Where Are They Now?

When Alaina Gilbert Showalter joined the Navy in 1989, she knew next to nothing about electrical work. “All I knew was, plug it in and it works, and if it doesn’t, find another outlet,” she joked.

But when her aptitude test results suggested the role of aircraft electrician, she decided to go for it. “The school in the Navy is intense, intense training, and they teach you everything,” she said. By the time she finished her training, Showalter was working on the wiring for helicopters and marine patrol aircraft, and enjoying her time traveling the world.

Showalter graduated from Dublin in 1986, and spent the next three years working in town, waitressing and doing odd jobs. “I just wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” she said. “I always thought I wanted to be a veterinarian, but I was like, ‘Man, that’s a lot of college.’ So I just thought I’d give the Navy a shot. I thought I’d just do four years and get out and get to see some places.”

But once she got started as an aircraft electrician, Showalter found that she loved the work and wanted to stay on. “I ended up staying for ten years,” she said. Over those years, she worked primarily on helicopters and P3 aircraft, and was stationed in Florida, Iceland, and Puerto Rico.

Her favorite place to be stationed was Iceland.” That was definitely different,” she said. “I wasn’t used to that kind of climate, and when we stepped off the aircraft, I was like, ‘Okay, I have officially landed on the moon.’”

She enjoyed making friends there and trying the food, as well as visiting local attractions. Not too far from her base was a place called the Blue Lagoon, a natural hot spring and spa. “There’s all these different natural hot spring areas, so you could start out warm, and then you go to areas that were hot, and then almost way too hot,” she said. “And in the meantime, there you are watching the Aurora Borealis — the northern lights — just dance around like a Pink Floyd concert.”

Showalter didn’t leave the service until 1999, after she met her now-husband, Tim Showalter. The two met while stationed in Puerto Rico. “We both decided to get out because we wanted to be together rather than one of us having to be on sea duty all the time,” she said. “So we got out and that’s when I decided to go to college.”

Because of her service, the US government paid her way through school. “They really want you to go into something that is in high demand, so I chose education,” she said.

She started college in Miami, then relocated to South Carolina when her husband got a new job there. She graduated summa cum laude from Winthrop University in South Carolina in 2004, and started teaching middle school science at Clover Middle School in Clover, SC. She’s now in her 18th year of teaching.

Teaching seventh grade is a constant adventure for Showalter. “There is never a dull moment,” she said. “Every time you think you’ve said it all, then you say something that you never would have thought you’d say.”

Showalter went on to get her masters degree in education from Columbia University, and earn her National Board Certification. She plans to continue teaching for one or two more years, then retire. “We’re thinking we’ll settle down in Tennessee,” she said. “We’re looking forward to just traveling and relaxing.”

When they have free time, the Showalters like to travel and hike and spend time with their family. They raised three children from Tim’s previous marriage. The oldest, Kelly, is now 37, Mary is 36, and T.J. is 33. They have four grandchildren: Layla, 14, Corey, 12, Landon, 10, and Curtis, 5.

Showalter has always found inspiration in her parents, James and Gladys Gilbert. “My parents always worked hard and weren’t afraid to take risks,” she said. “They both created successful businesses — Dad was co-owner of Gilbert Auto Sales, and Mom owned Classic Cuts hair salon in Granbury. Their work ethic and drive was definitely an inspiration to always keep digging.”

Her advice to Dublin graduates is to not feel locked in to a traditional path. “I tell my kids at school all the time — don’t overlook the military,” she said. “It’s hard, it’s challenging, but it opened so many doors for me that I didn’t think I’d ever have, especially with my education. And also I get all kinds of benefits now. And it’s good for just learning good discipline and how to get along.”

Editor’s Note: This column chronicles what Dublin graduates have done since high school. If you have any suggestions for other grads, email publisher@dublincitizen.com.