About Mrs. Rihn

What did you study in college to be able to teach Latin and Mythology? 

My degree is from Rutgers University, and I earned a BA in Classics (Latin) and English. I'm actually dual certified, which means I'm able to teach English as well! Classics is the study of ancient Greek and Roman language and history; I studied a few myths in their original language! I really love reading, and enjoyed reading myths in my English classes as well. I never teach it, but I have a soft spot for Shakespeare in addition to mythology. 

What's your favorite Greek god/goddess?

Taylor Swift!

Just kidding. I get asked this quite frequently! I am partial to Athena and her strength/wisdom, but also a fan of Dionysus as he's the god of the theater. I like how he was involved in Ariadne's story, too! I really like the Norse pantheon as well. My favorite Norse god is Loki, and my favorite Egyptian god is Anubis.

So since you teach myth, does that mean you looooove Percy Jackson? 

Believe it or not, I actually am not a fan of the Percy Jackson series, which is based on the story of Perseus! (Although, the show on Disney+ is pretty good!) Some of my favorite myths include Jason and the Argonauts (which we study in class!) and the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. That one was made into a Broadway show- it's called Hadestown. There's a lot of cool new shows, movies, and media about mythology. Have you heard the Taylor Swift song called Cassandra?

Isn't Latin a dead language? Why should anyone study it?

I'd describe Latin as a ZOMBIE language - the UNDEAD. It's alive and in use every day - the five Romance languages (Romanian, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese) all evolved from Latin. Are you surprised that English isn't part of that list? English is considered a Germanic language, meaning it evolved from German, but about 60% of English comes from Latin. And another percentage of English comes from French, which came from Latin so... you do the math! 

Studying Latin is a great way to expand your vocabulary in English as well as other languages, but it's not the only reason to study it. Latin is a very logical language, so it can help deepen your logic and critical thinking skills. Puzzling out a Latin sentence will help build your determination and resilience, which can help when you study tougher things later on in life. Through the stories you read, you'll also learn more about history, mythology, government, and humanity. By understanding the grammatical structures involved in Latin, you'll become a better writer in English as well! 

Kids love to say that they take Latin because they want to do well on the SATs, and it's true, Latin students score very well on the exam. However, studying Latin can set you up for success beyond just an exam. It can prepare you for a career in science, technology, art, law, medicine, or even the more newfangled careers like content creator, marketing, and social media management. Being a great communicator who understands important references will help you across the board.

Your dog is so cute! What's his name?

Thanks! My dog is named Roman. His middle name is Eric, since that's what he was called when we adopted him from a rescue organization. He is a weird little guy, very particular. My husband and I adopted him when he was 10 weeks old, and now he's already 7 years old - I can't believe it! 

What's your favorite Taylor Swift album?

AHHHH. It changes all the time.