Gym class: the land of Godfrey

“My guidance counselor told me it would be a waste to go to college, but my parents expected me to go. So, I had to think about what I was best at. I knew I loved to socialize and move around. I also knew I loved little kids.

My dad always said he thought I would be a good nurse, or a good teacher. I was also a good runner in high school and my coach suggested I go into physical education. Instead of going to nursing school, I figured I would just go to Lacrosse and get a teaching degree.

It took me forever to get through college because I would always go to Idaho. I loved it so much. Probably too much, seeing as how I constantly missed semesters. I decided to drop out of school, but after months of white-water rafting and rock climbing, I went back to school. After a little bit of school, I went to Sweden. I went there before I decided to attend college. Also, my dad got really sick, so I had to move home and take care of him.

The best part of teaching has been meeting the most impressive, creative, intelligent and generous students. It’s always so impressive to see the talents students have. After you meet them, you get to know them and find out so much about them. You discover that they’re intelligent in math, or you discover they’re amazing writers. I love finding out what kids plan on doing with their lives.

We did this activity called “Gift of Words” in my Core Strength class the other day. You received a “gift”, and then you had to write about what those words mean to you. One of the girls in my class that none of us really knew wrote a poem. We were all shocked by how amazing of a writer she was. We would have never known that if we never had done that lesson on the importance of our words.

I guess that’s the thing. You have to be careful with your words because you never know the impact of them. I love teaching. I love meeting kids, helping them and being able to get them out into the world.” (Mrs. Susan Godfrey, physical education teacher)