Johan J. Adendorff – Health & Physical Education, 1987; M.Ed., 1989

Johan J. Adendorff

1987 – Health and Physical Education

1989 – M.Ed.

Please accept this letter as my contribution to the book of letters which I am sure will be read by many in the years to come.  I am grateful that you afforded me the opportunity to tell my story and will attempt to emphasize how significantly my life was influenced through my experience at the University of Southwestern Louisiana.

On August 14 of 1984, I reached a most significant milestone: A life long dream was about to come true, an event that would change my life forever.  It was only 30 days prior to this day that I resigned my position as a biology teacher at Macassar Senior Secondary School in Cape Town, South Africa.  A seven year career came to an end.  It was a very emotional day for me because three busloads full of my now former students came to wish me well an hour before I would board a 747 to start a new and exciting life, my destination, Lafayette, Louisiana.

Thirty-two hours later, not including a six hour bus ride from New Orleans, I arrived in Lafayette, Louisiana, temperature 93 degrees, humidity 100 percent.  This was not a good Saturday as I was not allowed to check into the dorm since my name was not on the housing list. However, this was a significant day because I met my first friend Seprian Davis, a residence hall counselor who later introduced me to my wife and who served as my best man.  Seprian checked me into a room and helped me overcome my first obstacle.

After my first year as a full-time student, I was hired by the Department of Student Personnel as a residence hall counselor.  This paid for my room and board. This was very important since the devaluation of the South African currency caused me to spend all my savings which were supposed to last throughout my undergraduate years.  I was now motivated to finish (with honors mind you) a four year degree in three years without attending summer sessions.   My summer sessions were devoted to working for a house cleaning company in Ohio, which enabled me to earn enough money to pay for my tuition.  In May 1987, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education. I thought that this was a pretty neat accomplishment for some third world kid.

Allow me to back track just a little.  In January 1986 (the tenth to be exact)  while standing in the lunch line during counselor orientation, I met the prettiest girl I have ever seen in my life. Because of this newly found love, I decided not to transfer to Colorado State University for my masters, but decided to continue my post graduate work at USL.  On May 20, 1989 we were married at the historic Acadian Village.

I was still experiencing major financial difficulty and did not know how I was going to pay for my education.  One thing, however, worked in my favor.  Through my hard work and continued success, I built up a track record which allowed me to break the mold at USL.  For the first time, a student was allowed to hold two assistantships at the same time. I was offered a graduate teaching assistantship in health and physical education as well as a graduate assistantship in the department of student personnel.  One assistantship covered my room and board, the second covered my tuition, while both paid me a monthly stipend.

I must pause here to give credit where credit is due.  None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the help of my good friend Dr. Jimmy Clarke and mentors, Dr. Wendel Gatch and Dr. Ed Dugas.  I must also thank Dr. Carlson for granting me my first opportunity to teach in a higher education setting.

Graduate school went very well.  I graduated in 1989, got married to my fiance, Karla Jean Roeten two weeks later, had a three week honeymoon and was ready to find a job and have the money roll in. Summer 1989 flew by, and at the end of the summer I was still unemployed.  A phone call came a day before classes at USL were to begin.  Dr. Carlson offered me a one year temporary position. Needless to say, I was happy because by now I had gotten used to sleeping indoors and eating one good meal a day.  At this time I broke the USL mold for the second time, because for the next five years I became a permanent temporary instructor in the Department of Physical Education.  In 1997, I was finally hired on a more permanent basis by the university.

I am still here today and I have learned so much. I was humbled through circumstances; I was uplifted by my fellow man; and I thank God for everyone who helped to shape me, good or bad.  I shall never lose faith and I am more excited about the future today than I have ever been.  I am happily married to my wife, Karla Jean, and we enjoy our most precious gift, 18- month-old Gabrielle Jean (we wanted to keep the Jean in the family) more than you can imagine.

Thank you for the opportunity to tell my story, and I hope it will be an inspiration to just anyone who might read it.

Sincerely,

Johan J. Adendorff