Conversations With Uncle Joe Honest Discussions of Life's Issues

This book is a collection of conversations that Uncle Joe has with his nieces and nephews about issues that they are encountering or will soon encounter in their lives. Some of these issues are friendship, sex, dating, reading, preschool, marriage, etc. Uncle Joe has a rapport or relationship with his nieces and nephews that make them feel comfortable talking to him. They know he won't be "fake," but will tell them what he believes to be the truth, without passing judgement on them should they disagree. This book is not meant to be a fix-all, but to at least be a conversation starter for those who need it. The author believes that we all need occasional, proper "conversation" in our lives to maintain good mental and emotional health.

I was born in Southern Pines, NC in the early 1960s. I joined the U.S. Air Force after graduating from high school and retired after 22 years of service. Fourteen of those twenty-two years were spent in recruiting qualified individuals for various air force programs (enlisted, nurse, doctor, officer, etc.). During my time in the Air Force, I completed a BA degree in Human Resources. Immediately after retiring from the Air Force, I started my second career in education as an AFJROTC teacher. After five years in this position, I applied for the North Carolina Principal Fellowship program. I received the fellowship and began the two-year graduate program. A year after completing my master's degree in School Administration, I was hired in my first assistant principal job. I held an assistant principal position for eight years while taking some graduate courses in counseling. Throughout my time as a recruiter and as an educator I have had the honor of conversing with young people about their concerns, issues, career plans, etc. I have been married to a beautiful lady for 35 years and we have two grown children. This book is a partial culmination of those concerns young people have shared with me over the years, my raising two children with my wife, and an attempt to give back to society.