1.8 GPA

It is really funny to look back at my life. In middle and high school I was a social butterfly(actually, that hasn't changed). I did my homework but I don't remember handing it in. I finished my freshmen year with a 1.8 GPA. Yes, a 1.8. That is out of a 4.0 my friends! I was way into boys, my friends and I hated science class. I don't think I ever failed a class, but somehow ended up with a 1.8.

My defining moment was the first day of my sophomore year in high school. That night my dad didn't come home. He didn't come home the next night either, or the next. Hmmmm. Not an easy thing to deal with when you are the baby in the family and the last one left at home. Fortunately, I didn't turn to drugs or some boy that found me vulnerable. I put my focus into school. I finished my first trimester with a 3.7. However, I continued to loathe science class.

I continued to excel in school. It was refreshing to know that I was smart! I could hang with the geeks and the cool kids! I loved them all! My junior year I started Chemistry. I was so intimidated entering this class, as I still HATED science! Mr. Gilgie changed all of this for me. I loved Chemistry! He made it fun and he showed me success. I ended up taking A.P. Physics along with Anatomy and Physiology my senior year and continued to stay on the honor roll.

What a change in 4 years. Unfortunately due to my horrid GPA freshmen year, I could only bring my overall GPA up to about 3.2 so I didn't get into some of the schools I would've wanted to, but no regrets! I ended up majoring in Biology, going back to get my Master's in Curriculum & Instruction and became a science teacher. Thanks Mr. Gilgie! I only hope that in my years of teaching I touched some students in the same way you did me (okay, that sounded illegal, but not like that!).