By Charles Romans
Carter County Times
“Everyone has God given talents,” Heather Wells, a sixth grade social studies teacher at East Carter Middle School said. “And I always stress to my students that their mission in life is to find those talents and make the most of them.”
Wells said that although certain things have certain rules that need to be followed, students and the world at large should never try to force themselves into a ‘cookie cutter’ mold. Understanding this helps students to make desirable and achievable goals. And, she said, if they write those goals down, improve upon them, and check them off the list, then it helps them to plan for a future that is more than what others might think they should do. For instance, there are some students who sit in class and don’t speak much, she said, but they are amazing artists. Perhaps that student should focus their education and build their goals around art.
Students need help planning their education and their future because it isn’t something people are necessarily born with or have learned on their own, Wells said. Students should learn to think both inside and outside of the box, she said, because that is what gives them a more well-rounded education and helps them to develop their own vision for how their future should be. Setting goals, even small daily goals, she said, helps give them achieve a sense of accomplishment while also incrementally advancing their long term goals.
Wells herself is a good example of not following a ‘cookie cutter’ path in her career. She has been a teacher for several years, but before that she worked as a unit secretary in the oncology unit, as well as other positions at King’s Daughters Medical Center. During that time, she had been a substitute teacher on her days off, until she realized that it was something she wanted to take to the next level.
“I started thinking that I had missed the boat,” she said. “Because I realized that what I really wanted to do was work with young people.”
Wells found out about a program at Morehead State University where she would be able to return to school and build on her bachelor’s degree to earn her master’s degree in education in two years. She was able to complete the fast-track program, and combined with her experience substitute teaching, was able to realize the goal of becoming a teacher. And even within her new goal, she said, knowing where her talents and preferences lie was crucial.
“You have to know what works for you, and what do and don’t like,” she said of the teaching profession. “You have to know what subjects you would like to teach and what grades you would like to teach.”
Eventually Wells chose sixth grade due to her preference for working with younger students and began teaching social studies. She started teaching world geography, and with the change of standards taught ancient civilizations.
“I have really enjoyed the opportunity to work with the youth in our community,” Wells said. “There is nothing like the feeling of going to the grocery store or the bank, or any place in the community, and being recognized by students. It’s the most wonderful feeling to see them grow.”
Now Wells’ life is evolving again, because her goals have changed, along with her own personal and family needs. Though teaching has been one of the most fulfilling periods in her life, she plans to retire at the end of this school year.
The choice was a tough one, she said, but her priorities at this point have changed. Wells will still do things like substitute teaching a few days a month, but at this point in her life she said she needs to focus on spending time with family, including grandchildren who will all too soon start school themselves.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
