JACQUELINE MARSH-BELTON
24 March 01
Talofa Samco Class of '84
As for many of us, lots of time has passed since I have seen many of you. But please know that my thoughts of the Samco class of 84 have never left me. I just recently tracked down Pania through some previous friends from Upolu, & that is how Jebi has now reached me. It is so astonishing to see how well everyone in this class has done. One thing all of you have taught me is to aim high. I do remember this class to be the most competitive group of individuals I have ever met.
After leaving Samoa College, I completed my high school years at Samoana High School in American Samoa. I graduated 5th out of 205 students, was awarded an off Island Scholarship & proceeded to Florida Tech in Melbourne, Florida. Why move to Florida so far away from Samoa? My first reason was majoring in Electrical Engineering & Florida Tech was known for its curriculum. My father is originally from Florida, So I thought I would go meet his family. Since I wasn't really a geek (or smart enough), Electrical Engineering & I parted company. I switched to Business figuring I would follow my father's footsteps & go into Banking or Corporate Finance. In College I was a Sorority Party animal who had all the fun in college that I didn't have in High school and that is why it took me five years. (Pania you know my mom!) In December 1989, I earned a B.S. in Business Administration with major concentration in Finance. I then moved to Ridgefield, Connecticut.
You may wonder about the move to Connecticut, it wasn't for a job. I met my husband James T. Belton (1985) at Florida Tech. A typical Palagi saw an island girl & had to have her. My husband was a flight student at Florida Tech. Now you will understand why I moved so much. I worked for Connecticut Bank & Trust as a Float Teller, waiting for my Management Training program to start. CBT was bought by Fleet Bank and my management training slot was moved from Hartford, CT to Albany, NY. The commute would have been too far because my husband worked for an American Airlines affiliate American Eagle out of JFK Int'l in New York City. I decided to change careers and went to work for Estee Lauder Cosmetics. I worked my way up to an Account Coordinator where I was in charge of Five Filene Department Stores, 32 employees, an well over a million dollars in business. I had one more step that I was working towards when my husband informed me that the New York Air National Guard in Syracuse, New York wanted him to report to Officer and Flight Training. His goal was to always be a fighter pilot like his dad & brother, so career changes where made. I had to quit my job & move to Lubbock, Texas so that he could follow his career path at Reese Air Force Base. Also in case any of you are wondering, I only lived in sin for three years, my husband & I were married in Kona, Hawaii, April 17th, 1993. My parents were living on the Big Island of Hawaii at the time.
During my husband's active duty service I held several different jobs, 1995 - (Lubbock, Texas) I worked as an Account Manager for Snelling Temporary Services. Helped place individuals in temporary job placement. 1996 - (Scottsdale, Arizona) Worked as an Executive Recruiter/Staffing Consultant for a Royal Personnel Services. My husband was going through F-16 Flight School at Luke Air Force Base. In April of 1996 we moved to Syracuse, New York where my husband flies F-16s for the 174th Tactical Fighter Wing (Formally The Boys from Syracuse of Gulf War Fame). As for me, I got a job Selling Computer Hardware for Cablexpress Inc. While getting into my new job, I discovered that I was pregnant with my 1st Son. James Mana Belton was born July of 1997. My husband was flying F-16's part-time and was a first officer for United Airlines. Todd Toa Belton was born March of 1999. And shortly thereafter we built a home in Manlius, New York. My career now is being a stay at home mom. I love my new job & would never change the life I have. I was always a high achiever during my academic & professional life, but no one ever tells you that the most satisfying job in the world is that of being a MOM. Fortunately, we are financially stable enough that I don't have to work. (For those of you who don't think being a mom is work, try raising two small boys & a grown husband.)
I do miss Samoa greatly especially because of the 190 inches of snow (yes I did type 190 inches) we got this winter. Can you imagine a Samoan neck deep in Snow in a lavalava. I usually just tell people I'm an Eskimo, you know palagis they can't tell the difference. I try to keep in touch with old friends to keep me connected to Samoa and now I have found you to help in that connection. My husband & I feel it is very important for our boys to know their Samoan Heritage.
God Bless & Alofa Tele, Jackie :)