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Posted 4.21.05 |
| It’s
been a very long time since we graduated from Oñate
High School.
Since
then, we have all wandered along our own chosen paths to seek out our
fortunes in life. Who among us has
not wondered how our classmates have done on their adventures?
How many times have you asked
yourself... Where are they now? |
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In 1993, FABIAN
RODRIGUEZ was voted “Most Likely To Succeed” because of
his participation in countless school organizations and his desire to
make a difference in the school. Fabian
has lived up to this title by making a difference in our country serving
as a flight surgeon for the US Air Force. |
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What
can you tell us about your life right now?
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Right now I am serving with the 7th
Medical Group at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, TX. I
am a flight surgeon and have been serving since July 2003. I
started right after my internship in Internal Medicine residency.
Essentially, I am a generalist who basically takes care of all aircrew
which fly planes.
At Dyess AFB we have the B-1 Bomber and the C-130 Hercules Airlifter. I
am one of 5 doctors who work in the flight medicine clinic.
A flight surgeon is responsible for clearing and grounding all aircrew
medically. As a bonus we are expected to fly with the crews monthly.
This allows us the opportunity to see firsthand what flying really
requires. It's not just “sit back and enjoy the flight”.
So far, I have been deployed to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and have
flown in the F-16, C-17, E-8, C-20, KC-135, as well as the planes above.
Basically, as a flight doc you get to fly on practically everything, as
long as there is room.
If you are lucky, they may let you take the stick and fly for a bit. All
good things come to an end and I will go back to residency training
where I will need to figure out what to do with the rest of my life.
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How
did you get from Oñate
High
School
to where you are now? |
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I went directly to New Mexico State
where I majored in Agronomy and Horticulture. You see, after watching
"The Milagro Beanfield War" and "Field of Dreams", I
wanted to be a farmer who traveled the globe educating other farmers on
more efficient and practical farming. I even joined the FFA, 4-H and
served as College of Ag Ambassador.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, I spent a summer working in Mexico doing
just that and hated it. Zacatecas
was a gorgeous city to live in, but I had to move on.
So, after working in Plant Genetics Lab, I majored and graduated
in Biochemistry. I applied for an Air Force Scholarship and started at
Creighton University in Omaha, NE.
I loved it. The cold and
snow were tough, but the people and my housemate were awesome.
So after my first year, exhausting as it was, I left for basic training
in Alabama and there met my wife Anna. She was starting med school at
East Tennessee State in little old Johnson City, TN.
So, what do you know? After
8 months we were married and I was living in Tennessee, smack dab in the
middle of Appalachia (insert theme music to "Deliverance").
After surviving medical school, we were pregnant and moving to my first
assignment in Texas.
Ayla is now 18 months and is this close to writing her dissertation (ha
ha!). Seriously, babies grow fast and you have to keep leash on them
sometimes. She is the best thing to happen to me since learning I was a
boy and liked girls (yes.. I started that young.)
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What
were your goals when you were at OHS?
Have they changed along the way?
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As you can tell from
above, my goals took a turn in college. I was this close to ending up at
Iowa State too. The best part about college, though, was the experiences
and camaraderie.
I lived on campus, off campus, spent one summer in South India, one in
San Francisco and of course the life changing Zacatecas, Mexico.
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What are your goals for the future?
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It's tough when you marry
someone from another state. Family get-togethers are tough. Fortunately
we are only 8 hours away from Las Cruces, but that will change soon.
Living in Texas has been great too.
We have been able to visit Crystal Fabre (soon-to-be Mrs.
I-can't-even-spell-the-last-name), Evan Chavez and the newlywed SSgt.
William Coates, also in the AF.
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Do
you feel that you have achieved “success”?
What is your idea of “success”?
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Success is a state of
mind. We all have our goals and dreams.
Frankly, I know I'm blessed and lucky to be alive and healthy.
I was fortunate enough to be born American and had great parents. My
family has been the rock on which I've climbed and supported myself.
Success is when you can go back home and be thankful you made it to
another day, another wedding and another new addition to the family.
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If
you could to do one thing different in your life, what would that be?
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I probably would have
liked to have played on the football team or maybe asked more girls out.
Too shy or chicken I guess.
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Was
there anyone at OHS who inspired you? |
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Ms. Haines-Biology,
Ms. Kirby-English, Ms. Smith-English, Mr. Baca-Counselor and of course
Mr. Fannin-Band,
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What
advice would you give to a new generation of Oñate
High School
students
who will graduate into the “real world” soon?
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Remember: stupid is as stupid does.
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What
is your most cherished recollection of your time at OHS? |
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Band … everything about band … especially State competition
and long bus rides. It was
all about who was on your bus and who you sat next to.
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What
do you miss about OHS or your years as a high school student?
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I miss the unlimited ability to screw up, hang
out and flirt.
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When
was the last time you were in Las Cruces
?
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I was there back in January on my way back from
an assignment in Phoenix.
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Do
you plan to attend the proposed 15-year reunion in 2008?
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You can count on it. I
can't wait for everyone to meet Anna and Ayla.
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