Written by Sarah Verburg
This feature photograph won second place in the 2020 Michigan Interscholastic Press Association spring awards ceremony.
Wife, mother, grandmother, leader in her faith, Zumba enthusiast and Northview attendance secretary, Sandy Goward is a woman who can do it all.
Goward describes her life as “very very busy.” With work, personal hobbies and her grandkids, it’s no wonder this is her go-to description of her life.
When her children started to attend school, Goward started working at East Oakview. She worked for one hour a day, relieving the secretary for lunch. From there she continued to gain hours and get promotions. Here at the high school, Goward calls herself an “attendance secretary,” entering the attendance and recording students who come and go during the day.
After school, Goward attends Zumba classes or other dance exercise combinations. She developed her love for dance at a young age while watching movies with her grandmother.
“I remember watching these old movies with my grandma. All these dancers would be up there and they’d be kicking together and I would say, ‘ that’s what I want to do,’” said Goward.
Goward never ended up taking dance lessons as a child, yet she continues to do Zumba and other dance classes, often here at the high school.
One of Goward’s passions is her religion. She attends Calvary church where she and her husband help lead and organize a Bible study group. She is always trying to grow in her faith and is still learning new things.
On the weekends, Goward spends her time going to her grandchildren’s different activities, such as soccer games.
“[My husband and I] call them to come over all the time or I have to go see them because I miss them. If it’s been more than ten days I can’t stand it and I have to see them, they are a big part of our lives,” Goward said.
Goward demonstrates what it means to love your job.
“It’s nice that your day goes really fast. You just can’t even believe that it’s time to go home at the end of the day,” Goward said.