By Chloe Oliver
On the way to an academic team meet last year, Mrs. Holly Hopkins was driving one of the short activity buses. She was nervous about following every rule and protocol and nearly didn’t stop at one of the train tracks.
She slammed on the brakes, and before you know it, the whole bus broke out in laughter.
This is just one example of the special moments that senior James Root has shared with Hopkins.
Relationships with teachers for many students go much deeper than just inside the classroom. Extracurricular activities are the breeding ground for some of these strong connections. Seniors are having to leave some of these relationships behind.
James has known Hopkins since his freshman year. He has had her as a teacher, and he has participated on the math and science academic teams. Although she is the coach for social studies, they have made many memories together.
The after-school activities are something that separates Hopkins’s relationship with James from those of other students. Hopkins is a class sponsor for the current senior class. James was a class officer last year, and the two of them worked together in the football concession stand.
“When you’re in the concession stand together, you laugh together, you can holler at each other and not get your feelings hurt, especially during the football concessions,” Hopkins said.
James enjoys going to Hopkins’ room just to chat. It could be about funny things they see on the news or more dense topics. He says that talking with her feels like he is talking to a friend, not just a teacher.
Hopkins has taught James to approach every situation with positivity and logic. She is not the first one to panic and is level-headed.
To Hopkins, James’s self-confidence is something that stands out to her and is admirable.
The activity buses have been memorable for the two of them. One time, Hopkins was sitting in the parking lot inside the bus and couldn’t leave the seat or turn the bus off because the horn would start blaring.
After attempting three times to fix it, Hopkins gave up. She sat in the parking lot until 3:30, and all of a sudden, James came running out and fixed the problem for her like it was an easy feat.
“Yeah, she’s a coach, but she’s also a mentor and a friend to me,” James said. “It’s bittersweet, and I’ve really enjoyed the time. It’s been a blast.”
Another special relationship between a teacher and a student is that of Señora Mary May and Sofia Vaughn.
Sofia believes that if she had stopped taking Spanish classes after Spanish II., the relationship between her and May would not be where it is today. For Sofia, May serves as a mentor in many aspects of her life.
“There’s a lot of senior year when you’re struggling with time and getting everything in, where you are super anxious, plus your social life,” Vaughn said. “I always go to her and I’m like, ‘How can I keep dealing with this, but in a more righteous way?’”
Spanish IV has gone on a few field trips. Sofia enjoys that they can learn together like a class, but also have fun together like a family.
The connection between Sofia and May stands out to her because of the comfort of being able to talk to her about things outside of class. Sofia does not like speaking up for herself if she isn’t understanding something, but with May, asking questions isn’t scary.
Her first impression of her teacher was that she was loud, and very “this is my way.” She is organized and always has a plan, but also has fun.
May taught Sofia how to prioritize and keep moving forward.
“School is less of something that I have to do, but more of something that I want to do,” Sofia said.
Sofia’s vibrant personality stands out to May, as well as her curious nature. She is curious inside and outside the classroom.
May got to witness Sofia grow more in her faith and watch her get involved through a youth group. An accomplished singer, she joined a praise and worship team.
“It was a blessing to get to talk to her about the different feelings and things,” May said. “I told her that when she decides to get baptized, even though she’s graduated, that she needs to let me know because I want to be there.”
May is inspired by all of the different talents that Sofia has, and it is fun for her to try to help Sofia tap into all of the different areas.
On the first day of school, Sofia immediately made a goal to make it into the top 20 academically of the senior class. She went to May on the first day and claimed her as her teacher to honor. What was once Sofia’s goal became a goal for the two of them.
Recently, Sofia handed the top 20 banquet invitation to May, checking off yet another goal she has reached.
Another senior who has a special relationship with a teacher is Jasmine Hines and art teacher Mrs. Helen Zacek.
Jasmine has known Zacek since freshman year, but who Zacek is, turned out to be the opposite of what she thought.
Jasmine knew that Zacek was from a military background. Jasmine’s experience, coming from a military background, was very strict. She assumed that Zacek was a stricter teacher.
She had Ms. Alicia Fuller in the first semester of freshman year and always heard Zacek in the other room yelling. Later, Jasmine found out that she was yelling out of happiness and was energetic. She had her the next semester, and everything she had assumed about Zacek was wrong.
Jasmine’s freshman year was right after the COVID-19 shutdown. She said that Zacek was very understanding with extending deadlines due to quarantines and being sick. Jasmine was grateful for Zacek’s willingness to work around the bumps on the road.
During her sophomore year sculpture class, Jasmine had to make a typical, everyday object huge. She chose a bowl and wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out. Zacek traced the outline onto a pair of pants. It is now a funny moment that the two of them share, and it brightened Jasmine’s day.
Her relationship with Zacek is the reason why she wants to become an art education teacher. She originally thought she would go into psychology.
When Zacek entered her into an art contest at Cornerstone Center for the Arts, and Jasmine ended up getting first place, things changed. It gave her the confidence that she can do something with the skills that she has. This was a memorable experience for both Jasmine and Zacek.
“Being able to have that kind of connection to her students or just a connection to someone else, it’s just really special,” Jasmine said. “I’d love to be able to take what I’ve learned from her and apply it to my students in the future.”
Jasmine enjoys being in Zacek’s company and finds comfort in talking with her. She likes going to her room just to talk, and truly believes that she can call Zacek a friend.
Jasmine would describe Zacek as outgoing, understanding, and extremely friendly.
Graduation is right around the corner, and things are about to change for her. She has had Zacek’s class every day for four years straight.
“I know I’m going for art in college, but it’s not her,” Jasmine said. “It’s nerve-wracking to think that if my teacher isn’t like her, how is that going to affect me?”
However, if she gets the chance, Zacek welcomes her to be a student teacher for her in the future.
To Zacek, Jasmine’s quiet perseverance stands out. She won’t ask for help often, but she can get through her own struggles in class.
Zacek has had Jasmine in class every semester in some facet since freshman year.
“Sometimes students will come for a year, and maybe they’ll take a couple years off, and we will get them another semester,” Zacek said. “She’s been pretty consistent on either my side or Fuller’s side, and she’s had an art class the whole time.”
Even after a recent operation on her foot, Jasmine never once complained or used it to get out of work or to get special treatment. Zacek says she finds that inspirational in her own life to be able to get things done even though she may have to deal with challenges.
Jasmine usually sits with senior Avery Barnes in class or in SRT. Zacek is playful with both of them, and whenever she makes silly comments about Avery’s art to be funny, Jasmine always starts laughing at her.
“She lets me be me, and I let her be her,” Zacek said.
