Wesley Bauerschlag

AGSC 325--Instructional Design in AGSC

About Me

This is a picture of my fiancé Eileen and me.

I was born on March the 29, 1980 @ 10:10am in Houston, Texas.  I was expected to be a normal baby, but when I came out they found out that I was born with prune-belly syndrome.  Prune-belly syndrome is also known as triad syndrome, its complications are no external stomach muscles along with an enlarged bladder and several other small complications.  I was rushed to Texas Children’s Hospital right after I was born because the odds of a child surviving birth with my condition were 1 in 50,000.  They ran tests and I had minor surgery performed on me and then I was released a few weeks later.  Because of my stomach being so large and my bladder being so full I was urinating out of my belly button in addition to the normal way.  At the age of two I went back to the hospital to finish the surgery that I was too little for at birth.  This was when I got the “plumbing” fixed as well as a tummy tuck to try and make me look “normal.”

My parents are Robert L. “Bob” Bauerschlag (TAMU ’71) and Caryl K. Bauerschlag.  My Dad was born on June 10, 1949 in San Marcos, Texas and my Mom was born on April 23, 1953 in Houston, Texas.  My last name is German and it translates to “Farmers Fight,” which is a yell here at Texas A&M.  My parents have mostly both German and Irish with my Mother also having English, Scottish, and even a little French decent.  I have an older brother who was born on September 16, 1976, named Brad.  He graduated from Texas A&M in 1999 with a B.S. in finance.  Having an older brother is nice, because I learned from his mistakes.  Robert Andrew “Andy” is my little brother’s name he was born on December 27, 1984, and he is currently enrolled in General Studies here at Texas A&M class of 2007.  My little sister Lisbeth Lynette “Betsy” is a High School Freshman and she was born on November 14, 1988.  We have the maroon blood in our family since there are over 20 Aggie Graduates in the family. 

My family has always been aggie fans because of the traditions and the former students that were a part of our extended family.  My Dad and I used to come to Aggie Bonfire every year.  Tradition is a big deal with me, and was one of the main factors that brought me here to Texas A&M.  My family traditions were also a favorite of mine, especially around the holidays.  Every year for Valentines Day, my Mom would give all of her children a card and some candy.  Easter was about finding eggs that the Easter bunny hid and eating the candy that he left behind.  The Fourth of July was dominated by fireworks (which we later worked in a stand for a few years).  Thanksgiving time was centered around The Game (A&M vs. t.u.)  Bonfire was attended then we would come home and fix turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, dressing, green bean casserole, fruit salad, and a few other things that varied from year to year.  Then since the game was usually on cable, we would go stay in a hotel to see the game that night.  It was some of my favorite times as a child.  At Christmas time we would buy individually gifts for each other and then Santa would come and deliver presents for all of us under the tree.  I was baptized into the Methodist religion, but we did not attend church much.  There was not a real reason until the Minister fired the youth director, who was a major reason that I started attending church during Junior High.  My girlfriend is Catholic and I have been researching the Catholic religion, however The Lord is very important to my life.

I had a relatively good childhood, with the occasional making fun of for the size of my stomach, or the clothes I wore.  I went to an Elementary school where 95% of the kids’ parents were rich and they bought them whatever they wanted.  Having three other siblings we did not have a whole lot of extra money to buy the coolest shoes, however we always got nice clothes.  My stomach was made fun of a whole lot when I was a child, until 5^th grade, I went around to every class in my school with the nurse and counselor and told them all exactly my condition.  That seemed to help out, because people were informed, and stood up for me when I was being picked upon.

In Junior High I was involved in choir.  P.E. was different for me than most kids; because I didn’t go to the gym I went to the offices to be aids.  As a six grader being an aid is unheard of and that made me feel very special.  I was also elected by the teachers to be on an advisory committee to help the faculty know some of the issues from a student’s perspective. 

In High School I dropped choir and picked up where my brother had left off with soccer.  I was what you might call a coaches assistant for both the boys and girls varsity teams.  I helped to develop drills for practice and game strategies.  Every once in a while I would help where the trainers and managers fell short (shagging balls, wrapping hurt legs, and filling the water cooler).  On September 27, 1997 I had a car wreck in my Mother’s convertible where I knocked the windshield down and drove through a barbed wire fence.  The fence tore my face up pretty good, making me get 200+ stitches in my face and repairing my torn ear.  It took to more surgeries to minimize the appearance of the scars.  I had people looking at my face for the longest time, and that made me very uncomfortable. 

I started college in the fall of 1999, and I was the proudest freshman here at Texas A&M.  I was living in Hart Hall where my Father was once the Hall President and another relative also lived back in the early 1980’s.  I became involved with Bonfire as much as I could; I went to a number of cuts, and other Bonfire events.  I met so many incredible people that first semester that I will Never Forget Bonfire 1999.  I was chosen to be a Crew Chief for Hart Hall, and that is when I noticed the school had changed.  I had to find ways to keep teaching the traditions that I loved so dear.  Some people did not like us trying to save traditions, in fact the Hall Director and RA’s watched us like hawks for any rules we might have broken.  I changed my major a couple of times until Dr. Alvin Larke Jr. brought me under his wing.  He has guided me through college pushing me to do my very best.  Dr. Alvin Larke Jr. who has not only taught me educational things but he taught me a whole lot about life.  He taught me how to look past stereotypes and prejudices and love the person for who they are inside no matter the race, religion, age, poverty level, or stature.  In fact The Larkes have helped me to now pursue a Masters in Agriculture Education; without there help my dreams and goals would not be possible.  I have also met the woman of my dreams in the spring of 2002.  Her name is Eileen Hagan; she graduated for Texas A&M in December of 2003 with a degree in Education (middle school teacher). 

My life experiences have taught me a whole lot about others as well as myself.  I will use the knowledge and strength that I have gained from being born without stomach muscles to having a scar on my face, to help me reach out to all kinds of people from all walks of life.   I believe that I have lived a very blessed life. 

Wesley Daniel Bauerschlag

P.O. Box 7023

College Station, TX 77844

e-mail: wdb2003@yahoo.com

Phone: 210-355-7005

AGED 325 HOMEPAGE

AGED 601 HOMEPAGE