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Archive for the ‘Everything changes’ Category

After coming through a very dark period, Korbin Korzan embraces each new day.

Korbin Korzan is one of the most physically gifted athletes I have written about during my time in Coupeville.

He was a standout high school football and baseball player and a key member of a Central Whidbey Little League hardball squad which won a state title in 2010.

Very outgoing, he always seemed to enjoy being in the spotlight, and shared those moments with family and friends.

But no one ever truly knows what another is going through, and today Korbin has agreed to let me share his story.

He does so in the hope that it will help others reach their own inner peace.

In Korbin’s own words:

 

I originally intended on waiting a decade to share my story.

Some recent events have happened that are pushing me to share it now.

I don’t know if there is anyone out there that can benefit from hearing this, but if it makes a difference for just one person then I will be happy.

So, seven years ago … my life looked a little different.

I just turned 21, had an amazing career at Bank of America, just opened my drone business, and was engaged to the love of my life (Whitney).

Sounds like an awesome life, right?

Looking at pictures (from then) you would probably think I was a pretty happy guy.

Well, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

I was severely depressed and mixing a cocktail of drugs and alcohol to try to numb my pain.

It took hitting rock bottom to fully accept that I was not okay.

And friends, it is OKAY to not be okay.

The biggest thing is accepting that and being willing to accept help.

That is so much easier said than done but I know you can do it.

I don’t want to go into details about what happened October 2017, but I do want to discuss what happened AFTER I decided to get help and get clean.

The first few months were riddled with anger and pain.

I dug myself into a massive crater and it was time to start making my way out. As time went on things began to improve.

I focused on bettering myself and surrounding myself with people who showed me love and support.

So, what has happened since October 2017? How much could YOUR life change in seven short years — just like mine did?

Since trying to take my own life, I have:

Married my soulmate.

Korbin and Whitney

Expanded my drone company to a full production company.

Traveled out of state 30+ times and gone on so many amazing adventures.

Made new friends.

Explored areas I didn’t even know existed.

Made over two million dollars.

Tried amazing new foods and played video games I once dreamed of as a child.

Drove awesome cars.

Started fun new hobbies.

Flown in planes, big and small.

Found my silver lining in life.

The list goes on and on. I have experienced so many new and amazing experiences.

I don’t say this to brag … I honestly never thought any of these things would ever happen to me.

So, whether your passion is family, love, adventure, or money, all of that can still be yours.

If my life can change that much, so can yours!

You might feel like you are in a dark place now but I promise you it can and it WILL get better.

Surround yourself with friends and family that love you. Accept that it is okay to not feel okay.

Talk to others and ask for help! I am always here if anyone needs to talk.

Suicide is a very real and scary thing in our world. Reach out to your friends and let them know you are there.

Even if you don’t think they are sad, sometimes the “happiest” people are truly the saddest.

It would be a lie if I said I didn’t still struggle to this day … but it is not as bad anymore and continues to get better every year.

I know the same thing can happen for you!

I promise you things can get better.

You are more than enough, and the world is such a better place with you in it.

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They want to hear your thoughts.

The Coupeville School District Board of Directors are hosting a community forum Thursday, Feb. 15, seeking input on the hunt for a new superintendent.

The meeting is set to run from 6:00-7:00 PM in the high school’s Performing Arts Center.

Coupeville needs to replace Steve King, who is resigning after six years. His tenure as superintendent comes to a close at the end of the current school year.

School board directors hired the search consultant firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates to lead the scavenger hunt for his successor.

Kristine McDuffy and John Dekker, both former superintendents, are the lead consultants for the search process.

The forum is intended to offer “families, staff, students, and other community members” an opportunity to “help build a candidate profile that fits the needs of (the) school district.”

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“They’re going to improve our field. No, really!” (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Coupeville High School officials are moving forward on two projects to improve playing surfaces for Wolf athletics.

The ongoing construction of new tennis courts next to the CHS gym has mostly been completed, but the actual pouring of concrete will likely have to wait until after the brunt of winter, said Superintendent Steve King.

For now, the project, which is a capital project funded by a levy, has produced additional parking slots for those attending basketball games.

Those slots are located on the Northwest corner of the gym.

Once spring arrives, CHS also plans to begin work on improvements to the school’s softball field.

“In working with our community and the Town of Coupeville, we have determined that a renovation of the field is a better option than our original plans to relocate,” King said.

“We will be doing some initial improvements on the field this winter, and then during the summer of 2024, we will do a more significant update.

“The most important part of this change will be creating a larger and safer backstop to keep balls off of Terry Road for safety reasons.”

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Coupeville High School Vice Principal Leonard Edlund will not return during the 2023-2024 school year.

Meanwhile, Dean of Students Tom Black, originally a budget cut, has been returned to full-time status after starting the year as a part-timer.

Those changes were announced in an email Friday by Coupeville Superintendent Steve King.

The pertinent details:

Recently, we learned that Mr. Edlund, our MSHS Assistant Principal, will not be able to return to work during the 23-24 school year. 

Given this, we are adjusting our plans for staffing and administration support for the secondary campus for the remainder of the school year.

At the beginning of the school year, we made the following changes to help absorb the loss of Mr. Edlund:

1. We brought Mr. Black back to work on a part-time basis as a temporary Dean of Students.

2. To continue providing leadership for our Career and Technical Education Program (CTE), we brought on Susan Haldezos-Galligan, formerly Johnson, to be our CTE Director.

3. We restored days to Allyson Cundiff’s contract that had been cut over the summer so she could assist Mr. (Geoff) Kappes with staff evaluations.

With the updated information regarding Mr. Edlund, we are making changes to the plan for the remainder of the school year.

First of all, we will continue to support the changes made above.

Last week, when we learned that Mr. Edlund would not be returning, we restored Mr. Black to full-time.

We are also exploring the possibility of hiring an interim assistant principal for the remainder of the school year, with Feb. 1 as a potential target start date.

This plan is still being developed, and all options are being considered as we find a viable option to support students and staff while considering the financial implications.

Unfortunately, this evolving situation has affected the secondary campus while increasing district expenses.

I want to thank everyone for their continued work absorbing the significant workload in Mr. Edlund’s absence.

We will inform you once we have finalized our plans for the remainder of the school year.

Meanwhile, we’re all keeping Mr. Edlund in our thoughts and wishing him a full recovery.

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Karina Andrew

Whidbey journalism has taken a hit.

After 2.5+ years of knocking it out of the park for the Whidbey News-Times, Karina Andrew is taking her byline and hitting the road.

Andrew joined the WNT in May 2021 after an internship with The Salt Lake Tribune, and quickly became indispensable.

She covered just about every subject available during her time at my old stomping grounds, and I particularly enjoyed her foray into sports coverage when she wrote a first-person account of her triathlon debut.

You can read it here:

Completing triathlon is a feat in itself

But she was more than just a fast-typing reporter, as Andrew also graced the stage at Whidbey Playhouse, taking lead roles in revivals of Grease, Barefoot in the Park, and more.

Newspapers may not be what they once were, but as long as talented young writers still wade into the pit each day, there is hope.

Dedicated, hardworking, innovative, deeply committed, and owner of a joyous personality, Andrew occupied the seat in the WNT newsroom once owned by one of my mentors, Geoff Newton.

She honored that chair, and both Sound Publishing and her readers were lucky to have her land on Whidbey.

Keep your eyes on the headlines, because this won’t be the last time we see Karina Andrew in the spotlight.

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