This amazing day continued as we left Nina Lou’s house.  The last stop was at an assisted living facility where mom wanted to see a fellow worker in the Flagler school system that she taught at.

Mom was an English and Home Economics  teacher.  She taught in three school systems over the years, starting with Seibert, moving to Vona, and finishing her teaching career in Flagler.  I asked her why she gave up being superintendent at Vona and I heard this story.

The people loved her in that position along with the students.  Straw that broke the camels back involved a newly hired coach for the Vona Wildcats.  She was walking the halls one day and found a bunch of students shooting hoops in the gym when they should have been in class.  In finding out what class they were missing, the culprit so happened to be the new coach.  He was teaching history, and quit early and ushered the kids into the gym to shoot, but he was nowhere to be found.  Mom had to call him into her office and confront him on his lack of preparation for his class and decided that it had been one too many confrontations over the years.  She was ready to just teach so she moved to Flagler.

It was in Flagler that she began to interact with Jean, one of her colleagues.  They were like two peas in a pod and began to reminisce on their experiences when they were teaching.  Jean had a dry sense of humor and I just sat as they reconnected on a deep level.  Jean had experienced some health problems earlier in the year, but was feeling better.

Co-workers are individuals that we spend most of the day with.  We can have a tremendous influence on those that are next to us in the trenches.  My mom was such a positive person that she positively impacted even co-workers.

On this journey, your profession can be an opportunity to connect and build lasting friendships.  Who are you seeking to connect with today?