Chris Cronin doesn’t like waiting. While other graduating seniors move back in with their parents and search for a first job, Cronin, who is married, will be starting the career she loves.
Cronin is a native of Casco. Before graduating from Lake Region High School she completed an internship at the Stone Environmental School in Madison, N.H. where she taught second and third graders about the environment. The experience sparked a strong interest in education. Cronin enrolled in classes at Unity College in central Maine where she studied environmental law and education.
She was happy to be building skills as a student and future educator at Unity. But things began to change after her sophomore year when her boyfriend, Wayne, graduated from the school and moved back to southern Maine.
“The homesickness finally kicked in after two years,” said Cronin, “I started thinking, `Maybe mom is right. Maybe I should go to school closer to home.'”
The move proved to be more than just a cure for homesickness.
“[USM] was a little different,” said Cronin. “At Unity I was an RA. At USM I joined a sorority, and I had more freedom.”
“[USM] has that non-commuter feel over in Gorham. It has that traditional college feel. If you want to get something to eat you can call a friend who lives two doors down from you.”
Cronin found that the change of venue expanded her academic horizon as well.
“At USM I realized that there are other majors,” said Cronin. “Unity is very sheltered. All of the classes are about the environment. Environmental majors are too narrow.”
After spending some time at the University, Cronin decided to major in communication, which she called a “broader” area of study. Still, she was determined to teach after graduation.
Her living situation changed again towards the end of her first year at USM when she moved into a house in Wells with her fianc?, Wayne. Cronin missed parts of her life on campus but was happy with the decision.
“I did feel isolated, but it was what I wanted. It was the next move to independence,” said Cronin.
Her next move was to take the spring 2000 semester off to marry Wayne, a police officer in Wells. The transition from single life came easily.
“Being able to let loose is the only aspect of college life that I miss,” said Cronin. “But I’m glad I don’t have the `oops, what did I do last night?’ feeling.”
Cronin returned to school in the fall. The next big hurdle in her life would come before graduation. In April she would take a teacher certification test. Without a passing grade she wouldn’t be able to get a job. She did well in her classes, but as she approached the day of her test she began to worry.
“If I failed, if I didn’t get the right number right, I couldn’t get certified for another 60 days,” she said.
Cronin did her best to prepare for the test by using a study guide, but when April 4 finally arrived she found that the “really thick book” had let her down.
“The book said it was going to be multiple choice, but when I got there it wasn’t, and I was like `Oh my God,'” said Cronin. “I was really nervous, and I thought I was going to be sick.”
Despite the surprise fill-in-the-blank format of the test, Cronin’s anxiety was short lived.
“Once I got my math score [before moving on to other test areas] and saw that I did so well I calmed right down,” said Cronin.
Cronin is still waiting for her score on the final section of the teacher certification test. But she is certain that she passed the test and feels relieved. Cronin is searching for a position in a school near her home.
She is currently substituting at her local high school and junior high. Students who think they can take advantage of her inexperience have a lesson to learn.
“Like the other day some kid said, `Excuse me Mrs. Cronin. What are your qualifications to teach this class?’ I told him and he shut right up. He was just trying to be a punk,” said Cronin.
Cronin is sure that she will find a full-time position soon. As she prepares to graduate she worries only that she will miss school when it comes to an end.
Staff Writer John McCarthy can be contacted at: [email protected]