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Teresa Tope, Director of Fine Arts, Bluegrass Community and Technical College tells our Celeste Lewis about her life away from BCTC.
What is a favorite college memory for you?
A favorite college memory would have to be the total emersion into the theatre arts; the acting and dance classes, late night rehearsals, productions, my theatre professor, Ed and his incredible ability to teach- such creativity he put into teaching and directing. It was a time of enlightening for me- new experiences, great friends. Life was good!
What’s in heavy rotation on your I-Pod?
James Taylor- Don’t Let Me be Lonely
Michael Franks- The Lady Wants to Know
Gregg Karukas- Nightshift
Cal Harris JR- She Loves the Water
Astrud and Joao Gilberto and Stan Getze- The Girl from Ipanema
Hyde Park- The Ah, Oooh Song
Neon Trees- Everybody Talks
Renato Falaschi- Just the Way You Are
Benoit/Freeman Project- It’s the Thought That Counts
Nancy Sinatra- Call Me
Who taught you how to drive?
My Dad taught me to drive when I was around 13. Our home had a long driveway where he would let me “practice” driving. We had a green Volkswagen, automatic shift, that I was getting pretty good with. One morning while everyone was getting ready for church, I asked to drive while we were waiting for my mother to finish getting ready. I took off driving around the house and ended up getting the car stuck between two buildings. It took Dad 15 minutes.to get the car back in the driveway so we could leave for church. He wasn’t happy with me, but he did continue to let me drive in the driveway. I took drivers education when I turned 16 and was the only girl in my class to pass the driving exam. I know it was because I was “experienced”.
Who is an inspiration to you?
My mother. She’s 94 and was living on her own until three years ago. Now she is in an assisted living facility in Southern Ohio and doing very well. She is the hardest working and the most giving person I know. When she was a young woman she left her home to work at the Curtis Wright Factory making planes during World War II. She was a “Rosie the Riveter” -working on the wing of the Hellcat bomber. As a young girl, I watched her work from sun up until late into the night. My father worked away from home through the week, so she took care of everything. I too had to help and it wasn’t much fun, but as I look back, I’m so glad she taught me the value of hard work. To help with income, she also did ironing for others, wallpapered homes and baked bread, pies and cakes to sell. She was one of the most talented seamstresses in my hometown- making the cheerleading and majorette uniforms for the high school teams and sewing and altering for everyone in the town. She would take my designs and make me outfits right out of the fashion magazines.
When anyone came to visit us, she would always send them home with something homemade. I learned that hard work and having a giving heart are two of the most important life skills one could have. Did I get her talent for sewing? No. I have trouble cutting a straight line, let alone sewing a dress! But I can make a mean red velvet cake from scratch, and I’m not afraid of hard work.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
I have two daughters. The assistant director where I was working who had five children once told me to always know who your children were staying with and exactly what the evening plans were. He also said it was safer to have the kids at your home. For example, when my oldest was in the 4th grade, a friend of hers was having a birthday party. To celebrate, the girls were going to go to a UK basketball game. My daughter was so excited; she had never been to a UK game. When I called to inquire about the evening, I found out the parents were not going to the game. They were dropping the 4th graders off at Rupp Arena and going out to eat and then coming back to pick them up after the game! My daughter didn’t get to go to that party and she was mad at me for weeks, but later she confided that she would have been afraid without an adult close by. Over the years, we had lots of kids staying at our house! It was fun and my mind was more at ease. I knew where they were, who they were with, and what they were doing.
What food can you not live without?
Definitely dark chocolate with almonds and sea salt. This candy is incredible.