Dear Editor,
Angry, frustrated, and outraged are a few words to describe most of my emotions in the past few months. As of late, these emotions have consumed me, but last week a thought occurred to me that I thought might help. In January of 2020, I began writing to the paper just to focus on the positive and what do you know in March of that year, the world seemed to turn upside down, and the positives were all we had to hold on to. Last week I realized that I needed to focus on some good to hopefully overcome the negative emotions that have consumed me. This month, my focus is on three individuals at Jones County High School who helped me last year.
My children have always attended the Jones County School System, but my youngest started his freshman year out at ACE. He is a very bright young man who I felt deserved an education that would challenge him. However, his heart bled purple and gold. He was down and out, he missed his friends, and he simply was miserable. It broke my heart, but in October of his freshman year, we returned him to the Jones County School System. I cried for several days over the decision, but thankfully my former coworker promised me she would take care of him. Katherine Thompson is a biology teacher at Jones County High School, and my youngest has the opportunity to have her as his Biology teacher. His exact words, “She actually knows how to teach.” He was enrolled in Honors Biology and Mrs. Thompson worked hard to make it honors level work. She tried to push him and challenge him. She would have deeper conversations with him, and this is something I am forever grateful for. She provided him with an authentic learning environment that took the word honors to mean honors and provided him with a quality experience.
Kelly Roberson is another former coworker who also taught my son last year. She also took the word honors to heart and made the students work. Both of my sons have had the opportunity to be in her Honors Advanced Algebra class.. Their words, “She moves fast, and she ain’t slowing down, but she is a good teacher.” My youngest has a very mathematical mind and truly appreciated her as a teacher. I am thankful that he was able to have a math teacher that wanted to push him and wanted the students to treat an honors level class as such.
My final gratitude goes to Garrett Law, the athletic trainer at Jones County High School. He will forever have a special place in my heart for the great effort he placed in working with my oldest son his senior year. My oldest had a very bad ankle injury in which his left foot inverted 90 degrees. It was a huge set back after coming off two major shoulder surgeries, but Coach Law, who my oldest refers to as “Law Dog,” worked hard before and after games to help my son as much as he could. He spent so much time after games just helping my son get his foot moving again. I especially appreciated when my son was first allowed to play again. I happened to be out of town and was a nervous wreck, but Coach Law kept me updated, so I would know my son was ok.
To these three individuals, please know that in my many negative emotions I have encountered lately, you are the first three I thought of when I wanted to focus on something positive. I am forever grateful to you all.
Sincerely, Aimee Lundy
