Mrs. Anderson Begins A New Chapter by Ayaana Gupta
Mrs. Melanie Anderson taught at this school for over 4 years, where she educated students in English 1 and Creative Writing. She had been known with her students for making each day different and creating an impact. Sophomore Yael Bachman was a student in Mrs. Anderson’s English 1 and Creative Writing class. She added, “Ms. Anderson has proven time and time again that she cares for her students deeply, and not just because it’s part of her job.” Mrs. Anderson was working in a post office, when a neighbor working at our school encouraged her to interview for a sub position at this school, and she grew to love it. Mrs. Anderson stated, “While being a teacher here, some of the ways I have grown are that I have gotten better at time management, patience, gotten comfortable speaking, I feel confident in my abilities and take myself seriously.”
Mrs. Anderson witnessed some memorable moments while in her classroom and also while being the sponsor for Interact Club. She recalled, “One time a student saw a fire ant on his desk and he snorted [at] it.” The funny moments are what made her laugh and also added to the joy she gets from teaching. Mrs. Anderson said how she would “miss that every day is different, making an impact in students lives, and being a safe space for them.” Bachman stated, “ One experience that stands out to me the most was last years final Interact Club meeting. We played a bunch of games together and just had a great time.”
Mrs. Anderson planned to attend the University of South Florida to earn her master's degree in library science, and hoped to work in the youth services or media in the library. She also expressed her hope to come back and work in our school’s library. Mrs. Anderson left a key piece of advice for her students: “Short term happiness is not worth your long time pain.” Her words reflected the lessons she hopes her students learn from her class.
Caption: Turning the Page: Mrs. Melanie Anderson sits in her classroom in Building 1 during 4th period reading a book called “Scythe” as the students work independently. She will leave to pursue her master's degree in library science after this school year. She taught English 1 and Creative Writing at this school for 4 years. Mrs Anderson inspired many students through her passion for learning including sophomore Yael Bachman who said, “She has made a lasting impact upon many students, and I’m glad to know that with whatever happened in the future, she will continue to impact people’s lives for the better.” Photo by Ayaana Gupta