Due to the recent pandemic that has plagued the majority of the world ever since early 2020, many schools and their methods of teaching around the world have been altered to accommodate this change; Guilford High School is no exception. However, one thing has not changed as a result of Covid-19: new teachers entering the school and its environment. Ms. Sanika Dev, a brand new health and kinesiology educator who formerly taught at Dream High School, an alternate school in Elgin, IL, has been kindly welcomed into Guilford.

   “I’m extremely happy to be a part of the Viking family, despite starting in such a crazy year,” said Ms. Dev. “I’ve felt very welcomed by the other teachers and students. I think because everyone is essentially in the same boat right now, we’ve all kind of come together to really help one another, and that’s been amazing to see and be a part of.”

   The Coronavirus pandemic has made the last year a struggle for many people, including Ms. Dev.

   “Covid-19 has definitely challenged me. But who hasn’t been challenged? There are a lot of things that I haven’t had a chance to do at Guilford yet; see any of the performances, go to the games, etc. It’s also been hard not getting to see all my students at the same time. However, teaching in the middle of a pandemic has taught me how to be flexible. I’ve also learned how to create a supportive classroom environment in the actual classroom and online. Of course, this isn’t how I imagined my first year at a new school would be like, but life’s full of surprises, right?”

   Every teacher, both rookies and veterans, have experienced their own struggles and challenges when it comes to educating their students.

   “The hardest part of teaching is just the crazy number of decisions we make daily. I feel like my mind is constantly moving, trying to think of what I can do to make a lesson better, to get to know a student more, to answer questions, etc. I think I’ll get better with that throughout my career, though!”

   Kinesiology is the study of the mechanics of the human body. It addresses physiological, biomechanical, and psychological dynamic principles and mechanisms of movement. It is a very difficult career to study, and kinesiologists, also known as kinesiotherapists, are an extremely important position needed around the globe.

   “ I absolutely love talking about the different topics in health: mental health, nutrition, relationships, stress management, influences, advocacy, and so much more. Health is more than just the body, it’s the way you live your life and understanding the quality of life you want for yourself. It’s just something I am extremely passionate about and have been for a long time now.”

   Being a teacher is difficult. The stress placed on their shoulders could become overwhelming to a lot of individuals. Having what it takes to take that step towards educating younger generations is a key aspect to society.

   “When I was in high school, I had a couple of teachers who made me realize my potential and gave me the confidence I needed. I’ve always known I wanted to work with people and help them, and I realized that teaching is what I wanted to do. I’ve known I wanted to be a health teacher since my senior year of high school, and I’m so glad that I am here now.”