Educational Hero

Growing up I never really liked school.  I know that is the case with most young students but I seriously despised having to wake up and attend the local elementary school for 6-7 hours a day.  So what are that the chances that a student who hated school so badly, now wants more then anything in the world to be teaching it her self.  Irony I think, not I contribute my desire to teach to several people but for the sake of time will discuss just two.

Mom: Growing up, education was never really something that my grandparents impressed on their children.  After high school the kids (especially the girls) were expected to get married and have a family.  When my mom was 18, having just graduated from high school, her oldest brother was killed in a tragic accident. Needless to say my grandparents were distraught! My mom decided that following her brothers death the best way to deal with the loss was to keep herself busy.  She enrolled in BYU for the fall semester without the support (rather the discouragement) of her parents.  Four years later she graduated with her bachelors in Elementary Education and went on to teach 1st grade in Lehi for the next four years.

Mr. Olsen: When I was in 5th grade I was diagnosed with petite mal seizures a medical condition where several times throughout the day I would stare off into oblivion for about 30 seconds.  It does not seem like that big of a deal but when is happens about 15-20 times a day I would be missing important curriculum which caused me to fall behind in my school work.  Not only was it causing me to fall behind  but it was causing me to think negative thoughts about myself.  Mr. Olsen however understood my situation and was willing to work with me.  He also helped me to understand that some things are out of our control and worked very hard with me to help me understand that I was still a bright student.