William Stroup

I have a very diverse background. My formative years were spent exploring the many wonders that presented themselves to a kid growing up in central Africa. Those years were certainly key to my development as a "jack of all trades and master of none," kind of person, as I like to put it. My years in Africa were spent exploring the nearby jungle, traveling on safari, swimming, biking and soaking in whatever knowledge I could glean from the many books I could get my hands on. My education came from a combination of private school, home schooling, and boarding school. When I escaped for the day from one of the institutions of learning it was the school of life; hiking, swimming, boating, motorbikes and the family 4x4 that kept my interest. Upon retuning to the United States, I spent time pursuing various avenues of education and employment. I attended Philadelphia Bible College for a year and studied youth ministries. I then went on to Delaware County Community College for a year taking general courses and finally ended up out at the University of Pittsburgh, studying English Literature and French Business. Unfortunately in the beginning of my senior year my brother passed away and I was pulled away from my studies. I pursued a varitey of jobs and became involved with the local volunteer fire department. I went to school and became an EMT. For the first time in a long time I felt settled and happy despite constantly being on the go. I was either helping out at church, running an ambulance call, or tending to one of the many responsibilities that come with owning a farm, (animal care, splitting wood, check the garden, fix the roof, fix the tractor, mend the fence again...) Come to think of it I am not sure how it all got done and yet most evenings in the summer and fall were spent sitting around a bon fire in the back yard after dinner....until the fire whistle blew again. I then received a call from an Army recruiter that brought about another change in life. At the age of 33 I joined the Army. Over the next couple of years I went through the Army Medic training and LPN training and spent time in a variety of different locations. Through the Army I found a way to serve my country and learned new trades that I could use to further a career and help my community. I am now in the Army reserves, and looking for a job where I can better utilize my skills.