Thanks For The Memories

 Well this is it, my final blog post after writing my very first one on November 10th, 2014. I have written 233 blogs counting this one, and this is probably the hardest. As I look back on my career here at Vantage, I can't help but think of all the wonderful people I have come into contact with and who have been such an inspiration in my life. I hope you will be patient with me as I thank them.

First of all, I want to thank each and every parent who has trusted us here at Vantage to educate their child and help them on their path into adulthood. I imagine I have seen close to 5000 students during my time here and I have so many great memories and so many conversations. Thank you

To every student who have passed through these halls, I want to thank you. Thank you for teaching me about resilience, self-reliance, overcoming adversity, living through tough times, laughing at life and working hard. You have been an inspiration to me throughout my career. I truly believe the future looks bright because of all of you. Thank you 

To every single staff member, both past and present who have made my time here so pleasant and have helped me whenever I needed it. You have always been so accommodating and understanding. Thank you.

To all the administration, both past and present. Thank you for taking a chance on me and for your strong support throughout the years.

I want to send out a special thank you to some former co-workers who have impacted my life in such a positive way; Kent Taylor, Dave Myers, Tom Mershman, Mary Jo Wilhelm and Shirley Jarvis. Words can't explain how much each of these people have meant to me. Thank you

Certainly all of my direct supervisors; Tom Mershman, Ben Winans, Mike Knott and Tonya Temple. You have allowed me to do my job and trusted me enough not to look over my shoulder. Thank you

To everyone in Student Services, especially Mickey McConahay who has helped me more than she will ever know. To Stephanie Hanneman who made my last year so enjoyable and who will have a positive impact around this school for a long time. To Kayla Cross, oh my, you have no idea how nice it is to have a full time school nurse. You have been a real blessing. To Lisa Yearling, now this is a tough one to say good-bye to. Lisa and I have worked together for 19 years now. We know more about each other and our families than most relatives do. Thank you Lisa for always being such a great support and friend for all these years, You never once complained when I had you do something and you did it to perfection. Thank you for all the laughs, the tears, the great conversations and our true friendship. You are a true sister in Christ and I will always be thankful for that.

To all the home school counselors whose support and ideas made me a better counselor. A special thanks to Kerry Koontz and Dave Springer, who both have taught me how to love the students with an unconditional love and to make sure the students had whatever they needed to be successful. Both of you led by example and taught me so much. Thank you

To Ashley Cline and Angie Shellabarger: you both have been a God send. Your compassion and love for your students made me work even harder and examine my own empathy skills. You took such a burden off of me and my workload, and always made sure your students were well taken care of. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I think of all the conversations I had every week and how these two have no idea how much they really helped me when I needed it the most. Thank you Pam Knodel and Miriam Owens for some very fun, interesting and much needed conversations.

To the front office staff who put up with my EMIS questions, attendance issues and anything else I needed help with. Gail Gillett, Alaina Ellis and now Samantha Turnwald, thanks so much for all you do.

To Paula VanTilburg, thanks for so many kind words of inspiration and encouragement and for always making me feel like I had an impact around the school. Thank you

To Darrell Miller, for changing the culture around Vantage and instilling respect and accountability in all of our students. I wish you truly knew how much that has made my job so much easier. Thank you

To Ted Verhoff and Kevin (Beav) Van Oss. There aren't enough words to explain how important your friendship is to me. Both of you have made my job so enjoyable and memorable. I have the utmost respect for you and your families. I am a better person because I have known both of you. I hope there will always be "one more business meeting".

I by no means want to leave anyone out. All of you have meant so much to me and my family. All the lab teachers, academic teachers, teacher aides, maintenance and of course the kitchen staff. Thanks for the conversations and smiles. You never know how a cheerful face can change a bad day. All of you are the best at what you do and all of you should be proud of how many students you have impacted.

Finally, to my Lord and Savior. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to honor you and serve you here at Vantage. I pray that I have not failed you, and will someday hear you say, "job well done my good and faithful servant".

I know the time is coming quickly when I will say my good-byes. However, I don't think we really ever say good-bye. I believe once you have worked here at Vantage, Vantage always stays a part of you. We may separate physically, but the people and the students will always stay in our hearts.

Thanks for the memories,

Don't Settle

 This will be my final blog on the Callings book by Gregg Levoy. Next month I will publish my last blog of my career. That will be my 233rd and final blog. I will be retiring at the end of the school year and will try to gather my thoughts for the final blog. This month's quote from the book states; "It's not poisonous to do without something we really want, what is poisonous is to pretend that the second-rate is first rate, to pretend that you like your work when you know you're capable of better, to pretend you love what you don't, or don't love what you do." Wow, that is a lot to digest in that single paragraph. Please re-read that over again and slowly. 

