A Short Bio: (you'll have to wait for the A&E version, folks)
You can get information on me either via small, bite-size
chunks, or by reading more below...
I was born on November 6, 1979 at 11:16 PM in Denver, Colorado, USA. I was a premature birth (preemie), according to doctors, was born at just under the window between having a chance of survival, and not being able to breathe on my own. So, this
motif of difficulty being foisted on me, and me struggling but bouncing back started at an early age.
My full name is Shawn David Struck. Originally, my name was spelled Shaun, but when is was in the 2nd or 3rd grade, my parents had it legally changed to Shawn. I think that
"Shawn" was what they originally wanted, but a clerical error screwed them over for a while. ::shrugs::
I have one younger brother, Ryan , as well as 2 half-sisters, Trixie Abigal--we just call her "Abby"-- and Bridgette .
Anyhow, my Mom and Dad and I lived in Denver until I was about 1 1/2 yrs. old, whereupon we moved to NJ, the state I have made my home ever since. When I turned 13 I, moved to Linden with my father and step mom 2 stepsisters and 2 half sisters, where we lived for 3 years, until we all settled on Iselin, NJ, where my dad and
step-mom bought a house. My parents separated when I was 10, divorced when I was 11. Doesn't seem to be that big a deal now, tho' it was to me back then.
When I turned 12, my long-standing request to move in and live with my father was honored. Unfortunately, Ryan chose to stay with Mom. I would generally visit her and Ryan every other weekend or so...
I can honestly say that I did very poorly in school, and a good amount of that was due to me not applying myself. I let lots of things at home bog me down at school; since up until freshman year in high school I was regularly the target of attacks and unfair singling out (though there were also quite a number of scraps that me and my sharp tongue got me into, as well) and so often the reverse was also true.
I spent my entire middle school existence in Linden, then attended high school in Iselin. When I was around others that I considered my friends, I was good ol' goofy me. But to the rest of the world, I was quite shy and withdrawn. I didn't really come out of the shell I had kept around me until high school. I don't know what it was-- maybe the change of venue, or the fact that we all change a lot in our teens.. but I became a lot more open. I had a nice clique of friends, and a couple of close ones. I became more active in school programs like the newspaper, and academic competition team, and of course continuing with the chorus... I even joined marching band for a year...
However, my GPA continued to suck. My first two years, I was still afraid of appearing too smart. Junior year, things started to pick up a little.... I met Alicia (whom I fast became close friends with, then eventually we starting dating), and more renown in extracurricular activities. But I was really set in my ways. Hell, even more so. I became even more evasive. And home became so unbearable to me (Dad was busy working, and my step mom and I were at each other's throats.. once, literally). As I became closer with my friends, and with Alicia, I ran away from everything else.
After graduation, I relied more and more on my friends, and home life became steadily worse. Dad and I would fight about something or other every day.
Things came to head one day, when I was told to have my papers, diploma, birth certificate, etc. ready for tomorrow morning, as we'd be going somewhere. Well, after about 110 bucks in school fines were paid (lost textbooks), that morning I was driven to an Air Force Recruiting station, and
told that when I walked out of there, I would have 2 choices: Join the Air Force, or leave home.
I sat thru everything objectively. But while the benefits sounded nice to me.. the core of it screamed NOT ME. So, when I told Dad of my decision, he drove me back home, told me I had 1/2 hr. to pack what I could, and then leave.
I was homeless for a short while, but I don't think I'll ever forget it. Here are a few posts I made to Eblana when I was homeless.
I eventually was able to stay with my good friend (and surrogate older sis! :D) Julie and her parents. Mrs and Mr Taylor were kind and supportive and helped me get a job at local hospital and cleared a corner in a little basement room for me. :)
It took my Grandma's (on my Dad's side) death to finally get Dad and me speaking again. And I realized that life is too short for hate. It just wastes energy. So, Dad and I started on that road towards connecting as father and son again...
I managed to have enough to move into a small room in a boarding house in Metuchen, NJ. I worked 2 blocks from my house, at the local Blockbuster, and I have been quite self-sufficient, money wise. Dad and I have both found new respect for each other, and much forgiveness on both sides.
I currently live in New Brunswick, NJ, where I'm a freelance graphic designer
and a telemarketer. Yes, I said telemarketer. I hate me, too.
Well, I amble along and do the best I can. I've had to struggle a lot, against both my own bad habits, and other obstacles in life, but I think I'm
doing okay.
Heh.. well, so much for a short bio. ;)