By Kalia Gaeta
Being a new girl at school during the loud and crazy D lunches, of course I didn’t talk to anyone nor had any friends. I kept to myself.
It wasn’t until a random day after I had made some friends, which made me begin to start talking in the line. While me and my friend talked, my friend would randomly bring cafeteria worker Tabetha Bakke into conversations. Rather than Ms. Bakke ignoring us, she began to laugh and have conversations with us.
Since that first conversation, I stayed talking with her. Even if I was alone, I would ask how was her day or about any plans she had. But, what got us even closer was that I began seeing Ms. Bakke outside of school, a little more often than intended.
Since we saw each other often, we would laugh on Mondays about how we had just seen each other on a Saturday or Sunday. This led to conversations about my weekend or hers, more personal stuff outside of just school.
I began to bring more friends to meet and socialize with her, and they themselves found Ms. Bakke funny and caring. Especially after so many random conversations, she just listens and adds small comments to me and my friends.
When every conversation ends now, with friends or not, Ms. Bakke and I always give each other a hand heart as I walk away. It’s my way of wishing her a good rest of her day and almost a promise that I will come and talk to her again the next day.
By Joshua Harris
Going to a new school far from your home is scary. You lose that daily contact with all your friends and are surrounded by total strangers, complete social isolation. That’s how it was for me on my first day at Kingwood Park. Driving to school that first day, my head was going faster than our car.
“Who will I talk with? What are the people like? Am I going to have friends?” I couldn’t think without worrying, my body moving a million miles a minute, shaking and anticipating under a heavy layer of false bravado.
Finally arriving at what I assumed was my new prison, I dragged my heavy, shaky feet inside, much against my better judgement. I scanned the halls, looking for anybody I may have known. I walked quickly and silently, not wanting to talk to anyone, afraid to embarrass myself on day one. I kept my head down, my legs close together and made sure to not make eye contact with anyone.
After four long periods of being, well, awkward, it was finally the best time – lunch time. I merrily walked the halls, humming a tune all the way to the large lunchroom, excited to finally eat something that would hopefully quell my worry. Sitting at a table with my sister and some theater people I knew, I stayed relatively quiet and slipped away to the lunch line. After reading the options on the blinding, large TVs, I decided on the pizza line.
Grabbing a simple slice of cheese pizza and a carton of milk, I approached the cash register. Standing behind the counter was Tabetha Bakke, the person I didn’t know that would end up becoming one of the highlights of my days. It started simple – a “thank you very much” and a “hello.” Over the next few days, this would repeat. I’d get my pizza, milk, say thank you and walk back to my table. I soon started to order a second slice and a Diet Coke everyday, much to the dismay of my account balance.
Soon, Ms. Bakke caught on and would ask, “Would you like a second slice?” It made me happy that she had learned and known me in so little time. This small, simple interaction always made me smile as I walked back to my table. She then started asking me, “a Coke today Mr. Harris?” That again made me feel noticed. When I would get a different kind of pizza, she’d joke that I was feeling bold or feeling different today.
She truly has brought a smile to every one of my days. Her ability to learn people’s faces and their orders has so much of an effect on that person. She brings smiles to several kids’ faces and is very polite and kind when you talk to her. So, do me a favor, next time you see her at the cash register, say a simple hello and throw in a please and thank you. Give back to her what she has to us. You will make her day with that little minute of your time.
** These stories are part of a Teacher Appreciation series where students write about a staff member who has had a significant impact on them during high school.
