Julie Savage

• Position: School counselor
• Bachelors/Degrees & from where: Bachelor’s degree in english from University Of Texas at Arlington and Master’s degree in education and school counseling from Lamar University 
• School Activities: NEHS
• Years at Caney Creek: 9
• Years Teaching: 15

How would other people describe you?

Talkative, outgoing, driven, stubborn. But also essentially like a dog without a bone because I don’t give up on things easily. But I’m also very caring, I’m empathetic. I like being anything people need for me, and people will tell you.

Was there a career you wanted to pursue OR pursued before teaching.

I was actually in the restaurant industry. I went and started working in restaurants when I was in high school, and I was good at it, but I worked my way up into management with restaurants. And it just got to a point where I realized it wasn’t my thing. And so after finishing my time in the restaurant industry, I can tell you this much, it was the last Sunday of June of 2006 I like, I know it to every moment. I was talking to one of my employees who was going to school to be an elementary school teacher, an elementary school teacher, eventually a principal. And it hit me like a bolt of lightning that I wanted to go back to school to be a high school English teacher, and that’s how I got here. And so once, I started down this path and never got off of it. And I love every minute of it.

Tell us about how you got into teaching. 

When I was a kid, I had ADHD and it was very bad, but I had some fantastic teachers along the way. The teachers that I will always remember are my second grade teacher, my third grade teacher and my senior English teacher. And I always told myself that if I ever taught it would have been third grade or senior English, just because those were the teachers that had the biggest impact on me, like, I still know my senior English teacher. We still are friends on Facebook. We still talk. I send messages to her. And so that’s really what got me into teaching, was because those teachers were there for me. I wanted to be that person for other kids, because there are kids that don’t have a champion and they don’t have they don’t have anything in their life. And I want it to be something for kids.

What do you do outside of school for fun? Why? 

I love to read. I’m a reader. I’ve always been a reader. Ever since my mom was actually pregnant with me. She read to me. I love to be outside. I love to go to sporting events. I love to go to concerts. I love hanging out. I like especially the times of just relaxing and relaxing, because sometimes here at school, we just go and it’s nice to stop and just relax.

When people get to know you, what are they most surprised to learn about you? 

Honestly, my age and I haven’t been in teaching longer because I mean, I don’t look like I’m 42 I’ve been in teaching for 15 years. But people are also shocked sometimes to learn my history, when I open up about my family and all that, because everybody has a story.

Tell us the story about what you are most proud of yourself for.

So in my very first year teaching, I got to know one of my students. I got very close with her, and I actually ended up being her homebound teacher for when she had both of her babies. Yes, she did have two babies before high school, and did but she also graduated high school. I will never forget I finished high school when she graduated. Her dad gave me a hug and said that if it weren’t for me, his daughter wouldn’t have graduated high school. But I also have gotten to know the family incredibly. It’s at the point where her girls call me aunt, Miss savage. I joke about it, I think what I’m most proud of is the fact that I’ve always told my kids, and she’s a perfect example of it. I’ve always told my kids that when you’re in my class, you’re my baby, but after you’re out of my class, you’re always going to be my kid. And I still have kids to this day that find me on Facebook, that will message me, that see me out, and they just thank me. And I think that’s really what I’m most proud of, is for the kids that can look back and realize like, Hey, you did teach me something, and that I do want to pass and that they do want to pass those lessons on. And that’s just kind of for me, is what it is. And like my student that had both babies before she graduated high school, like she still thinks of me every day, her family still thinks of me every day. And I might not see her all the time, but when I do see her, she always I can tell that it’s more than just a student teacher relationship, and that’s really what matters.

Who is someone you are thankful for and why?

I would have to say the person I’m most thankful for would probably be my mom, both my mom and my dad, but my mom, because she’s never given up on me. She’s always been there for me every single up and down, always pushed me and with my dad, my dad and I always haven’t had the easiest relationship. However it is, we’re at a point now that we have one of the best relationships we’ve ever had. Both my mom and my dad have been a constant support in different ways and at different times, and it’s been something that’s been really helpful.

What advice would you give to someone pursuing a career similar to yours?

If I were honest with you, anybody teaching and pursuing a career in education, whatever it might be, is to follow your passion, follow your gut, and do honestly what it is that makes you happy. And, I mean, that’s really advice to anybody, because if you do what makes you happy, and you do something that you get joy out of, it’s, I mean, it’s not work like, yes, there are days where my job is incredibly difficult, but for the most part, I still leave every day and I’m smiling. I still have the moments where I have a kid when I tell them that they are. I am their senior counselor that runs up and gives me a hug in the hallway. And it, it, you know, it’s I, I’m living my passion, and I think that that’s what’s important, and that’s what you need to do, is Live Your

What do you hope to be remembered for? 

I hope to be remembered as the person that was always there, no matter what, the person that they could come and talk to, the person that they could come and cry to, the person that if they needed a get up and go moment and I needed to tell them, let’s go. That’s what I want to be remembered for, is just being that person for my kids. But I want to be remembered as a person that was as a teacher, as an educator, as a counselor, as someone that was dedicated, as someone that truly put the needs of their kids first, and thought of the kids first.

What’s on your bucket list? 

I’ve done some things on my bucket list, I would honestly have to say right now, one of the biggest things on my bucket list is to see the Northern Lights. Is to go to places like Norway, or anywhere like that and stay in a glass top igloo and go and see the Northern Lights.

How often do you think about the Roman Empire?

Not as often as I probably should, but there’s not a reason for me to think about the Roman Empire.

Favorites

• Food: Pizza
• Song/Artist/Music: “Angel” By Aerosmith 
• Movie: “The Man From Snowy River” 
• Book: “To Kill A MockingBird” By Harper Lee