Nick Lashway brings the ten important questions! In this first edition of the series, Nick puts Ms. Hurd, school librarian and teacher, in the hot seat.

What do you enjoy about your job?

I love getting to talk to kids. I think that you guys are so full of energy and life and you’re such interesting people and you bring a lot of joy to my life with who you are. 

What’s something you wish you could do but can’t as a teacher?

Sometimes I wish that as a librarian I really wish that I could spend thousands of dollars on books every year. Can’t do that. As a teacher, sometimes I wish there were more hours in a day because there are so many subjects that I’d love to teach and I just don’t have the time in the day to teach every subject that I’d love to teach. I also wish that we could go on international trips that are really cool and full of new experiences. 

What’s something you enjoy that most people don’t?

I love eating black olives and vacuuming.  

What’s your most prominent or biggest personality trait?

I don’t know what my biggest personality trait is, necessarily, but the one that I try most to cultivate is kindness. I’m not always successful. I’m not always a kind person but I try my very best to cultivate kindness towards myself and towards other people as often as I can.

What do you expect from yourself no matter what?

I suppose kindness as well. I think that is the most basic thing that I can ask of myself and that I can require that I give to other people because it’s easy sometimes not to be kind, and I think that we forget just how much a bit of kindness can really change someone’s day. 

What is a superpower you wish you had?

I would love to have super powers that could protect the Earth. Like being really great at cleaning plastic out of the ocean or reducing forest fires. Nature based powers.

What animal would be a good representation of you?

I like to think a bunny rabbit would be a good representation of me for several reasons:

1: I am easily frightened

2: I am very affectionate and soft

3: I love bunny rabbits. I always have.

I’ve always wanted a pet bunny and my parents call me “Bunny.” So yeah, Bunny.

If you could give advice to your past self, what would it be?

So much advice! You don’t have to be polite to people who are making you feel uncomfortable or unsafe. I think that’s the biggest thing I would tell my past self. I was polite to people in a lot of situations where should not have, just because I was scared about making them angry. 

If you could ask your future self a question, what would it be?

“What should I get my masters degree in?” Would be one. It would be great to know that I’m still gonna be using it, “Which lottery number should I get?” Maybe those questions. I think I’d probably also ask about what’s making me happy in the future and generally how I’m doing. I’d love to know how I’m doing!

What’s something you wish your students knew about you?

I hope they know how much I love them and how much I want them to be doing well and how I. want them to be happy and how I care about them. And maybe they should also know that I’m a constantly anxious person. Like all the time. Maybe that would explain some things. You know? Help clarify who I am as a human being. I want them to know that I love them!