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Welcome, Miss Hawley
by Katherine Wittig, Managing Editor
Among the new teachers welcomed to El Segundo High School's faculty
this year is the school's new science instructor, Miss Hawley. Born
in Kentucky, Hawley moved to California only a few years ago after
earning both an undergraduate degree and a Master's degree from the
University of Kentucky. Hawley is excited about both science and
teaching, and her energy and skills are definitely welcome. Diving
right in, she is taking on Earth Science, Physics, and AP Physics.
Hawley remembers her childhood
fondly, and she enjoyed growing up in Lexington, Kentucky. As a
young child she was somewhat of a tomboy. She says, "I always
enjoyed playing kick-ball in the streets and having snow-ball
fights." From a young age she showed an interest in science, and was
always fascinated to learn more about the world and how it all fit
together. Her father, an engineer, helped to encourage this natural
curiosity. "By about three or four I was taking things apart
I was
curious how they worked," she states with a grin. Even more
specifically, she already had an idea that she wanted to be a
teacher from quite early on. "I used to play school when I was
little, over the summer with all my friends
I think I always knew
I'd end up as a teacher. I fought it for a while, went into
engineering
but it just wasn't right." Later in high school she
would enjoy the sciences even more with a favorite teacher, who
taught Hawley both Chemistry and Biology. Science and learning
definitely were not the only activities keeping her interested as an
adolescent. As she will eagerly tell students and passing high
school journalists from the Bay Eagle, she especially loved
Kentucky, the "Horse Capital of the World," for the Derby. The
excitement around the time during which it takes place, early in
May, is always incredible for any residents of Kentucky, especially
those living close to the site of the derby, Churchill Downs. Just
as important, the NCAA Basketball season and tournament takes place,
during which the team of University of Kentucky has Hawley's
absolute support.
Despite the wonders of Kentucky,
Hawley felt she was ready to move out, and was the first in her
family to live outside of Kentucky for any extended period of time.
After finishing undergraduate studies including a Major in Earth
Science and a Minor in Physics, she continued on to earn a Master's
Degree in Secondary Education. Since then she has lived in
California for two years teaching. "All my family is in Kentucky
so it's very different living here in California where I don't have
family," she admits. It certainly helps that El Segundo is a rather
warm and inviting community, for it has helped Hawley to feel more
at home. "I like [El Segundo High] a lot because it reminds me of my
high school
it's like a hometown feeling, everyone goes out for
the football games on Fridays, the whole community, and that's what
I grew up with." When she first came to California, she had an idea
of Californians, "I thought everyone would be in their own little
world, driving fancy cars and saying 'dude' all the time. And it is
like that, everywhere but El Segundo
I applied all along the
coast, and I was hired at two or three different places. I chose ES
because of the location, and also from reputation. I heard about El
Segundo, then I came and it
reminded me of home."
Whether spending time with her new cat (she
unfortunately had to leave her beloved dog Tessla at home with her
family), hiking, biking, playing beach volleyball, or even fishing,
Hawley will definitely be found smiling. She does miss home a bit,
especially leaves changing in the fall, snow at Christmas, derby
time and basketball, but hopefully El Segundo will be able to
welcome her and offer her all the comforts of home as she launches
into her new position here at the high school. As words of advice
for her students, she concludes, "While you are in High School, find
the subjects that interest you the most, and make a career out of
them. In High School, you get the opportunity
to try it all out.
Find what you like. Enjoy it, continue it. Just find what you like
to do." We know that she has certainly found her perfect career, and
hope that she enjoys pursuing it here in El Segundo.
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