On the morning of November 15th, 2013, I got the most devastating news a 17 year old could get. My dad had passed away in the early morning hours. School was the last thing on my mind in the weeks that followed. The school gave me two weeks to recover from the loss of my dad, but then I was supposed to be back and be able to handle the demands of school. The thought of having to go back to school made me feel anxious and nervous. I was nervous because I couldn’t see how I would ever make up the school work i’d missed and be able to handle more work that would be piled on. It made me feel like I had to dig my way out of a hole while someone constantly threw more dirt in. From my perspective, it was me against the school and I had not a single person on my side.
From the start, I struggled in school. At the beginning of my junior year, I was diagnosed with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and clinical depression. Before the diagnoses, I attempted to make it through school without proper medication. Doing that was like trying to swim in the ocean during a storm. I was getting bashed by the waves -- my head constantly getting pushed below the surface. I was always left gasping for air.
Upon returning to school, I was told that I would be in a one-on-one study hall to help with my make-up work. At first, I was upset. And to make matters worse, the first teacher I was assigned to and I did not get along. I went to my guidance counselor and asked to change teachers. My counselor recommended Mrs. Schlueth and assured me that she was one of the nicest teachers in the school.
Mrs. Schlueth is a world language teacher for juniors and seniors. I didn’t know much about her or what to expect; but the first time we met, my perspective on the study hall changed completely.
Even though I had never met her before, I immediately felt I could talk to her about anything. The first day she spent just getting to know me and letting me talk to her about what happened with my dad. I felt like she cared about me and what I had to say.
Mrs. Schlueth helped me not only to get caught up in my classes, but she also helped raise my grades in those classes. She always tried her hardest to help me, even when it came to dealing with the more difficult teachers.
I actually started to enjoy school, which for me was definitely a first. What made me enjoy school was the fact that I was succeeding. Maybe all along that is why I dreaded school; but now I looked forward to class time with Mrs. Schlueth everyday. During our one 40-minute class a day, she gave me the tools and confidence I needed. To me, she was my lighthouse in a relentless storm leading me away from the rocks and ensuring that I would no longer sink. It was comforting to know that I had someone that I could confide in and that she was there to support me with my school work.
I ended the semester with B’s and even a few A’s. Considering I had lost my father only two months prior, that was almost unbelievable.
The next semester we didn’t have a class together, but I was still able to use the advice she gave me and I ended up getting all A’s and B’s.
Occasionally, I still see Mrs. Schlueth in the halls. She always makes a point to stop and say hello to me as well as ask how I’m doing. I don’t think she is aware of how big an impact she had on not only my academic achievements but also on my life outside of the classroom. This is why I’d love to nominate Mrs. Schlueth for this award.