My name is Jeremiah Isbell, and I have grown up in the greater Phoenix area since October 15, 1981.  I’m an ordinary person, a 22 year old student studying to graduate with a psychology degree, and move on to a successful career in the Psychology field, hopefully working with children. 

I’ve grown up an only child, therefore never experienced life with siblings.  I went to Loma Linda elementary school, and later Camelback High School, both in central Phoenix, near Camelback Rd, and 20^th st.

In my last semester of high school, after being accepted to NAU, I got a big surprise.  My high school “sweetheart” was pregnant. At first obviously there was stress, and a lot of friction between families, and even me and Catherine, my then girlfriend of about a year.  But the instant Laila, our daughter, was born things changed, and opened everyone’s eyes, including mine to how much of a miracle she really was. 

If you do the math I became a father at the age of 19, and about a week after getting off for my first winter break from NAU. No more NAU. Though times did prove tough occasionally, juggling school; I’ve bounced from GCC, to Phoenix College, to eventually ASU West.  Combining school, with work, and a family still proves difficult.

Catherine and I received lots of support though, from family, and we always cared for each other very much, not to mention our daughter. Through the adversity we fought to keep together.  So on May 17, 2003, we got married at the tender ages of 22, and 21 and set out to start the rest of our lives together.

That pretty much brings me current as far as myself and my immediate family go.  I am currently preparing for my senior year, and just received my DOGS, declaration of graduation something I’ve been looking forward to for a while.  I’ve chosen this class Learning from the South Side, partly to fill requirements, and schedule times, but also in an effort to give a greater focus on an area long ignored, not only by me, but by just about everyone else in this town.