Ms. Neilson helps students complete their exit tickets, and furthermore explains the ‘Do Now’ to prepare her pupils for an upcoming test. Photo by Loren Mattern
By Loren Mattern
Plymouth High School welcomes seven new teachers this year, including first year teacher, Ms. Kelsey Neilson.
Straight out of Grand Valley State University, Ms. Neilson starts her teaching career at PHS as a biology teacher. Being so close in age to her students, especially seniors, she believes it helps her relate. “I can use terminology and ideas that they all are experiencing,” Ms. Neilson said. She can still vividly remember her experiences in high school, and that continues to give her the upper hand in her classroom’s atmosphere. “When the students truly understand that I know what they are going through, I believe the classroom becomes more of a family and therefore more conducive for learning.” There can be downsides to this though, such as being viewed as more of a friend rather than a teacher.
Ms. Neilson describes herself as “organized, a leader, compassionate” and feels those are skills required for promoting learning within others. Having the ability to “break ideas down” to simplify concepts improves students’ experience in her classroom. This creates a more comprehendible base for her students to work off of.
When Ms. Neilson was choosing a career, she said she had “just always had the idea in my mind that I wanted to teach!” She simply gets “geeked” about science. The microscopic organisms and genetics fascinate her. “It is awesome,” she said, “the idea that there is a completely different view of the world, whether looking through a microscope or seeing the connections in nature, is amazing.”
As everything does, Ms. Neilson’s journey to becoming a teacher has its ups and downs. Other than moments of sudden panic, teaching has been a majorly positive experience. Asking herself, “Will this idea work?” Or possibly, “What if I can’t handle it?” These questions were dismissed over moments of appreciation and accomplishment. Once she sees ‘light bulbs going off in students,’ Ms. Neilson thinks back to how much field advisers and internships shaped her today. “Students thanking me for helping them” bring moments of accomplishment.
“Grand Valley State University did an excellent job preparing me,” said Ms. Neilson. Internships and some advising helped her realize she had made the right decision to become a science teacher. When her professors would focus on a teaching technique, sometimes she would wonder, “When will I ever use this?” Now, after getting through college, Ms. Neilson uses those techniques that had formerly seemed useless. The classroom management, literacy, field observation, science education, and technology classes all greatly affected the success she experiences as a teacher. The technology classes especially helped her beginning as a teacher within the Plymouth Community School Corporation. Although it’s useful, Ms. Neilson states, “I do caution on the use of technology to some extent though. It has its moments. I always say ‘technology is a blessing and a curse all at the same time.’ Always have a back-up plan in case a computer freezes or a program won’t run.”
When describing herself, Mr. Neilson simplifies herself to the words; leader, diligent, easygoing, and optimistic. She thinks of herself as a leader, and there is no “good enough” for Ms. Neilson. She is “hardworking in everything” she approaches. She tends to “go with the flow when the time calls for it” and doesn’t hold grudges. Ms. Neilson thinks that her easygoing personality makes her more approachable. “Lastly, I am optimistic. I think that being optimistic is not only good for yourself (health, relationships etc), but optimism is contagious, therefore it is good for everyone around me,” said Ms. Neilson.
Ms. Neilson’s favorite quote is from middle school. She had a procrastination problem so, on a daily basis, her grandmother would tell her, “Never put off until tomorrow, what could be done today.” She would brush off the comment with a laugh, but today it is a quote Ms. Neilson lives by. She hopes to “instill this wisdom” into her students. “You never know what might happen tomorrow, so make sure you do what you can now,” she said. Another phrase Ms. Neilson likes to keep at hand is the idea of ‘if you are going to be weird, be confident about it.’ She further explains, “Simply embrace who you are.”
After experiencing what it is like to be a teacher at PHS, Ms. Neilson contrasts her high school experience. “My high school experience seems to have been forever ago, but now I find myself thinking “’if only I had had a computer in high school.” She views clubs and education in general as more accessible, “knowledge is just a click away.” She said, even “facing all of the teenage issues in school” are similar to what Ms. Neilson remembers from high school.Throughout her life, Ms. Neilson has always had a “keen interest in sports, specifically basketball and golf.” After being insisted by her freshman year basketball coach, she began playing golf. She played both basketball and golf throughout all four years of her high school career. After tearing her ACL, Ms. Neilson was forced to play the sports only for leisure. She would love the opportunity to work with PHS golf or basketball team, or tutoring students in science.
PHS has welcomed seven new teachers, Ms. Neilson being one of them. She is a natural leader that is excited to become involved with the students through extra curricular activities. Ms. Neilson has recently graduated college and is ready to start her career at PCSC. She comments on how the “opportunities and technology” given to our students helps to “prepare them for the future.”