Prior to my eighth grade school year, I attended 11 different schools in Elkhart, Mishawaka, and South Bend, Indiana. I attended each school for only two or three months at a time.
Looking back at it now I believe my shortest stay at one school was two weeks.
Growing up in these various school districts, I never got the true sense of what community is. But in the eighth grade, I was presented with an opportunity that would change my life forever.
I was ultimately given a second chance.
Walking through Crossroads Middle School I could feel how each individual cared about their community. Being a part of the Northview school district for the last four years has truly prepared me for “life’s next step.”
Within our community, we have many staff members that graduated from Northview, some who even now have kids that attend the high school. History teacher Mark Spetoskey graduated in 1994 and now has three kids that will forever be a part of Northview district.
“[There is a] great sense of community, that is why I moved back to this area. And when I was presented with a job, I knew I wanted my kids to go to Northview,” Spetoskey said.
Spetoskey went on to explain other qualities about Northview district: “In the past 15 years we’ve had a lot more diversity within the student body,” Spetoskey said. “This is why I wanted my own children to attend Northview.”
Growing up in a poor area of northern Indiana, I was often the minority, the only white individual in the room. Being a part of the Northview community has truly opened my eyes to different cultures and backgrounds.
Sophomore Chardae Hight experienced the complete opposite. She was often the only non-white student in the Rockford district.
“I was bullied at Rockford, so I just needed a fresh start,” Hight said.
Northview is a great community, not only for having pride in everything we do; but for accepting all different backgrounds, no matter the story.
