4 The Voyager
Features
January 2022
Why Teachers Teach: Mr. Hering’s Betsy Ross flag By ARIANNA MORALES ‘22 Co-Editor-in-Chief
F
or twelve years of their education, students meet new teachers and with that, new guides on the journey to find themselves: to learn, to uncover their calling, and to let it grow. However, in order to guide others they must first be guided themselves. This leads to the question: Why do teachers teach? It’s certainly not for the money. I interviewed Mr. Hering, the one who inspired this series on why teachers become teachers and their start to change the lives of numerous caterpillars on their way to becoming butterflies beyond their lifetimes. When did you graduate high school? I graduated from high school in 1999. Did you always know you wanted to be a teacher? It was roughly halfway through my Senior year of high school when I knew I wanted to be a teacher. What did you major in in college? I graduated from Rowan University with a BA in History along with a certification in teaching secondary education social studies. I later went on to get my MA in Educational Instruction and Curriculum. When was the moment you knew you wanted to be a teacher? Was it one mo-
ment or a series of moments that led you here? There were a number of teachers and coaches that inspired me to become a teacher. However, it all started with two social studies teachers, Mr. Burt and Mr. Becker, having a conversation with me after school one day about teaching. They told me that I had the right personality to be a good teacher and shared reasons with me why they thought I would enjoy teaching as a career. Not too long after, in January of 1999, Mr. Burt died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 42. It was a huge shock for everyone at Eastern and the loss reshaped many of my life decisions from that point on. That is when I knew I was going to become a History teacher. Mr. Burt’s Betsy Ross Flag still hangs in my classroom (Room 203) as a tribute to him. How long have you taught at Eastern? I have been teaching at Eastern for 19 years and was fortunate enough to be hired at Eastern immediately after college. What have you taught and are teaching now at Eastern? I have taught United States History I, Sociology, History Through Media, and AP United States Government and Politics. I currently teach United States History I and AP United States Government and Politics. Why are you a teacher? And what’s
your reason for becoming a teacher? had or worked alongside of has believed Has it changed over time? If so, what’s those two things. your why now versus in the past? My motivation to teach has always been Now Mr. Hering’s vibrant Betsy Ross rooted in the positive relationships that Flag sits quietly in his room, encouragI had with teachers and coaches when I ing him to teach and students to learn of a was in high school. I like to think that I history greater than themselves. It serves am carrying their legacies forward while as a reminder to everyone to carry on the also adding my own personal touch to the legacy of those who came before them teaching profession. They taught me that and find their own red, white, and blue. good teachers love what they teach, teach it with passion, and try as hard as they can to build positive relationships with their students. Even with all of the beneficial 21st Century technologies to help us make learning more of an interactive experience for students, I will always believe that the best experience for students comes from showing them that what you are teaching matters and treating them with respect and dignity. Every good teach- As an homage to Mr. Burt, Mr. Hering hangs the Betsy Photo by Arianna Morales/Canva.com er that I have ever Ross flag in the classroom.
Dear Viking: how to embrace yourself and your feelings Confidence is a difficult subject. During high school, adolescents are in the midst of finding themselves and where they fit in with others. There’s a constant pressure ear Viking, to appear perfectly put-together. High School is commonly There are two major steps towards inknown as the most exciting creasing confidence. The first: fake it. years of one’s life. Between While you may not feel it inside, by holdclasswork, sports, school events, and deing your head high and speaking with veloping a social life, the four years after conviction, the appearance of confidence middle school are jam-packed and can be will feel increasingly natural. Square your hard to navigate. While the school counshoulders, smile, make eye contact, and selor’s doors may stay open, it can be inno one can tell the difference. While faktimidating to walk in and ask for advice. ing it is possible, it is not a permanent soEven with a foot in the door, there are lution. some questions that continue to fall outThe second, and most important step side the scope of a counselor’s job deto increase confidence is to figure out who scription. Through an anonymous quesyou are, and who you want to be. Without tionnaire fellow Vikings could ask some knowing who this ideal is, you will be unof the more difficult questions. While I happy with the way you present yourself. am unable to answer all of them, I will By figuring out, and becoming, the person do my best to answer a few of the most you want to be, the confidence within will important ones. shine through. “What can a person do to help with “How can I be less depressed?” their confidence?” Unlike confidence, depression is not something to be faked. High school is a whirlwind of emotions, and without the proper tools to regulate, it can become overwhelming. Unfortunately, there is no cure-all for depression. It is an individual struggle, and what may work for you may be detrimental to another. That being said, there are a few comFinding who you are and what works for you is a journey mon strategies. every highschool student takes, but that doesn’t mean you’re As simple as Photo by Tiana Cyrelson/Canva.com alone. By TIANA CYRELSON ‘22 Media Editor
D
it may sound, a morning routine can be “the happy chemical.” Like an addict, in key to maintaining a healthy mentality. It order to get over this, you have to quit. By doesn’t have to mirror the ten-step “Get continuously interacting with the person Ready With Me” video you might’ve seen of desire, the dopamine reaction is furon a vlogger’s TikTok. This morning routhered, and the cycle continues. tine could be as simple as making your While a key factor, space is not the bed, brushing your only solution. You teeth, and washneed time. It can Between classwork, ing your face. By be tempting to try sports, school events, completing simple to rush the soluand developing a social tion, but this is one tasks each morning, it allows the brain life, the four years after that can’t be sped to reset and prepare up. Allow yourself middle school are itself for the upcomthe time to truly get jam-packed and can be over the feelings. ing day. hard to navigate. Keep in mind, In the meantime, it is important to know that it might, prioritize happiand most likely will, ness. This should not come at the expense hurt. The deprivation of a major source of of necessary tasks such as school, but a dopamine is naturally unpleasant, and is mindset focused on happiness as a goal compounded on by resurfaced memories can cause great strides in working toyou may hold. In the end, love is not exwards it. This can manifest itself in many act, nor predictable. It is a rush, it’s excitforms, whether it be scheduling a hangout ing, and it’s addicting. with friends, or setting aside time for hobBut, in the long run, space may be necbies, such as setting aside time to curl up essary. It is an arduous journey, but it will with a good book. This is not a guaranteed eventually pay off. Most importantly, the instant solution, but by setting a schedule distance does not have to last forever. for yourself, and moving happiness up on With enough time, when the feelings are the list of priorities, it can become achievresolved, it’s possible to remain in conable. tact. “How do I get over someone?” Like snowflakes, each love is different As the season of love approaches, this and beautiful in its own way. The snow question involves one of the most commay not last forever, but when it melts, it mon struggles in the world of romance: will re-shape into something new, and the lingering feelings. When dealing with a cycle may begin again. breakup, or even unrequited love, it can While my advice may be in print, that be difficult to put away feelings. Whether does not guarantee it is “fact.” My opinit was a breakup, a failed talking stage, or ions are based on my experience and the even an unfulfilled crush, it can be difexperiences of those around me. ficult to put away those feelings but the High school is not easy, and a majorrecipe is the same: space and time. ity of that is due to the process of figuring The world of feelings is complex and out what works for you. While awkward, difficult to navigate. In this world, howevthis can be an exciting process, and is not er, there appears to be one constant: space to be shied away from. These four years is necessary. This could be a hard pill to are your time to focus on you, putting you swallow, as it can be disheartening to realin the best place possible to take on the ize. Cutting off, or even distancing from, world. someone you fancy can feel nigh imposSincerely, Your Fellow Viking sible, and that isn’t your fault! When you develop a crush, your brain views them as a source of dopamine, or,
