As part of Mr. Long's photojournalism class, students completed a short interview with different staff members of the district. Over the next few weeks, we will highlight some of the staff that help make a difference in our student's lives
Lindsey VanBlaricum, ACHS Driver’s Ed Teacher, AGS Physical Education Teacher, AGS and ACHS softball coach (interviewed by Laila Hankins)
“What is one thing on your bucket list?”
- To go to every major league stadium for baseball, my husband and I already started it and we are at 10. However, we are starting over so our son can go to them too. We also accepted a foreign exchange student this year so we are taking her to stadiums as well. We have already taken her to Busch but we will visit Wrigley before she leaves.
“What was your first job? Did it help prepare you for the future?”
-Dairy Queen. It taught me time management because I was involved in a lot of things. It also taught me how to be a coworker and have a boss. When we are at buffets, I am still able to do the curl for an ice cream cone.
“What does a rundown of your day look like?”
- Chaos, just joking. It depends on the season, currently, we are between seasons so I am not coaching. Our foreign exchange student is not in anything and my husband hasn’t started coaching basketball. Right now, it's pretty stress free. I don’t have to take them to school in the morning. I get everybody up and ready and I leave at 7:10, they leave at 7:30 and Troy drops them off. I spend my day between the two schools and I pick them up on my way back into town. When softball season gets into swing, my days become busier.
“What is your favorite genre of movie? What is your favorite movie?”
- Comedy or Disney and if it is comedy, then it is Billy Madison. Disney would be Tangled.
“Who has inspired you to get to where you are today?”
- My mom.
“What do you find most enjoyable about teaching?”
- The fact that it's not the same everyday while getting to work with kindergarten through eighth grade. Getting to see them go all the way through kindergarten and seeing how they have changed through the years. Seeing students with difficulties finding success throughout their years is just amazing. I did not realize it when I first started teaching here but I remember Mr. Hill talking about that feeling. I completely get it now.
“What is a piece of advice you live by?”
- Two “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” That was harder when I was younger because everything seems big. Another one my mom got me to believe is “You’re not everyone’s cup of tea and that’s okay”. I am a people pleaser and, being a teacher, you are not going to make everyone happy but that is okay.
“What was your favorite subject in school?”
-Geography or science. Biology specifically. I love learning about how the body works.
“What are your greatest strengths as a teacher?”
- I am pretty go with the flow which you have to be when in PE. You have to be able to roll with the changes of day to day. Also, I feel like I can connect with kids.
“How do you stay motivated during a hard day of teaching?”
- Diet Coke. Definitely, a McDonald’s Diet Coke. Also, the idea that even if today is bad, tomorrow will be better.