Memories from Derek Collier, submitted for 2003 Reunion booklet

(used with permission)

                I graduated from Cottonwood High, but I went to Hillcrest for 2 1/ 2 years.  I would love to come to the reunion and visit with my friends there. 

                I would like to share a couple of memories from HHS.  On one occasion, humor was not appreciated when the Vice Principal brought a group of us together in his office to receive reprimands for various offenses.  I don’t even remember what I was there for, but when he started in on a young man about only attending school for three days in the past three months, I lost it and broke out laughing.  The fear being cultivated was lost and I was kicked out of the office.  Things went downhill from there and after being invited to leave several times, I decided it was not a bad idea.  I went to Cottonwood High halfway through my senior year.

                Early in the morning of my graduation from high school our house burned to the ground.  We all made it out alive.  Despite losing everything in our house, including my rented cap and gown, we still had each other.  It was a wake up call that changed my life.  I realized some things I was investing my life in were not important. 

Farthest residence from Hillcrest:  London, England (LDS Mission)

# of addresses since high school:  9, including 4 in England

Employment during high school:  Valley Volkswagon, $2/hour

 

Car in high school and price:  I had a 1964 Chevy II Nova.  As I recall, it cost about $200.  It was very economical to drive until I pulled out the 6 cylinder and put in a 327 ci, 375-horse engine.  My fuel economy went downhill from there.  To make things worse, I also contributed regularly to the traffic enforcement collection systems.

Hobbies:  I keep pretty busy with my wife and children, keeping their cars going, etc.  Our home is on a half-acre in Idaho and I have an experimental garden and green house.  I tinker, but I haven’t found anything to make me rich yet.

Something I know now that I wish I had understood then:

I wish I had believed more in myself and had a greater desire to achieve more in high school.  At the time, I thought high school was not important.  I realize now that it was.

A dream that came true for me:

When I graduated from high school, I did not have great expectations for myself.  I was confused and had started down a dark path.  Over a period of time, I had a change of heart and fulfilled a mission.  This was the beginning of a new life and purpose for me.  I married Christiann in the Salt Lake Temple.  I earned an associate’s degree in Electronic Technology and later a BS degree in Industrial Engineering Technology.  I have a beautiful family, a challenging and interesting job at Micron Technology in their research and development facility.  Life has its ups and downs, but considering it all, I have a great deal to be grateful for because many dreams came true for me.