Mostly

Dear Students,
     As you read these remembrances of my years with you at Hereford High School, it is important to understand that you have all mattered to me. Each of you has marked my life in some way, and in doing so, has changed me in ways I could not have believed. Some of your names have escaped me ( I will be eighty-years-old next year-- yikes!), but your faces, personalities and humor have remained. You are a remarkable history in the life of this most grateful teacher. We laughed, cried, questioned, challenged and heatedly discussed together, and I loved every day----mostly.

     Here's the thing about that word---mostly; it is the part of our lives that can be difficult, can escape us, upset us, or somehow make things different from what we planned. And, often, I struggled with it. . . . mostly.

     In my health class, occasionally arguments, rudeness, boredom or self-doubt entered the room, and that mostly, although less fun, is where profound learning happened---for me.  I even loved those days . . .  mostly. Those lessons were difficult to address, but I tried to be honest with myself and make the changes necessary to become a stronger classroom leader. Mostly has been my deepest learning curve; daily growth lessons for me.

     In closing, I ask you to consider what your mostly is, and how you handle that word. Mostly requires time developing self-understanding and courage to change. After more than twenty years working with you at Hereford High School, I know you can do both.

     As I state in my book, Love, Mrs. Euker, Reflections on a Career in the Classroom, this teacher has learned more from her students than the students have learned from her. You all taught me; these memoirs are yours as much as mine.

     The pictures I have included in this website and in the book are from my personal collection. Although I could not capture everybody, as I remembered and wrote my stories, you were all there with me.

     And, of course, always remember:
No drinking, smoking, drugs, sex, high salt or high fat, eat your vegetables, love your families, love each other, take care of yourselves, I love you.

         Love,
      Mrs. Euker