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.