There’s much to learn that cannot be found in a textbook. That’s why Bridgeport Middle School Guidance Counselor Mary Shields brings guests into the classroom to share their wealth of experience with the students. Friday, the guest was Curtis Fleming and his message certainly caught their interest.

 

Host of the Outdoor Channel’s “Fly Rod Chronicles,” Fleming and his wife Shelly chatted informally with Shields’ development guidance class, sharing their passion for their business and mission to fly fish the waterways of the world, thereafter sharing their adventures with viewers.

 

Fleming told the students he was once a student of Bridgeport Junior High and was privileged to have teachers like Joe Leonette who reinforced the importance of the great outdoors. Not only did Leonette plant an inspirational seed, but he went on to become the best man in their wedding.

 

Curtis and Shelly Fleming met while attending Fairmont State University in the 1980s when Curtis roomed with Dave Mazza. Now the assistant principal of BMS, Mazza said the insight and life experience of guests like Fleming are invaluable to students.

 

“It basically gives them career awareness,” he said. “It lets them learn about different careers, giving them a taste of what’s out there and college options for those careers.”

 

The eighth grade students in Shields’ class complete a five-year plan before they advance to Bridgeport High School. Personal visits like Fleming’s greatly assist with that process, Mazza said. Friday’s presentation had a lot of passion behind it.

 

“Curtis always told us that his dream was to have a hunting and fishing show on TV,” Mazza said. “We’d laugh at him and tell him he better become a school teacher like the rest of us.”

 

Fleming did, in fact, earn a degree in education and taught for a number of years before making a decision that would shake up his life and the lives of his family members.

 

He said he remembers well the day he came home from work and told Shelly he wanted to quit his job and put his dream into action. His wife was supportive and got on board.

 

“She said that whatever my dream was to go for it,” Fleming said.

 

It may sound like a cliche, but it’s true, he said. If you find something you love to do, put in the time and effort to do it well, you will earn a paycheck without ever having to work.

 

Curtis, Shelly and their daughters Lakin and Autumn, both students at West Virginia University, are involved in the show. Like their dad, Lakin and Autumn have been approached by Cabela’s expressing interest in the girls eventually becoming ambassadors for the worldwide retailer.

 

Fleming also told the students the importance of honoring their roots and West Virginia heritage and to never take any of that for granted

 

“My dad was a coal miner and I remember being embarrassed when he would come to one of my games with coal dust all over him,” he said. “But I grew to be very proud of the hard work he did to support our family.”

 

The Flemings’ presentation also included a question and answer session, FRC swag giveaway and the airing of an episode of the “Fly Rod Chronicles.”

 

The students were very receptive, Mazza said. He only had one regret about the visit.

 

“I would have liked to have had the entire school listen to him,” he said. “Maybe the next time, we will.”