Park Profiles

Park Profile: Susan McAninch

Stories featuring people in and around our community doing their ordinary but extraordinary things.

Jessamine Schmidt, Staff Writer

January 24, 2024

In 1990 my mom, Susan Mcaninch, made the big move from Wheeling to Brooklyn, New York. She wanted to go to college and move on from Wheeling. While in Brooklyn she met close friends and eventually her best friend, Scooter McCrae. She went to college at SUNY Purchase, which is the state university of New York. This is ultimately where she got all of her education. She did many things in New York. This summer, we returned to New York and I got to meet her friends. Obviously, New York is a lot different than Wheeling.

She stated, “New York is a lot different than Wheeling, more opportunities, that’s ultimately why I decided to make the move. However, I did get homesick a lot. The move was hard,rough and quite the challenge. After college, I had a little studio apartment with black wooden floors. I owned that apartment until 2008. While I was in New York I worked for a chemical company after college, It was called Witco. My job there was a samples specialist. Besides that, my friends were great. We even made a horror movie, Shatter Dead, because Scooter is a director. In 2001, when the twin towers went down, I was there. It was crazy being there first hand. People were so scared for the future and no one knew what was going on. I will never forget it.”

“New York was a great time in my life and I do miss it greatly. When we returned this summer it was great to see all of my old friends, and to see all of the old places we went to. When I left in 2004, I was deeply heartbroken, but I needed to make the move. My grandmother got cancer and It was time to return. When we visited this summer, I almost got deja vu. It was crazy, I, of course, missed the food, especially indian. I got tot reconnect with all of my friends and it was great, leaving them was definitely hard. But now my whole life is in Wheeling.”

Hearing the awesome adventures they went on when my mom was in New York before she had me was definitely entertaining. There are so many different parts, different people, and different opportunities in New York. I would definitely like to go back, and definitely with my mom.

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About the Contributor

Jessamine Schmidt, Staff Writer

Jessamine is in her second year of the Park Press as a Junior. She is a staff writer and enjoys creating articles. Her most prominent skills include taking AP classes, dreaming about sharks, doing her makeup, golfing and attending school events. She is widely known for her article on Big Nuts: A Tragedy. She is looking forward to making many articles this school year. She, as well, plans to do it next year in her senior year. She enjoys interviewing people and hearing where they stand on certain issues.