Page 38 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2023 - Online Magazine
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Senior
Senior
The Influence
of
Mrs. Traci Burnett
by Ash Strickland
Meeting Mrs. Burnett was surreal. Today, I am significantly less
I recall being so anxious about the hesitant to accept change and meet
entire ordeal that I was shaking new people. I no longer feel dread
and unable to speak. I began to at the thought of speaking to those
calm down when I realized she was around me. Mrs. Burnett allowed
making eye contact and offering me to have more opportunities in
patience and understanding. Not life and to experience them fully.
once did she rush me, nor did she
grow irritated by my reluctance to Mrs. Traci Burnett spent all her
speak up. thirty years as a teacher at Sundown
ISD. She was a part of the G/T
After I was approved for Apollo, I committee at Sundown ten years
was provided with chances to get to before she began to teach Apollo.
know my new classmates. This was She taught the Apollo class for
he day I was told that I would possible because of the classroom six years before she retired. When
be tested to be placed in my in which Mrs. Burnett taught us. It asked what her favorite part of
Tschool’s gifted and talented was a comfortable environment in teaching the class was, Mrs. Burnett
program, Apollo, I was hesitant. I which our well-being and learning told me:
remember crying and begging my ability was always her priority. As
dad to tell the school not to allow time progressed, we were expected “It’s difficult to decide what my
me to be in the program because I to give speeches increasingly favorite part of teaching Apollo was.
was afraid. Being in the program often. The same anxiety I felt at However, I do think it has to be
would mean my entire schedule the beginning came back when the getting to see you all learn to work
would change, and I would be put speeches began, but Mrs. Burnett as a team, developing academic
with members of a group that I worked with me and gave me tips relationships, and directing what
did not know. I did not want to be on how to feel more at ease. your own learning would be. You
with a different group of people all amazed me with your creativity,
because I found it nearly impossible She told me to make eye contact ingenuity, intelligence, and sense of
to talk to new people. The and focus on my topic, rather than humor.”
thought of sitting down with the on the audience itself. Eventually,
Apollo teacher, Mrs. Burnett, and the nervousness decreased, and I Any of her students would tell you
speaking with her one-on-one as became confident talking before that her passion for our learning
she evaluated my intelligence and an audience. This increased my and initiative drove the class.
creativity terrified me. However, my confidence in speaking to people We were motivated every day by
dad’s mind was set. my own age as well as to teachers. her trust in us to make our own
38 Lubbock Senior Link
