Future Teacher: Miss Willa Sabelko 

Senior, Willa Sabelko, is on her way to becoming a teacher! While she’s majoring in middle school education, she’s also minoring in speech pathology. Sabelko isn’t committed to one school yet, as none of her schools have rejected her! 

She explains that she hoped that the application process would narrow down her decision, but that hasn’t quite gone in her favor: “I have been accepted into Ohio University, Ohio State University, Miami University, Dayton University, Indiana University Bloomington, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Cincinnati, and Kent State University. I was kind of hoping that the schools would help me narrow it down, but so far, no school has denied me. It will probably come down to what campus I like the most, which school has the best program, and which school offers the best scholarships.” 

Willa explains that she’s known that she’s wanted to be a teacher for quite some time: “Ever since 2nd grade, I have known I wanted to be a teacher. I loved when we all would gather on the rug at the front of the room, and my 2nd-grade teacher, Mrs. Dillon, read to us. I was so intrigued and engaged in every story, and from that moment on, I knew I wanted to create the same experiences for future students.” 

She also explains that her seventh-grade ELA teacher, Mrs. Timberlake, made an impact on her life: “My seventh-grade teacher, Mrs. Timberlake, was also a huge inspiration for me because of how much I enjoyed her class. She helped me discover my love for reading and writing, and she helped me figure out what type of books I enjoy.”

Willa looks back on her time at AHS and claims that her favorite memory is hanging out with her fellow oboist: “My favorite memory is hanging out with the other oboist, Olivia, even during marching band season. I am so grateful we met my sophomore year, and I have loved picking her up before every rehearsal and football game, getting food, eating in the school parking lot, sitting on the bus together, learning drill together, sharing the same oboe experiences, and scream-singing “Cool For The Summer,” or “Roaring 20s,” or “In The Night'' each time I drove her home. I will miss her a ton, and I hope she has an amazing senior year next year.” Along with that, she expresses that she’ll miss her friends here, at Aurora, but she knows that they’ll all keep in touch. 

She also reflects on a teacher who has made the biggest impact on her through high school, which happens to be Mrs. Lindley: “Mrs. Lindley has impacted me by pushing me to be my best self in the classroom and outside. Sophomore year was super hard when my chronic migraines began, and she was so understanding, but this year, she told me that she really needed me to be at school, and it resonated with me to push extra hard to be at school in the second semester. Also, I didn’t take AP Lang because it was too much for my stress levels, which directly impacted my migraine frequency, but she hunted me down and told me that I belonged in AP Lit, and I am so glad I took it this year.” 

Sabelko explains that graduation has made her feel bittersweet, and the fact that she’s graduating this year hasn’t really sunk in yet. She’s excited for college and ready to create a new life there, but she says, “...it’s also incredibly scary.” 

In ten years, Willa hopes to have a set job as a teacher, along with helping in speech pathology if/when needed. She also explains that one day, when she’s financially stable, she’d love to live in California. To go with that, she looks forward to the upcoming Christmases with her extended family. 

Sabelko wants underclassmen to know this: “Take in every moment, especially senior year. It goes by so fast, and before you know it, you will think of college, and your future will be laid out before you. Don’t let these moments pass you by.” 

To go with that, she explains that some of the best advice she’s ever been given should be given to underclassmen, too: “Don’t worry about things you can’t control,” One final message that Sabelko says is, “Don’t push yourself too hard in school; try to enjoy things a little more.”

Willa’s senior quote is from Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”