it takes time to fully understand where this path is leading and this wasn't where her passion for teaching grew, rather it was when she took her next step forward into the doors of Simonds High School. It was here where she realized her true love for teaching by having the ability to impact countless people around and at the same time let those exact people have the same effect on her. It was teaching by not just teaching the mandatory term curricular, but as well as the priorities and values one should have to succeed in the building and away from it. She is trying to show us the importance and value of trying to be the best we can be each day instead of being anything less than all you can be. The importance of prioritizing essential skills that will allow you to be the best you can be.

     The most commonly viewed perspective on Ms. Johnston is that she is just a flat out mean person, someone that is unapproachable because of the intimidation people can feel from the way she presents herself. That she doesn't care for who you are as an individual but rather how she wants to see you as an individual. She tries to take something away from who you are to try and make you something you’re not. That she has unrealistic expectations for you to meet, but what are exactly are her expectations? Do you even know what they are or when they are placed upon you? From the second you walk through the doors of Simonds the expectations of "To work harder than they thought they could, to do better than they thought they could and to believe in themselves" is placed upon you. Does this sound like unrealistic expectations? Does this sound like an attempt to make you something you’re not? It sounds more like she is attempting to make you more than who you are. They’re abilities we all have but very few actually try and utilize. To wake up each morning, look in the mirror and compete with the person they see each day to make sure next time they look to see a better person than from the day before. That your goal shouldn't be just to wake up each every morning and make your day normal. To try and take something away from each day that will allow you to grow as a person just as much as a student. To show you your best, to let you know of your best and from this hopefully give you a goal of trying to aspire to be at your best again. To position you in front of those exact same doors of opportunity that has allowed her to be her best. She wants to present you with the keys that will help you open those same doors of opportunity that were once in front of her.

     She knows who she is and what she wants to do; she's doing it right now. She looks in the mirror and sees a person better than who first walked through those doors. She sees a person that makes an impact and a difference. What do you see when you look in the mirror. Do you know what you want to be? When people say your name what do they say? Do they say what you see in the mirror or do they say what they can only see? Perspective and point of view can be so contrast from what is reality, what we see is usually only of that of what we can only see. You can make assumptions of who someone is and what they do and how they do it but until you start asking yourself why how you can say you know their reason behind their choices. When you say her name what do you say? Do you think your words matches what she sees or only what you can see? Do you think your words match up with who she is?

     She knows who she wants to be and it is reflected and show through her dedication toward the work she does either as a teacher, a coach or as the athletic director. She brings the same intensity and passion to her everyday field of work in all levels to ensure that when the day eventually arrives and she is no longer at Simonds and another individual comes through that door to try replace her, they can’t because the pride, enthusiasm, personality and impact she brought simply can’t be replaced.