Teacher Appreciation Day

When I was little, I wanted to be a scientist. I wanted to discover different cures and I wanted to help people.
When I was 16, I got my very first job was at the Rec Center teaching classes. What started off as a summer job led to me realizing how much I loved helping the kids.
When I was 18, I went off to KU to be either a pharmacist or an engineer. I still wanted to help people, but I wasn't exactly sure how I wanted to do that.
When I was 19, I took an accounting class at Barton and it just clicked. This was what I wanted to do, or so I thought.
When I was 21, I realized being an accountant didn't fulfill that desire in me to help people how I felt I'd been called to do. I realized my true calling was to be a teacher. And since I already knew so much about accounting and business, I found Business Education.
When I was 23, I accepted my first teaching position at Highland Park High School and graduated from Emporia State with a degree I knew was right for me.

It may have been quite the road leading up to me realizing what I wanted to do, but I am sure as heck glad I found Education. As some of you probably know, this week is National Teacher Appreciation Week and today specifically is National Teacher Appreciate Day.

I have enjoyed teaching so much this first year and I absolutely love being able to help out these students. I now see it from the other side of things. Thinking about this made me think about all of those teachers who were there for me throughout my educational career.

Looking back at my educational career, I can immediately think of teachers and professors that made school what it was. Those teachers that made class interesting, and you didn't want to ever miss their class. Those teachers who you did everything you possibly could do to not disappoint. Those are the teachers that inspired me to become a teacher. That made me want to be like them. And change some young students' lives, like they changed mine.

I have had a lot of these teachers in my life, but I want to give a personal Thank You to a few specific teachers.

To Mrs. Boeger. You were the one who introduced me to accounting. Made me love it, and made such an early class a whole lot less miserable. You inspired me to become a teacher. And take an interest in my kids the way you took an interest in each and every one of your students. I can say without a doubt that I wouldn't be where I am at today if it wasn't for you.

To Dr. Railsback and Kim Dhority. Without you two, my college career wouldn't have been the same. I fell in love with Business Education because of you two. And made it through the program and student teaching because of your help.

To my college professors: Dr. Rich, Dr. DeVito, Mr. Barnes, Dr. Durler, Dr. Sterrett, Dr. Miller, Dr. Riedy, Mr. Vickers, Dr. Neill, and so many more. The biggest thank you I could ever give you. You pushed me to become a better person, student, and teacher. There might have been times I wanted to just give up, but you all helped me when I needed it the most.

To my high school teachers: Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Steinert, Coach Tat, Coach Black, Mrs. Heeke, Mrs. Pruter, Mr. and Mrs. Eyestone, Mrs. Hiss, Mrs. Seeman, and so many more. Thank you for never giving up on me, even when other teachers did. I am inspired to be the teacher that never gives up on her students.

To my elementary school teachers: Mrs. Reed, Mrs. Maneth, Mrs. Higgins, Mrs. Essmiller. And middle school teachers: Mr. Wetig, Mr. Pinkall, Mr. Burt, Mrs. Hartig. You all were there in those awkward years of growing up. You made classes fun, enjoyable, and most of all memorable.

I know there are so many other teachers that have inspired me in one way or another. Even if it was just one tiny moment. All of those things added up and have amounted to the teacher I have become today.

I am also inspired by all of my teaching friends. Going to ESU was absolutely the best decision I could have ever made and I was blessed to end up at such a great Teaching College. I have so many education friends that I can turn to and who can relate. I enjoy reading about your stories from the classroom and can't wait to see where we all end up!

I want to give one final thank you and appreciation to all of the teachers in my family. I have many aunts, uncles, and cousins who all have a job within education. It's in our blood and I am so proud to say I am related to each and every one of you.

So THANK YOU to all of the educators in my life. I appreciate you all so much and I wouldn't be here today without each and every one of you.

Until next time,
The Chronicles of Kirsten Continues

My Kids

Wednesday night I was sitting at the wrestling meet with two of my coworkers. The meet had gotten over earlier than expected and they both made comments about getting home to see their kids before they have to go to bed. I know I've made comments about this before, but in that moment I realized that my students are my kids and HP has become my Topeka Family.

Living in Topeka in an apartment by myself can sometimes get lonely. This is the first time that I've lived in a city and didn't have some sort of family in the same city with me. Whether it be my parents, grandparents, brothers, or cousins. I've always been blessed to be able to see family members when I need a reminder of home. Since I don't have anyone here, it's been such a blessing to have such a great work family.

Being here at HP, not all of the students have parent support at their sporting events. So if their parents can't come support, I figure I better be that extra support system for them. After all, they feel like my kids. And if they were my kids, you know I would be at every extra curricular activity they have.

Last weekend, I surprised some of my kids at their wrestling meet when I was in the Kansas City area. It was so exciting to be able to support my students outside of the classroom; to be able to see them in their environments. I also was able to stop into one of my student's work place on the way home and it surprised him as well. This week has been the same in getting to go to a different sporting event every night. I went and watched our bowlers Tuesday and got to see the whole wrestling team wrestle Wednesday.  I even was able to work the Topeka Inventational Tournament  as a team host these last few days.

At the bowling meet I was able to surprise some other students as well. It's just such an overwhelmingly great feeling when the students see me and excitedly come over and give me a hug. One girl even did and her parents saw her react before they saw me and it caught them off guard. At first they weren't sure why she reacted. It definitely  warms my heart.

Not only am I lucky enough to see these kids at their sporting events, but I also get to see some of them at other extracurriculars. I've gotten to watch some of them in the school play and even helped out at the debate tournament. I also have some band and orchestra kids.

I think one of my other favorite feelings is making those connections with students who I don't even have in class. Just from saying "Hi" to them as they pass by my door or offering up my room for after school study hall during football season. Those kids who eagerly ask what classes I teach and if they can be in one next year. That's what makes me love my job.

These kids don't even realize it, but they are the ones who are changing my life. They make me love my job even more. Especially on those days I just am too exhausted to want to do anything; it's my kids that push me to be a better teacher and role model for them.

Oh, and of course that one student who comes to school and we realize we're both wearing Polo sweaters. So of course we had to take a picture.

Until next time,

The Chronicles of Kirsten Continues