Julie Skokan sits in front of her computer busy at work. She is an attractive, middle-aged woman with an apparent sense of formality in her choice of clothing and organization that she incorporates throughout her desk and office. Her walls are decorated with both feminine décor and the obvious proud ownership of her degrees and life accomplishments framed for all to see. It is early afternoon – the middle of her day. “I have worked here in the Student Services Deptartment (TRiO) of the Grays Harbor College campus for the past seven years.” Many years ago, she was a carnie for two consecutive years and had a dream to become a clown in the Barnum and Bailey Circus. “I earned a real estate license when I first moved to the Harbor.” She has an intriguing list of accomplishments to share with the world.
I grew up in small town in Illinois where I was third of eight children. My father was in the military during the Korean War. My siblings and I grew up in a lower to middle-class family. “My father did not get military benefits at that time as the Korean War was considered a “police action” and not an actual war yet.” My extended and were farmers. Growing up, I lived next door to a dear sweet neighbor named Mary Belle. She moved away to Cosmopolis, Washington, when I was two. My seven brothers and sisters and mother and I took a car trip all the way across country to visit Mary Belle, and this was my first visit to the harbor. “My mom was always very crazy and outgoing! She had to be to take on a road trip that far with a car full of kids.”
My high school class had a grand total of 42 students. I was very active in theatre and speech. We were fortunate enough to get a new drama teacher that I immediately looked up to. Mr. Scher became my mentor and role model. I had talked to the guidance counselor at school and was given the advice to not further my schooling. Thanks to the redirection of Mr. Scher, I was encouraged to not only apply to a college, but to apply to three schools. My love of working as a carnie inspired me to apply to the Barnum and Bailey Clown College along with two other prestigious colleges. Nobody really knows about my dream that I once truly wanted to be a clown. I was graciously accepted to all three and had quite a decision to make. “I decided it would be best to go to St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas. So, in the year 1977, one day after Elvis’s death, I arrived in Memphis to pay tribute at Graceland and then continue on to St. Edwards.
Being at a big college away from the comfort of my small town was a big culture shock for me. I spent the first two weeks at college without a roommate. My roommate was actually late because on her way to college she stopped at a commune and got sidetracked. She eventually did show up and we became good friends. However, about this time I started to get severe anxiety. My friend Martha asked if I would be interested in filling in at a nearby theater doing backstage work and I graciously accepted. This would be just like the good old days doing theatre back when I was a junior in high school. I met my now husband, Bob that first night!
My soon-to-be husband, Bob and I soon moved in together for the next eighteen months and then took the plunge into our now 30 year marriage. We both found ourselves unemployed and decided to take a chance on a company called Lambs in Hoquiam, Washington. Bob was offered a drafting job and I was very excited to revisit the Harbor after having such fond memories of it when I visited as a young child. The Harbor’s economy wasn’t that great at the time and I decided to get my real estate license and manage properties while Bob continued to work at Lamb’s. I worked on and off and vice-versa with Bob! We thought long and hard about moving back home, but decided to stick it out.
During one of my lay-off periods, I decided to enroll at the Grays Harbor College. I would try my luck at getting a degree; however, technology was not a big part of the learning process yet. We didn’t have the Internet or Microsoft Office Word or any of the great technology that is available now so it was a very different schematic on how we were able to learn than it is now. I got my major in business and did work study at the Counseling Center at the college and eventually got hired as a tutor in Student Services Department. I was now embracing a new sense of “community” in my life. I worked diligently, striving to achieve success at GHC and was eventually offered a scholarship to continue on with my educational goals.
However, with all the success came a period of time where things took a turn in my life. I was offered and accepted a job at Biopharmaceutical Technology Center Institute (BCTI) for a short period of time. I was in charge of enrolling students in the program I was working on. When attendance fell short, I was fired. This was the first time I had ever been fired from a job and I took it very hard. Lame! I was hurt so much that I started drinking and went into a terrible downward spiral. I started spinning my wheels. Someone mentioned to me that The Evergreen State College was starting a weekend program and I felt this would be the perfect thing to bring me back up. I registered and started in the winter program. I actually ended up being the first graduate of the weekend program and was very proud of myself. I also worked at WorkSource for 6 years. I was accepted to Western Washington University. I drove back and forth on my days off for 2 years in order to get my master’s degree. I lived in my motor home in the summer while doing all of this. It was my home away from home on wheels and it suited me just fine.
This initially led me to the job at TRiO at GHC where I work now and it is a blessing to help students. I am so humbled to be so important to students and it still shocks me and warms my heart to hear students tell me they love me. This must have been what kept me going.
I am happy to be a transplant to the Harbor and I am not going anywhere. My husband, Bob, and I have decided there isn’t anywhere else we would like to retire in life and I cannot wait to give back to the community that has given me so very much.
~Interviewed & transcribed
by Barbie Smith
