Toothless First-Grader

As a shy, toothless first-grade student, I began my formal schooling at Prospect Heights Elementary in Sharon, PA. When I could not see the blackboard at school, my parents had me fitted with round, wire-rimmed glasses, well-crafted to withstand roller skating, dancing, and playing hop scotch. I remember one day forgetting my glasses and having to run back home to get them. This delay made me late for school. Almost in tears, I rushed into the classroom late, embarrassed as the rest of the class looked my way.

Graduations Along the Way

Graduations became a part of life. Olympus High School, University of Utah, and University of Oregon with studies also at University of Hawaii and Texas Southern University combined to complement my education. So you could call me a Titan, a Ute, or a Fighting Duck! But one should never stop learning. As a teacher, I always remember what Coach John Wooden often said:

"I am not what I am going to be.
I am not what I oughta be.
I am not what I want to be.
But I hope I am better than what I used to be ." ................................................................................

Perhaps that is why graduation is often called commencement.

Pondering The Day's Lesson

My teaching career began at Skyline High School in the Granite School District. After five years of teaching, I felt I needed a change and gave notice that I would be going to graduate school the following year. However, before attending the University of Oregon, I took a detour to Fairfax, VA. which lasted for almost seven years, teaching at West Springfield High School and Robert E. Lee High School. Then eventually I moved to Eugene, Oregon to complete my MA at the U of O. Time to leave the ivory castle and begin earning a living again, I returned to Utah and took a position at Cottonwood High School where I taught English and Broadcast Journalism. My final move was to Taylorsville High School where I concluded my teaching career, completing my 39th year as high school English teacher.

Yellowstone Adventure

With more time to explore, any day can be a summer vacation. There is time to read and time to play. A favorite activity of mine is hiking the back country of Yellowstone National Park with my husband in search of the illusive grizzly bear. The adventure is exhilarating, the scenery spectacular. Stopping to take a moment to catch my breath, I marvel at the wonder of the Yellowstone Falls. But there are many more miles to go before I pitch my tent.

Learning Goes on Forever

Retirement is not an invitation to the grave. It is a time to continue learning. With the advent of the computer another world is out there to discover. Cyberspace is out there with opportunities to explore, to gather, to apply, to create, and to communicate. And so goes the teaching and learning career of Special K.

Hey, hey! I have just composed my first blog. It is possible to teach old dogs new tricks. I was not always an "old dog."

Katy Did