Students aspiring to improve the world through healthcare recently discovered the passion Kamryn Hamilton brings to Texas High’s Health Science Education Program. Though new to the staff, Hamilton remains familiar with the traditions and community at Texas High.
Six years ago, she crossed the stage, diploma in hand, in preparation for the next step towards all aspirations since she strode under the star freshman year. The desire in Hamilton’s heart to make the world a better place, as in the heart of many growing up, ignited a spark and nourished it into the blaze it is today.
In her pre-teacher years, Hamilton spent her days as a NICU nurse, providing care and highlighting the capacity of her devotion to others. While transitioning from nursing the newborns to teaching the tigers, she uses skills, new and old, to impart her love for her career among the lives of those still figuring out what they want to do after high school.
“I worked in the ICU, so it’s controlled chaos, similar to schools,” Hamilton said. “My organizational skills have helped a lot. Being a nurse and the attention to detail I’ve had for so long has helped me focus on different students to analyze what they need.”
Although Hamilton never planned to switch up her path, the nostalgia from her high school years possessed enough weight to bring her right back.
“My parents went here, I went here, and my sisters went here, so it just feels like family,” Hamilton said. “I feel very accepted by teachers, new and old, and staff members. The traditions and lifestyle of Texas High will always be a part of me.”
Throughout her journey, she was impacted by strangers, friends and daily interactions. Words of motivation, admiration and appreciation propelled her in life, words that stick longer than assumed.
“Mr. Littman used to teach government, and he always [said] ‘be careful out there’. It was something I heard so often, so I tend to say, ‘be careful out there’ when leaving someone,” Hamilton said. “You never know when it’s the last time you’re going to see somebody. I always feel like that reminder to be careful resonates with people.”
Flip-flopping plans in one’s mind that cultivated for years often alerts our fight-or-flight response systems. Abandoning dreams breaks a part of our hearts from childhood. Hamilton’s opposing perspective allowed her to enter a whole new world of dreaming.
“Going to college for nursing, I felt like I was prepared to be a nurse, [because] it was what I had wanted to go for so long. [I was hesitant to] switch to teaching,” Hamilton said. [Even though] I know the content I’m teaching, but everything that [the job] encompasses, I don’t know yet and that was quite nerve wracking for me.”
Through the difficult days of confusion and misunderstanding, she repeats words of affirmation to herself.
“‘Just one day at a time,’ I tell myself. I came here in the middle of the year. It sometimes feels hectic, and like I’m not in a controlled environment like I’m used to in the ICU,” said Hamilton. “One day at a time, one class period at a time gets me through the days easier.”
Reverting back to the reason why we are where we are is another way to look at situations in difficult times. Reflecting on the potential others saw in the beginning drives us forward.
“I left nursing to become a teacher because I’ve always desired coming back to my alma mater and teaching others about a career field that I am really passionate about,” Hamilton said. “Shock is the easiest way to describe my reaction [when accepted]. No teaching degree or experience and I was still chosen to teach.”
Hamilton’s introduction to the crowd of students that await her at Texas High and the palpable passion of her career creates excitement among herself and her students.
“My phlebotomy class is learning different types of blood draws and about to start practicing sticking people,” Hamilton said. “I’m really excited for my health science classes to start getting visitors to come teach them about their jobs and the different pathways in healthcare.”
Although unsure, Ms. Hamilton followed the path she was drawn to and has already impacted her first group of students.
“I feel like when I was in high school, I was ready to leave. I know most seniors are like, ‘I’m ready to leave Texarkana. I’m ready to leave Texas High. I’m tired’,” Hamilton said. “But, after you are an adult and do adult things for a few years, you’re like, ‘high school wasn’t really that bad. High school was fun. I had no real responsibilities besides school’. I would tell my [younger] self, ‘you would not believe you’re back at high school’.”