Every day, we see our teachers giving us lesson plans, deadlines, and advice about our futures. But before they were grading papers and assigning homework, they were the ones behind the desks like us, stressing over deadlines, navigating friendships, and figuring out who they want to be. So what were our teachers like in high school?
While social studies teacher Mrs. Cekander was a dedicated and involved student, she also had a lot of school spirit. “I was a good student! I loved high school! I liked most of my teachers, I had a great group of friends, and I loved being involved in sports and extracurricular activities. I was voted “Most School Spirit” in our senior superlatives. My teachers would not be surprised that I continued to be involved in high school as a teacher.”
FACS teacher Mrs. McCleary had a similar experience; “I was involved, I did cheerleading…I did track, but I wasn’t very good. I was just there for social reasons, and I just really liked hanging out with my friends, so I don’t think my teachers would be at all surprised about who I am today.”
Looking back on their high school careers, the teachers reflected on what they wish they could tell themselves in high school. Mrs. McCleary wishes she could tell herself “to not stress about relationships and drama, and to not be all that invested,” but jokingly asked, “Would I have listened? No, I was a little bit drama filled.”
Mrs. Cekander offered a different perspective, saying, “I would tell my high school self to have more conversations with my dad. My dad knew the importance of being my dad first, and not my friend. He had a lot of rules, and now I realize he was not being mean. He was just trying to protect his daughter…I wish I had talked to him more when I was a teenager. I would like to think that I would actually listen too.”
Some of the things the teachers cared about in high school might surprise their students. Mrs. Cekander stated, “I cared about my psychology and English classes more than my history classes in high school. I thought I wanted to be an English teacher and high school guidance counselor, and that path changed when I was in college.”
Mrs. McCleary added, “I really wanted to live in New York City. It was my goal in life. But then I met Bryce and he said he was never moving away from here, and now this is where I am. I love it and I wouldn’t change it.”
Although teachers now stand at the front of the classroom, they were once students themselves. Their memories of hard work, school spirit, and dedication show that high school plays an important role in the future.
Grace Weidner, Staff Writer
weigr28@sages.us
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