“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” –A.Schweitzer
When I came across this quote, one person came to my mind. She is responsible for lighting the flame within me: Mrs. Mitich. Mrs. Mitich is a little fireball with her never-ending energy, enthusiasm, passion, and thoughtfulness. In high school, it is fairly easy to become burnt out, unfocused and apathetic when it comes to the various responsibilities we have at school and at home. However, when a character such as Mrs. Mitich has entered your life, she sparks a new appreciation, motivation, and determination in which you may have never known you were capable of having.
It all began the first semester of my junior year. Unenthused to continue with yet another year of high school, I was struggling to find a way to stand out amongst other future college applicants and was in need of something to occupy myself that truly interested me. Mrs. Mitich assisted me through my journey and found something that would “kill two birds with one stone.”
I never realized the true value of a guidance counselor until I met her. I am convinced that my last name was a blessing because it fell under Mrs. Mitich’s assigned students’ last names of “H-O” which allowed me to connect with one of the most influential people I will meet in my lifetime.
Mrs. Mitich sat down with me for an appointment for a simple schedule change for the new semester. However, as she was asking me questions about my goals as a student, I briefly mentioned the idea of starting a Key Club at Arrowhead High School. When I mentioned the idea to Mrs. Mitich, she hopped right on board to assist me in reaching my goal. I believe Mrs. Mitich’s goal is just that: to help others reach their goals.
Chartering a Key Club required a lot of collaborating, planning, promoting, and mentoring. Mrs. Mitich was the key factor in all of those requirements, as she took on the role of its advisor. I wholeheartedly believe it would have remained merely as a good intention had it not been for Mrs. Mitich’s instruction and guidance. I was simply a teenager with a little idea. But the big ideas and encouragement coming from Mrs. Mitich taught me to run with my goals and never look back.
Over the past two years, I followed her advice, and over the past two years, I have been given the privilege of watching Arrowhead’s Key Club grow to become the largest in the world, and of serving as President and Lieutenant Governor. Through all of my struggles, Mrs. Mitich was right by my side to turn them into successes.
She is a “glass half-full” type of person, always encouraging her students to go above and beyond, to be innovative, and to move past anything that may hinder us from achieving our goals. She is the spark in which students come across that enables students to realize there is no such thing as an impossible goal. She has time and time again proven that each student has the capability to become a full-fledged flame to brighten his or her future, as she has done so with me.
I have Mrs. Mitich to thank for the acquired qualities of persistence, responsibility, and leadership. I have Mrs. Mitich to thank for helping me reach several of my steepest ambitions. I have Mrs. Mitich to thank for teaching me the most valuable lessons in my life.