As you seniors begin to head out into the "real world", I hope that all of you will think about what that paragraph is saying. There are going to be times in your life where you feel that you are stuck in your career, a relationship, or where you might be heading in life. You will ask yourself if you have made the right choices, is there something better out there. I want you to know that you don't have to settle for second-rate. You don't have to remain in a situation that doesn't make you happy. I have stated this over and over, that if you go into a job just for the money and don't love what you are doing, you are settling for second best. If you end up in a relationship and are not being treated as a "king" or "queen", then you are settling for second best. 

I hope that each and everyone of you realize that you have gained so many skills here at Vantage. You are far ahead of so many of your friends. Just try to realize where your skills were when you started at Vantage compared to where you are today. I stopped by the Auto Collision shop yesterday and saw a couple of beautiful paint jobs. One on a hood of a vehicle and the other was a snowmobile. I asked Mr. Edwards if these students, who were seniors, ever painted before they came to Vantage and he stated "no, not at all". I see this happening in every program I visit. You seniors are top notch and are ready to go out and show off the skills you learned while you were here. You have a solid base to build on and you can grow so much more. Don't ever settle for less than your best. Find a job that you absolutely love and that you can earn a living at, and then make the most of it. Always keep working at your skills. Never get comfortable with the level of learning you are at. When I first started my counseling internship and read the Callings book, I came upon this quote that I revised a bit for my circumstance. The quote was, "If I were to quit my job and become a full time counselor, what kinds of things do you think I'd need to do to become the best counselor I could become?" The answer is "never get comfortable with it. Keep reinventing it". 

To all the seniors, you soon will launch off into a career or college that we have prepared you for. Go at it with all the gusto you have. Make each day special and better than the last. Believe in yourself but stay modest. Work hard each and every day and be grateful for the people in your life. Never ever settle for second-rate, you are better than that.

Set Out To Sea

 Well I hope everyone had a relaxing Christmas break and enjoyed the time off. I actually took a month off from writing my blog, but with these cold days and evenings, I have found time to get back into it. As you may remember, I have been writing from the book "Callings" by Gregg Levoy. In November, I wrote about how life changes and that it is important not to shelter ourselves from change. Well this month I want to use another quote from the book that is similar but maybe more pointed to our seniors. 

The quote is from Brazilian Archbishop Helder Camara and it states: "When your ship, long moored in harbor, gives you the illusion of being a house...put out to sea! Save your boat's journeying soul, and your own pilgrim soul, cost what it may." 

As we round the corner of our seniors final months of high school, I have had the opportunity to speak with several students about their future plans. I know many have great jobs in this area and they will be starting out on their careers and helping our communities. I also have spoken to many who will be going on to college and pursuing further education. I applaud these students. However, I have spoken to several students over the years that have wanted to venture out and move away from home. They felt like they wanted to move away for a job in another state or go to college farther from home but they have been nervous about it. Eventually their nerves got the best of them and they stuck around home.

I believe the quote I am using today refers to that type of student or person. Many times we can feel so secure in our current position that we are afraid to change, to set out to sea. The seniors have been in a routine for 13 years, waking up, going to school, coming home after school, doing homework and then starting all over again the next day. It's a routine that one can get very comfortable with and then find it hard to break away from. We almost develop a false sense of security in our routine. Just as the ship feels secure in the harbor, that is not what it was designed to do. It was designed to set out and explore the seas, to find new adventures and excitement. I also believe that is what we are made to do. We need to keep growing, find excitement, challenge ourselves and see what is around the next corner. Not with fear, but with excitement. 

I know setting out like this can be scary and it takes courage. We leave our friends, family, familiar routines and comfort. A lot like when you chose to come to Vantage. Now look at all the friends you have met and the fun you have had. Look at the growth you have experienced since you came here. This is what could be waiting for you on your next endeavor. If you are even thinking about moving or going away to college, make sure that it is the right move for you. Look at the financial aspect, the challenges, etc., and then make the choice. However, don't change your mind because you are afraid of change or that you are comfortable around your hometown. Know that there will be challenges but also a lot of opportunities that await you. You will grow in so many ways and meet people from all types of life. It will give you a great perspective on how other people live and think. It will make you a better person.

