By JARA REEDER, Senior Reporter
As Jenna sat on her father’s lap, her small feet dangled back and forth while she listened to the soft sound of his voice reminiscing about his youth.
That was one memory Jenna Brooks, a December graduate from Northwestern, remembered about her father.
When she was young, she could often be found flipping through scratched-up history books and listening to the stories her dad told her as a girl.
She said she found it fascinating how technology had advanced and how the style of clothing had changed over the decades.
“My father was a huge part of my life, always wanting me to keep my mind open to learn more, and when he passed, I felt that learning history kept me connected to him,” Brooks said.
“He lived through a lot of historical events, and it piqued my interest.”
Brooks gained a support system from her teachers after the death of her father, and she believed that after that experience, she could do the same for others.
After graduating from Northwestern with a degree in social science, she is now a teacher at Meade High School in Meade, Kansas.
She has completed her first semester at Meade and oversees the student council and the Key Club, which helps students serve their community.
“I wanted to get involved with the new community and get to know some of the students,” Brooks said.
“When I was first hired, I was nervous to teach high school, but I soon realized that older students are great. They have a lot of humor, and they are so much fun.
“Teaching the subject I love and helping others is something I’m blessed to do.”