Comments: Include editor’s note, “This is the last of a three-part series called “The road to graduation” which follows the emotions, expectations, and decisions of three graduating seniors. Staff Writer John McCarthy has followed these seniors since February.
Matt Shardlow won’t be looking for a job after graduation. He’ll be getting rid of a couple.
The substitute teacher, baseball coach, and sound engineer doesn’t mind being busy. Shardlow thrives on pressure and sees opportunity in his life’s unexpected changes.
Shardlow grew up around Portland. He calls his high school education “connect the dots,” having attended Windham High School, Waynflete School, and finally Yarmouth High School.
Changes continued as Shardlow prepared to enter college. In high school Shardlow had played baseball and was recruited to pitch by the coach at Pitzer College. Shardlow spent a year off between high school and college looking forward to playing ball in Pitzer’s warm California climate. He was forced to reconsider when Pitzer unexpectedly hired a new coach.
“I didn’t know this guy, and he didn’t know me. He wasn’t the one who recruited me,” said Shardlow.
Shardlow decided that he would rather play for the hometown team than waste another year looking for an out-of-state school. He didn’t let the decision to go to USM get to him.
“Who knows?” said Shardlow. “Sometimes I think about how different my life would be if I had gone out there. But if you live life like that you will drive yourself crazy.”
Shardlow’s laidback attitude comes from experience.
“All through my life, every time I’ve gone from one place to another it’s been for exactly the right reason,” said Shardlow. “I don’t know if I was born sacred or what.”
The decision to stay in Maine paid off when USM won the Division III World Series at the end of Shardlow’s freshmen year.
“In terms of experiences in my life that ranks right up there. It was an awe-inspiring experience,” said Shardlow.
Shardlow was being groomed as a starting pitcher. But life threw him a curveball when his daughter was born at the beginning of his sophomore year.
“Having a child created huge conflicts. I was throwing on two hours’ rest,” said Shardlow. “They (the USM baseball team) can be very selective about who they use. That kind of marginalized me. I couldn’t devote myself 100 percent.”
Shardlow eventually separated from his girlfriend and continued to care for his daughter several days a week. Class work took a backseat.
“The thing with a young child is there is a lot of unpredictability. Things happen. Kids get sick,” said Shardlow. “When they need your attention you have to give it to them. That’s it.”
As Shardlow adapted to his new role his decision to go to USM seemed to make more sense.
“That’s the nature of this institution,” said Shardlow. “We’re talking about people who aren’t traditional students. If I didn’t have a paper done professors were more understanding and accepting of that.”
During his junior year Shardlow declared a major in sociology.
“It’s a self-designed major that offers a tremendous amount of flexibility which is why I chose it. It was the easy choice for me,” said Shardlow.
Throughout college Shardlow had expected to get into the education field after graduation. He brought this expectation into his senior year, but in February he asserted his intention to keep his options open.
Shardlow had plenty to keep him busy. He was substituting at Falmouth High School, working as a sound engineer for local band Inside Straight every Monday, and getting ready to return as Greely High School’s pitching coach. All the while Shardlow continued to look after his daughter three days a week.
Never one to pass up an opportunity, he accepted an offer by blues club The Big Easy to work as soundman three nights a week. He didn’t let the increased workload stop him from accepting a long-term substitute position from Yarmouth High School. April found him putting in 80-hour workweeks.
“Pretty much what I was doing was just not sleeping,” said Shardlow. “I certainly increased my coffee intake.”
Not even severe sleep deprivation could prevent Shardlow from making a major change of direction.
“I’ve got people telling me all the time what a great situation I’ve got down at (The Big Easy) with the bands we’ve got and the system.”
Shardlow is now determined to start a career as a sound engineer.
“Doing sound is like playing another instrument,” said Shardlow. “There’s a lot you can do to make it better, and there’s a lot you can do to fuck it up.”
Still he leaves a return to teaching open.
“A lot of people pigeonhole themselves into something, and if they don’t like it they’re really screwed,” said Shardlow.
Shardlow has some big decisions to make but doesn’t feel any pressure.
“I don’t feel bound by anything,” said Shardlow. “I want to keep a lot of opportunities alive. I’m not one to close doors.”
Shardlow is ready for a break.
“I’m looking forward to the summer ’cause I’ve really been busting my balls,” said Shardlow. “I’ll just be working at the club and doing baseball camps.”
Staff Writer John McCarthy can be contacted at: [email protected]