In closing, I had the opportunity to speak with a student yesterday who is heading off to Ohio University in Athens. We talked about the unknowns, the new roommates, the hard classes. We also discussed the people she will meet. The friends she will make, the fun she will have. The excitement of Cork St. and sledding down the "big hill" in Athens. I am so excited for her and so proud that she has decided to untie from the dock, leave the harbor, and set out to watch her spirit grow and do what she was made for. I hope others will take that challenge and follow your calling.

Change is Tough

 As I continue my series on the book "Callings" by Gregg Levoy, I will take a quote from that book that has special meaning today. He states, "Life changes. By trying to shelter ourselves from change, we isolate ourselves from living." Any time we have to make a change in life or are faced with a change in something we are used to, it is difficult. It is difficult for many reasons. We can easily find ourselves comfortable in our work situation or in a life situation and we tend to stay there. We contemplate making a change but yet we aren't quite sure of what the outcome will be. We fear losing our everyday routine and everything that comes with it. However, when we do that, we do isolate ourselves from really living. We miss out on opportunities that await us and challenges that will make us grow and find out who we really are. 

As many of you may know, I was an automotive engineer for over 15 years. I enjoyed my job tremendously and was moving up the "corporate ladder". I had to travel a lot in this position and that made me realize I was missing out on raising my children and being around them for their school activities. I had to make a decision to change my entire career and leave something that I was very familiar with and comfortable with. However, by following my calling, I was led to become a school counselor here at Vantage Career Center. I can tell you right now, that was the best decision of my life and one I will never regret. 

However, this blog isn't about me today. I want to talk a little about Alaina Ellis, our high school secretary. Alaina was faced with an opportunity that would force her to leave a place she loves to work at and has found comfort in her job. She absolutely loves the students and does whatever she can to help them. Alaina is no pushover though. I have to laugh at some of the times I have been up in the front office and Alaina is being very strict with a student and not really buying any of their excuses. She does this because she knows the student can do better and she wants the best for them. I don't have enough space in this blog to write about all the help she gives me on a daily basis. The kindness, the extra effort and going above and beyond her job description just to make our school better. I know Mr. Darrell Miller, Mr. Winans and Mrs. Gillett would all say the same thing, she makes their job a lot easier.

Alaina will be leaving us this coming Tuesday. She has a great opportunity to work alongside her husband and spending even more time with her family. This was not an easy decision for Alaina because of her love for the staff and students here at Vantage. However, through a lot of prayers and discussion with family, she has decided to make that change and not isolate herself from living. We can all learn from Alaina and others who have ventured off to try something scary or different. If I could say one thing to our students, that would be to never fear change. Change is difficult but it can open up so many doors for you and help you to really start living.

In closing, thank you Alaina for all you do. Thank you for the support and the love you showed our students. Finally, thank you for making my job so much easier and being able to trust you with so many confidential things we deal with. I will miss saying good morning as I walk in everyday. Take care,

Don't Fear

 I have noticed that while speaking with students this year, many of them say they are afraid of going to college or they are afraid of starting a new job. This is totally understandable and pretty common for a lot of people. Whenever we face something that is not familiar to us, we approach it with apprehension. We are not sure where it will lead us or what the future will look like. I have heard statements like "What if college is a lot harder than high school and I don't make it?", or "What if I get thrown into something at work and I can't handle it?" First of all, I think we need to take a breath and put things into perspective. 

Yes, when you seniors graduate, you will find a whole new world out there. Things will be different and maybe at times a little scary. But remember, you have faced a lot of uncertainties in your lifetime and have come through in the end. How many of you were afraid to come to Vantage because you wouldn't know anybody or you wouldn't make any friends? You visited this building for the first time and thought to yourself that it was so much bigger than your old school and you would be lost coming here. You possibly were afraid of the cafeteria and where you would sit. You wondered if you would have any friends in your lunch period. All of these things were scary, but whenever I speak with the students after they have been here awhile, they all say the same things...they are so glad they came to Vantage and coming here was the best move they ever made. 

As you may recall, I am continuing my series on the book "Callings" by Gregg Levoy. I like to take a quote from the book and expound on it. Today's quote is:

    "...there is no failure. Or rather, failure is already assumed. I'm going to die and be a million years dead, and anyone who might possibly judge me for my pursuits and mistakes will be a fossil right next to mine in that Cliffside."

See, we can't be afraid of trying new things because we are afraid we may fail and people will laugh at us. It doesn't matter what other people think. If you try something and fail, then learn from it and move on. Don't worry that others think you failed or not. Everyone knows that Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, but he also failed 1000 times before it worked. Thomas Edison once said, "I have not failed 10,000 times - I've successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work." Imagine if you would have let your fear stop you from coming to Vantage. Think of all the opportunities you would have missed. All of the credentials and skills that you wouldn't have obtained. 

