 12-year-old brothers. One and a half months after my stepmom passed away, the 1st born twin had to have open heart surgery. My dad left me in charge of getting everything set up for that. My brother made it through fine and has made a great recovery.

Some of you may remember my sister Erika (she was at FA her freshman, my junior year). She now has a 3 year-old son, Tristyn. Erika joined the military last September, and is now being deployed to Iraq in February. My nephew is coming to live with me for a year to 18 months while she is gone. I'm not so worried about becoming an instant mother as I am about my sister being in war. But God is in control and I have to trust that He will watch over her and all of the other soldiers that are out there fighting for our freedom.

Merry Christmas! Stacy E.