Natalie McDowell, an educator at Monticello High School, was remembered by the love she shared with the others around her. When November 6th, the anniversary of her passing, came this year, the school and the community could have taken that as a time to be mournful, but instead they took that as an opportunity to “Shine Natalie’s Light.”
Mrs. McDowell was a member of the Monticello United Methodist Church, where she was the leader of the church’s youth group. Junior Megan Heistand, who attended Mrs. McDowell’s youth group, said, “Knowing Mrs. McDowell was never boring. She always found a way to lighten up the room and make people laugh.” Heistand had a very strong bond with her and said, “…she made me feel comfortable and happy whenever I saw her.”
The school remembered Mrs. McDowell on Monday, November 7th by wearing orange and animal print, Mrs. McDowell’s most favorite things to wear. Mrs. Shaw, who is the choir teacher at Monticello High School, remarked that the day of wearing her favorite things was a wonderful thing to do, but thought the love that Mrs. McDowell showed to everyone around her was one of the most important aspects to shine Natalie’s light. “…I think that carrying that forward on a day-to-day basis is the most important way to keep her spirit with us.”
Natalie was a person who cared deeply about the people around her. Heistand remembered what Mrs. McDowell did to help her become more confident in the person she was by reaching out of her comfort-zone. “That wasn’t normally something that I would feel comfortable doing, but she encouraged me to do it. Looking back, I’m really glad that I did it.”
Mrs. Shaw had a similar connection regarding how Mrs. McDowell made her become a better version of herself. “Natalie would be the one to organize the Go Fund Me, or Natalie would be the one who brings over the casserole, or gets a card for the group, or sends flowers. So I think, while I still need to work on that, I feel like that’s something I would take from Natalie…not to wait to show that you care.”
Mrs. Shaw was an organizer for the annual St. Jude Run in Monticello, which supports children suffering with severe diseases, along with Mrs. McDowell. Mrs. Shaw remembered one of the fond memories that she has of Natalie, “…she would give this talk about how to pack all the clothes in freezer bags; she was very particular about that. So that was just a memory, and we still joke about it today in the run. We’re always like ‘don’t forget the freezer bags everybody!’”
“A memory that I have of Mrs. McDowell and [me] is on the very last night of the mission trip, when she prayed over me. She encouraged me about everything that we had done that week and continued to encourage me to step out of my comfort zone,” Heistand remembered.
Both Heistand and Mrs. Shaw had very fond memories with Mrs. McDowell that should remind everyone to continue to “Shine Natalie’s Light.”
Chloe Silver, Staff Writer
silch26@sages.us
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