Kim Taylor by Alex Smith
Kim Taylor (Class of 1979)
Kim Taylor grew up with her three older siblings and her parents. She attended Cascade High School and would graduate and then go on to being not only a teacher but a current counselor at Cascade.
[Kim talking about similarities]
In the past, it was really similar to how it is now; the style might be a bit different in the clothing, and the curriculum may be a little different, but we didn’t have the HSPE or the WASL which it used to be called. So that may be a little different for the students and some staff that added additional pressure on them. I will definitely say that some of the style has changed; well, actually, it has come and gone. Every so often you will start to see the style come back around again. However, in general it is very similar to how it is today.
[Kim talking about activities]
In my high school years, I volunteered to do things. I wanted to be involved in sports, leadership and service. There was mostly the main clubs, activities, and sports we have today. We had a lot of boys in the girl clubs, and so that would be similar to our leadership and service. We had all the same sports, assemblies, homecoming, and dancing. I was in school all the time and I was nominated to be that Homecoming Queen, in my last year in school. Nominating format for a Homecoming King was different at the time. The student body electors were the only people who voted for Homecoming King and that name was Greg Gown.
[Kim talking about technology]
We did have computers, but not like we have now. Basically we kept our grades on track by just communicating with our teachers. I don’t know if I ever received a paper progress report, although we did get quarter reports that came out. Things were hand written, and there was a lot more direct communication between the teacher and the student because there wasn’t any quick and easy click on the computer to find out if you are missing an assignment or how you did on a test. So it was all paper, pencil, and wood.
[Kim talking about influences in her life]
I had two older brothers and an older sister who were involved in sports and activities, so I lived at school. My dad also taught all sorts of math at the school, so it was kind of like a home away from home for us. My dad was a huge influence in my life and that continues to be true. I see my dad every week, and every Monday, during my lunch time, we drink coffee together. So my teachers and my father had been the number one influences by supporting me in my life. I never felt pressure by him, but there were always words of guidance, and always ways he provided for me to pursue my dreams. However, I never felt like he was pushing me. We had a lot of great teachers just like now; in each department I could remember teachers who influenced me. You look up to those people, because they seem to be so wise, knowledgeable, and had gone through so much. So even though you don’t know their entire life, you know the words they speak to you are truth, wisdom, and wonders.
[Kim talking about opportunities]
I think there is more pressure on the students right now, because I feel as if there are a lot of students who are pushing to go to college. It’s a good thing to be pushed and to have high standards. I had planned on going into education, and always wanted to become a teacher. Becoming a teacher, and then after teaching for several years, I felt like I wanted to do more than just teach. Being a teacher is great, but I knew I would be in education for a long time. So I wanted to have the flexible stability to do something else other than be a teacher, and that’s when I became a Counselor at CHS. At the same time, there were a lot of opportunities for students who didn’t feel like they wanted to go onto college. It could be a military or vocational school where they can get a two year degree. Technology had advanced so much that there were opportunities for students to get a well-paid job without getting a four year degree by going into a technical school. After you get a two year degree, you’ll be working for some large corporation and making good money, and having good benefits. There are more opportunities out there today, than how it was before.
[Kim talking about education]
I enjoyed my student years at CHS. I made friends and looked up to my teacher’s including my dad’s advice in school. They were the people who encouraged me to graduate. I realized the value of education and the need to graduate from high school. That was the first step to becoming a young adult. Nobody can take away your education. They can take your car, you can lose your home, and you can lose your business, but they can’t take away what you have learned. That is something that is deep inside you. Education is very important, whatever type of education you get, it’s still important.
[Kim talking about world affairs]
Being a female, the Vietnam War, or being bullied by somebody didn’t concern me. I have two older brothers and at least in our family, we didn’t have a discussion about enlisting in the armed services and going off to war. There were all sorts of students who did enlist to go off to war and some who went to the academy. The air force academy was very prestigious. Those who got into the academy were top notch students. I’m thinking of the armed service, the air force, and the navy; those academies were the higher levels for helping a big service. Some were looking to receive some education, some training, and that’s what you get into when you get yourself into the service. The government will provide for you, but you may be in a war and risking your life. However, there were other opportunities as well when the soldiers got out of the war. There were careers that allowed a soldier who just got back from the war to be hired again in the United States.
