Page 14 - Fall 2024 Newsletter

Spotlight on Alumni, continued...
am very thankful mom brought me back home for that
time.”
Houlton High School played an important role in
Sharon’s formative years.
“I wasn’t the strongest of students, but I surely loved
socializing! I loved seeing all my friends in the hallway
and chatting in the lobby at every chance. Working
in the office with Mrs. Wotton and Mrs. Fitzpatrick was
also a highlight of my time at Houlton High School”
When asked if there were any teachers that had a
lasting impact on her, Sharon was quick to respond.
“I enjoyed all the teachers I had, but my all-time
favorite was Mrs. Wiggin. To this day I credit her for my
writing skills that have taken me quite far in my career.
She just made everything so fun and interesting, and
you just never knew what tools she would use to make
you love what she was teaching.”
Over the years, she has seen many changes in the
town. She really loves the creativity of the businesses
downtown and the community spirit which, she
believes, gets better each time she comes back.
“The family activities of the Halloween downtown
tables and the Midnight Madness, Moose Stompers…
the volunteerism there is inspiring!”
When I had a chance to start a different role in my
career which involved me moving out of Aroostook
- way south to Orono to work for Senator King as his
State Director based in our Bangor office - I took it!
Sharon misses the County, but she is enjoying the
Bangor area and meeting new friends and also running
into old friends who relocated here years ago! She
especially loves being closer to her daughter who
graduated from the University of Maine in 2022 and
now lives in Boston.
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Sharon still has family in the area and tries to get back
to Houlton at least once a month and has some “must-
do” items on her list.
“If at all possible, I try to come back (during a time
frame) that includes a Wednesday so I can get Sadie’s
molasses donuts with sugar! And I always strive for
lunch at the Co-Op! I enjoy a lot of the food options in
Houlton!
I asked Sharon what advice she would give to a student
considering a career in her field and she had some very
inspiring words.
“My field is often a difficult one to get into because
there are only 100 Senators in the country, so job
openings are not plentiful. In general - public service
positions in the federal government are extremely
rewarding - whether it is for an elected official or a
federal position within an agency, some of the most
dedicated and professional people I know hold those
positions. Like in any field - the very few bad apples
can scar the good work of others and is often what is
focused on but a lot of good is done.
Consider a federal position to make a difference for
your neighbors and neighborhoods. They are less
political jobs but more advocacy and that is very
rewarding work. You get to truly understand how
your government works and how the employees
within these agencies really try to make a difference.
So, I guess I would say don’t assume federal service is
boring - it’s held my attention for more than 2 decades
that’s for sure!
Sharon Campbell - another Houlton High School
graduate making a difference in their community.
www.houltonalumni.com