Don't let the fear of failure rob you of those opportunities that are ahead of you. Grab your future and everything that comes with it and then run with it. Put yourself 100% into everything that you do and never be afraid to try something different. Remember, anyone that laughs at your mistakes isn't really worth worrying about. The future is yours and I am excited to see what you will do with it.

Help Now

 On September 29th, Vantage Career Center will be getting very involved in the Day of Caring here in Van Wert county. In fact, Vantage has been so involved in that day, that it has been renamed The United Way Vantage Day of Caring".  For 25 years, the United Way has run one of the biggest food drives of the year, the Vantage Day of Caring. This is a local food drive that the area schools and businesses support. Many local schools will be accepting donations until Thursday, September 28 and classes frequently compete to bring in the most donations. There will be food barrels all around town and the public is encouraged to fill them. This weekend, Walmart and Chiefs will have trucks by their entrances from 10 am - 4 pm. You will see many of our Vantage students there helping out. This is a great time to volunteer, help where needed,or donate items to this cause.

So why am I mentioning this when in my earlier blogs I spoke about using the book written by Gregg Levoy, "Callings". Well, if you remember, I want to challenge you to think about the quotes I give you and see how they can apply to your life. Are you following your calling? Is an event calling us to do something that may change us or open our hearts to something we never thought about. I believe the Vantage Day of Caring is just the type of volunteer opportunity that may change you. The quote I am using today is: 

"If we wait to tend to suffering until we've dealt with our own, we'll never get around to wiping away so much as a single teardrop of anyone else's."

I've heard so many people say things like, "I really don't know what to say to them, I have never lost a parent". Or, "I'm not sure I can talk to them about suicide, I just don't understand why someone would contemplate that". I believe the quote is stating that we don't have to go through what that person is experiencing in order to comfort them. We don't have to lose a parent to put our arm around someone that did. We don't have to be afraid of telling a friend you are there for them if they are contemplating suicide. We also don't have to be homeless or living without food in order to help those that are. The Vantage Day of Caring is a great way to help those who are in need. You will be helping people that you don't even know and feeding starving children that you will never meet. When you volunteer or donate to this cause, I promise you, you will be blessed more than those that receive. You will see how many people in this community really care about others and how many people want to help others. Don't always watch the news, it can get depressing. Volunteer and you will see how much good there really is in this world, especially our community. Don't be afraid to do something you have never done before, just help now and watch yourself grow. 

What is your Calling?

     As I mentioned in my previous blog, I wanted to try something new this year as I write this blog. I wanted to challenge you and have you think about where you are going in life, what career are you choosing for yourself and are you following your calling. My inspiration for this comes from a great friend and mentor I have known for over 18 years now. Mr. Dave Myers was my mentor when I started here at Vantage. He was the school counselor that I would be taking over for the following year. I was privileged to work with him for a full year while I was doing my internship. Dave was a true inspiration to me and I continue to use so many of the tools that he left me with. Before Dave left, he had me read a book called "Callings" by Gregg Levoy. I highly recommend that you pick this book up and take the time to read it. The book ask the question, How do we know if we are following our true callings? How do we sharpen our senses to cut through the distractions of everyday life and hear the calls that are beckoning us?

Callings is the first book to examine the many kinds of calls we receive, and the great variety of channels through which they come to us. A calling may be to do something (change careers, go back to school, start or leave a relationship, etc), or it calls us to be something (more creative, less judgmental, more loving). Every student here at Vantage has answered the call to venture out in their educational career and try something new, something different. You have decided that you want to pursue a career field that interest you and that you want to get ahead of your former classmates by earning skills in that field. I want you to know that the staff here at Vantage will do everything possible to help you reach your goals. We will work with you to earn those skills that you need to land a great career or further your education in college. However, we need you to work alongside of us. We need you to come to school everyday, work hard, get along with others and obey the rules. Be a leader. Get involved. Avoid the drama. Together we can make these final years of your high school career be the best ever. 

Throughout this year, I will take quotes from the "Callings" book and post them in this blog. Quotes that I think will help you grow and give you something to ponder. The quote I want to highlight today is something I want you to  think about as you meet new students in your classes or if you are looking for a place to sit at lunch. The quote is: "When you wonder about a group of people who are different from you, find someone from that group and ask them to teach you." Find out about their background, their nationality, their home school, etc. I think you will find you have more in common than you think and you may just make a friend for life. 

Thanks for reading and have a great school year. We will hopefully grow a little more in the next blog.