Kim Taylor grew up with her three older siblings and her parents. She attended Cascade High School and would graduate and then go on to being not only a teacher but a current counselor at Cascade.
[Kim talking about similarities]
In the past, it was really similar to how it is now; the style might be a bit different in the clothing, and the curriculum may be a little different, but we didn’t have the HSPE or the WASL which it used to be called. So that may be a little different for the students and some staff that added additional pressure on them. I will definitely say that some of the style has changed; well, actually, it has come and gone. Every so often you will start to see the style come back around again. However, in general it is very similar to how it is today.
[Kim talking about activities]
In my high school years, I volunteered to do things. I wanted to be involved in sports, leadership and service. There was mostly the main clubs, activities, and sports we have today. We had a lot of boys in the girl clubs, and so that would be similar to our leadership and service. We had all the same sports, assemblies, homecoming, and dancing. I was in school all the time and I was nominated to be that Homecoming Queen, in my last year in school. Nominating format for a Homecoming King was different at the time. The student body electors were the only people who voted for Homecoming King and that name was Greg Gown.
[Kim talking about technology]
We did have computers, but not like we have now. Basically we kept our grades on track by just communicating with our teachers. I don’t know if I ever received a paper progress report, although we did get quarter reports that came out. Things were hand written, and there was a lot more direct communication between the teacher and the student because there wasn’t any quick and easy click on the computer to find out if you are missing an assignment or how you did on a test. So it was all paper, pencil, and wood.
[Kim talking about influences in her life]
I had two older brothers and an older sister who were involved in sports and activities, so I lived at school. My dad also taught all sorts of math at the school, so it was kind of like a home away from home for us. My dad was a huge influence in my life and that continues to be true. I see my dad every week, and every Monday, during my lunch time, we drink coffee together. So my teachers and my father had been the number one influences by supporting me in my life. I never felt pressure by him, but there were always words of guidance, and always ways he provided for me to pursue my dreams. However, I never felt like he was pushing me. We had a lot of great teachers just like now; in each department I could remember teachers who influenced me. You look up to those people, because they seem to be so wise, knowledgeable, and had gone through so much. So even though you don’t know their entire life, you know the words they speak to you are truth, wisdom, and wonders.
[Kim talking about opportunities]
I think there is more pressure on the students right now, because I feel as if there are a lot of students who are pushing to go to college. It’s a good thing to be pushed and to have high standards. I had planned on going into education, and always wanted to become a teacher. Becoming a teacher, and then after teaching for several years, I felt like I wanted to do more than just teach. Being a teacher is great, but I knew I would be in education for a long time. So I wanted to have the flexible stability to do something else other than be a teacher, and that’s when I became a Counselor at CHS. At the same time, there were a lot of opportunities for students who didn’t feel like they wanted to go onto college. It could be a military or vocational school where they can get a two year degree. Technology had advanced so much that there were opportunities for students to get a well-paid job without getting a four year degree by going into a technical school. After you get a two year degree, you’ll be working for some large corporation and making good money, and having good benefits. There are more opportunities out there today, than how it was before.
[Kim talking about education]
I enjoyed my student years at CHS. I made friends and looked up to my teacher’s including my dad’s advice in school. They were the people who encouraged me to graduate. I realized the value of education and the need to graduate from high school. That was the first step to becoming a young adult. Nobody can take away your education. They can take your car, you can lose your home, and you can lose your business, but they can’t take away what you have learned. That is something that is deep inside you. Education is very important, whatever type of education you get, it’s still important.
[Kim talking about world affairs]
Being a female, the Vietnam War, or being bullied by somebody didn’t concern me. I have two older brothers and at least in our family, we didn’t have a discussion about enlisting in the armed services and going off to war. There were all sorts of students who did enlist to go off to war and some who went to the academy. The air force academy was very prestigious. Those who got into the academy were top notch students. I’m thinking of the armed service, the air force, and the navy; those academies were the higher levels for helping a big service. Some were looking to receive some education, some training, and that’s what you get into when you get yourself into the service. The government will provide for you, but you may be in a war and risking your life. However, there were other opportunities as well when the soldiers got out of the war. There were careers that allowed a soldier who just got back from the war to be hired again in the United States.