Submitted by Wood
I’m Meg Anderson Wood and I’m in my 12th year of teaching second grade at Plain City Elementary School.  I am a proud JA alumnus from the bicentennial class of 1976.  I’ve lived in Plain City most of my life, and most of my family and husband’s family all attended Jonathan Alder.

I attended Plain City Elementary (the old building) from Kindergarten through 8th grade, and four awesome years at the “old” high school (currently JAJHS).  While I was at JA, I participated in a lot of clubs and activities.  I was in National Honor Society, editor of The Pioneer Press, Y-Teens and Hi-Y (service clubs), a library aide, an office aide,  FTA (Future Teachers of America)–with no real plan to be a teacher (more on that later).  I was in a couple of drama productions (“A Thurber Carnival” and “Cheaper by the Dozen”).  I ran track my Freshman year. Well, to be perfectly honest, I went to practices and competed in one relay race and the long jump.  I was never known for my athletic abilities!  However, I was a statistician for the boys track team and later became the manager–the first female manager for a boys’ varsity sport (I even earned a letter!) My favorite extracurriculars were music-related:  chorus and band.  I played in the marching, pep, and concert bands and was the go-to “utility” player. Whenever Mr. Starrett, the director, needed to beef up a section, he always asked me to learn a new instrument. I played flute, baritone horn, trumpet, and lots of percussion (timpani, bass drum, bells, chimes, cymbals).  I also play piano.  Unfortunately, I’ve never played any one of them particularly well (quantity, not quality!) but I loved the whole experience.  We went to band camp at an old church campgrounds in Lancaster for a week every August, and those are some of my favorite memories from high school.  Of course, we spent every Friday night in the fall watching the football Pioneers, and cold winter weekend nights in the gym for basketball games.

Some of my fellow teachers were also classmates: Mrs. Randall and the recently retired Mrs. Hostetler were 1976 grads.  A few years behind me were Mrs. Bope, Mrs. Stalnaker, and Mr. Hughes.   My two kids are also JA grads:  Erin Wood Lanka (Class of 1999) and Matt Wood (Class of 2001).  They were two of the first 12-season athletes at Alder. Check out their pictures in the hallway by the gymnasium (said their proud mother!)

It’s funny where your life leads you after high school.  I left JA and attended Columbus State (then known as Columbus Technical Institute) because I knew I could graduate in two years with an Associate’s degree and then get married to my high school sweetheart (Johnnie Wood, Class of 1974).  I started working in the business world in Human Resources and raised a family.  I went back to school for night classes at Franklin University and got my Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources.  I moved up the corporate ladder and ended up as a Human Resources Director, which I absolutely hated.  So after six years of management misery, I took a giant leap of faith and left a very lucrative but stressful and unfulfilling position.  I had always thought about teaching (remember my involvement in FTA during my  Alder days?), so I decided to test the waters by becoming a sub.  I got my sub license (very simple) and starting working in the district.  I subbed at all grade levels, from preschool through high school, which was great because it allowed me to see what age group would be the best match for me.  I decided to go for it and pursue a teaching degree.  I returned to school (Ashland University), attending classes on weeknights and summers while I was subbing, and got my teaching certification (and later my Masters degree in Education).  I did my student teaching with my dear friend and classmate Sue Hostetler when she taught second grade.  As fate would have it, she decided to move to fifth grade the following year, so I slid into her second grade position and have never looked back.

As I’ve frequently explained to people who ask about my big career change at age 40, I tell them, “I got sick and tired of dealing with adults who acted like they were 8 years old, so I decided I might as well deal with real 8 year olds!” I love teaching!  It is, by far, the hardest job I’ve ever had.  The hours spent on the job outside of the school day are exhausting, the prep time and grading are endless, the personal time and money invested is constant, and the pay is laughable.  (If teachers were paid by the hour, we’d all be millionaires.)  But despite all that, it’s the best job I’ve ever had and I can’t imagine doing anything else; because you don’t do it for all those reasons. You do it because you love being with the kids.  It sounds cliche, but it’s true.

My first class of second graders graduated this past June.  I confess that I don’t always recognize all my former students when I see them in later years. But in my defense, you’re all still 8 years old in my eyes and you’ve changed a lot, so cut an old lady some slack!

So…my advice for present and future Pioneers:

• Go to college right after high school and finish your degree before you settle down and get married and start a family and life gets in the way.  It’s easier that way.  Trust me.
• Don’t worry about what to major in.  I was 40 years old before I decided what I wanted to be when I grew up.  Just get a degree under your belt.  You can tweak it later.
• Find something you love to do and make that your passion.  Don’t get stuck in a job that sucks the life out of you.  If you dread getting up every morning to go to work, it’s time to re-evaluate. Money isn’t everything.  Yes, it sure helps, but again–trust me on this one.
• Get involved, join clubs/activities/sports/service groups.  It will enrich your high school experience, your life, and it looks good on a resume.
• You are probably saying, “I can’t wait to graduate and get out of this podunk little town.”  And you absolutely should get out of town.  Go to college.  See the world. Join the military. Experience other cultures.  Do something outside the boundaries of Central Ohio.  Your life will be much richer for the experience, and you will gain a new appreciation for your hometown.  It is amazing how many JA alums have come back to Plain City to raise their families.  As Dorothy said in my favorite movie, The Wizard of Oz, “There’s no place like home.”
• Nobody’s better than you, but you’re better than nobody.  Everybody matters.
• Wear sunscreen.  (No one believes that when they’re young; again, trust me.)
• The days may seem to drag on, but time really does fly.  You will be old (like me!) before you know it.  I never believed it when my parents told me, either.  But they were right.  Trust me.
• Time is precious.  Don’t waste it.  (see above)
• Always be proud of being a Jonathan Alder Pioneer.  We are all members of a special community.  JA ALL THE WAY!!