Glenbrook South High School Alumni
Glenview, Illinois (IL)
Alumni Stories
Kimi Fia Ellen Swanson Minor
Class of 1971
My journey through my latest poem. Suffered PTSD post a craniotomy 2018. The ghosts of the past surfaced
“SING
I embrace the shine
to voice my sing
From childhood
to eldering.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
My voice my song,
Once muted by abuse
muted my heartstrings
Parents life story-NO EXCUSE!
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
You had the power
You had the choice
To break a little girl
Innocent and pure
You lost my respect,
That’s for sure!
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
mother destroyed me
father shattered my trust
Monsters under my bed,
Thankfully you’re
Ashes-to-Ashes
Dust-to-Dust!
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
Can you hear me now?
Can you see me now?
I’m out from the shadows
Free from your sick gallows.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
I beat the fear
Gathered my broken pieces
piece by piece
Memory by memory
Opening my heart
As fear releases.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
Survived to thrive
raised my dear children
Now kindhearted adults
despite all your lies.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
My heart is strong
still you did me wrong
Your Accountability is my song.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
Risin higher than the clouds
Freed of secretive shrouds
no longer an empty shell
Now a warrior
to sing my tell.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
70 and proud
I stand tall in any crowd.
I believe in me
choose to stay
To share my victories.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
I am the me that was to be
I’ll never slow down,
no not me
My mended pieces, scarred,
Stitched together with grit
I’m proud to say,
I’m done with “their” shxt.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
Gratitude to those
impactin(ed) my life
Family is chosen
Enhancing love
Not dumpin strife.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
Gratitude to me,
I never gave up
Authorin poems to see.
No more regrets,
Reframin fear,
Infusin I-love-me thoughts
To soothe those threats.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
No more beat me up song in my head,
No more secrets,
Freedom Storytelling instead.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
Embracing my creative song in my heart
Each morning, each night,
Reciting gratitude,
Moment to moment offers a brand new start????
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
My life is a gift,
No longer adrift.
I greet my growth
with many a joy tear
this particular poem
Until I write again,
With appreciation
Ends here!”
Kimi minor
“SING
I embrace the shine
to voice my sing
From childhood
to eldering.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
My voice my song,
Once muted by abuse
muted my heartstrings
Parents life story-NO EXCUSE!
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
You had the power
You had the choice
To break a little girl
Innocent and pure
You lost my respect,
That’s for sure!
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
mother destroyed me
father shattered my trust
Monsters under my bed,
Thankfully you’re
Ashes-to-Ashes
Dust-to-Dust!
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
Can you hear me now?
Can you see me now?
I’m out from the shadows
Free from your sick gallows.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
I beat the fear
Gathered my broken pieces
piece by piece
Memory by memory
Opening my heart
As fear releases.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
Survived to thrive
raised my dear children
Now kindhearted adults
despite all your lies.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
My heart is strong
still you did me wrong
Your Accountability is my song.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
Risin higher than the clouds
Freed of secretive shrouds
no longer an empty shell
Now a warrior
to sing my tell.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
70 and proud
I stand tall in any crowd.
I believe in me
choose to stay
To share my victories.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
I am the me that was to be
I’ll never slow down,
no not me
My mended pieces, scarred,
Stitched together with grit
I’m proud to say,
I’m done with “their” shxt.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
Gratitude to those
impactin(ed) my life
Family is chosen
Enhancing love
Not dumpin strife.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
Gratitude to me,
I never gave up
Authorin poems to see.
No more regrets,
Reframin fear,
Infusin I-love-me thoughts
To soothe those threats.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
No more beat me up song in my head,
No more secrets,
Freedom Storytelling instead.
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
Embracing my creative song in my heart
Each morning, each night,
Reciting gratitude,
Moment to moment offers a brand new start????
My voice is loud
My voice is clear
My life is a gift,
No longer adrift.
I greet my growth
with many a joy tear
this particular poem
Until I write again,
With appreciation
Ends here!”
Kimi minor

Recent Members
Bruce Elrick | 1971 |
Cara Cipolla | 1973 |
Catherine Tinen | 1973 |
Greg Bettenhausen Greg Bettenhausen | 1990 |
Jeff Victor | 1988 |
Karen Pomillo | 1987 |
Scott Ginsberg | 1981 |
Steve Boersma | 1983 |
Military Alumni
Honoring Our Heroes
This area is dedicated to our alumni that have served or are serving in our armed forces!
Lost Class Rings
Have you lost your Glenbrook South High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Titans lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Do you have a fun holiday story or a great family tradition? Share them with our fellow Glenbrook South High School alumni! Submit your own stories, achievements and photos in our Alumni Stories section. Read other classmate’s stories and see what they have been up to over the years.
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays!