Thank You, La Canada High

Join me on a flashback tour of my return to LCHS…

August 2008: The walls aren’t the same color anymore. What else is different? Wait, no LARC? The 7/8 have their own building? Where’s the bungalows? Music in the library? Textbooks in the 7/8 library? A whole new gym? This place has changed since I studied here.

Walking into the interview for the English position: Hey! That’s Dr. E. He used to get me mixed up with my friend Jessica. Behind me David chatted about his favorite bands and usually hummed something from Beck. Halloween brought out the Swedish Chef. Amazing. He also drank raw eggs. And taught some science. I can’t believe I’m back here applying as a teacher. I wonder who else is still teaching….

End of August, first staff meeting: There’s Miss Toms! Gatsby came alive in her class. I stayed in at lunch and listened to her book recommendations. I read The Good Earth and This Side of Paradise. Then I joined The Spartan as advertising manager. I secured the JSB Motors ads and driving schools and La Canada Books and Toys. She really pushed me to be a better writer. Oh, I don’t see Mrs. Kristoff. She encouraged me to turn my work into the literary magazine. She always assigned the best writing projects. Mrs. Rose is missing as well. I learned how to read and understand Shakespeare in her class. Ahhhh! Mrs. Chahine! I loved her class! I took color-coded notes and she always walked by an added a +3 to them. I remember staying up all night working on my term paper and then showing up in a sleepy stupor to her fifth period class. Next thing I know the bell is ringing and she pats me on the shoulder and says rest a few more minutes.

September 2008: This is beyond weird. I am officially a teacher at the high school I graduated from. So many familiar faces greet me in the halls. Mr. Harvey, Mr. Huson, Mr. Larez. In my head I say, hey Nick, hi Bob…My voice actually sticks and I cough out, hi Mr. Huson. That may take awhile to get over. No way can I call my teachers by their first names…

May 2010: The end of my second year teaching is nearly here. I have found new respect for the teachers who inspired me to begin this career and made great friends with newer teachers like myself. When I get asked what I do and the typical response is an audible sigh of sympathy or a arched eyebrow with a reaallly…inside I picture the students and the the amazing lessons I learn each day.

When I show up to work I still get the feeling of awe in that I have returned to where I roamed the halls as a shy student. That I have the privilege of learning from my teachers again, who are now colleagues, that I now I have the biggest desk in the room, and that I get to continue the amazing work passed on to me by those who inspired me most propels me each day to do my best.

Thanks Miss Toms, Mrs. Rose, Mrs. Kristoff, Mr. Harvey, Dr. E, Mrs. Weaver, Mrs. Schopflin, Mrs. Cockerill, Mrs. Chahine for the past lessons and thanks Ben, Mary, Sharon, Jane, Justin, Rick, Susan, Rick, Jim, Monique for welcoming me and all the current lessons.