About Nita: I grew up in central Illinois, and have two children who both graduated from Mahomet schools. Bryan, who lives in Chicago with his wife Ryn, and Lynsi, who lives in Columbia, TN with her husband Phil and their daughter Alivia. I’m married to Rod, who works at Schnucks here in town. I have a nursing degree from Parkland College, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership from Greenville College. After graduating with my nursing degree, I worked at Christie Clinic in Pediatrics, then Family Practice, and finally as the Nurse Manager at Christie in Mahomet prior to joining the staff of the Mahomet-Seymour School District in October, 2000 as the District nurse. It has been fun to see students who I cared for as infants graduate from MSHS, and to now see some of their children in the Mahomet schools.
I have been actively involved in worship arts and community outreach at Grace Church in Mahomet for many years.
How long have you lived in Mahomet, what has your experience been like and why did you move here?
We have lived in Mahomet since 1984. We love the community, and have enjoyed raising our children here and being involved in school, church, and community activities. We moved here after looking at homes in several nearby communities. We had heard great things about the schools back then, and were not disappointed as both of our children went through the school system.
If you or a family member has been working from home, taking classes remotely, etc… what is the greatest benefit?
I have worked both fully remotely, and a hybrid of in person and remote, since last March. For me personally, the greatest benefit has been a bit of additional flexibility with my schedule. I am typically an early riser, and I’ve been able to jump on and get work done both before and after regular office hours, which frees me up for meetings or more pressing issues during the work day.
How did you cope with the freezing temperatures we had in February 2021?
Freezing temperatures are not my friend. 😊 As many others did, I stayed in when I could, and added more layers when it was necessary to go out.
Did you or your family do any kind of winter activities, if yes what was it?
As we were still in the middle of the pandemic this past winter, our winter activities consisted of safely enjoying holidays with our children and grandchild.
What are your thoughts on the pandemic after having experienced it for a year?
The pandemic. Where do I begin? As the District Nurse for Mahomet-Seymour schools for the past 21 years, this has been a year like no other. I have seen this very stressful situation bring out both the best and worst in people. I have learned a lot about myself and my capabilities, and I’m very proud of the way our School District has maneuvered through this past year. While I, like everyone else, am very ready to be done with this, I am also acutely aware that we are not quite there, and have to continue to follow the mitigation strategies a bit longer. As I look back at articles and information from 100 years ago, it’s very much like looking in a mirror. People were frustrated with the same issues; masks, distancing, quarantines, etc. then. The difference now is that information and misinformation can travel worldwide instantaneously with a click of a button. It’s disheartening to see how many people see only how things affect them personally, and neglect to think of how their actions or words affect other people. On the other hand, it has been incredibly heartwarming to see the ways in which people have stepped up to help those in need, and to read inspiring stories of folks stepping out of their comfort zones to be a light to those around them. Let’s keep the good things we may have discovered going forward, and no longer take for granted the gift of gathering, and indeed life itself.
What’s the most important thing you have learned from 2020?
The most important thing I’ve learned in 2020 is the necessity of having an open mind, looking for facts rather than believing what you hear from one perspective, and above all being kind. This has been a very stressful year, and people need to hear a kind word. We need to let people know that it’s ok to not be ok.
Do you have a bucket list? If yes, what are the top three items?
I don’t have a bucket list per se. I’ll have to give that some thought.
What’s your favorite time of the day and why?
Although I don’t love getting up early, I like being up early to have a bit of devotion, thought time, or walk with a friend, before the day gets crazy.
What’s your favorite book/tv/movie?
Books I really enjoyed were “1000 Gifts” by Ann Voskamp, “Faith Unraveled” by Rachel Held Evans, and “Becoming” by Michele Obama. I love the movies “Remember the Titans” and “Secretariat”.
What’s your definition/meaning of life?
I think the “meaning of life” should rather be “what gives life meaning”. That is 1000 little things; ` the laugh of a child, the song of a bird, a word from a friend, love of a family, the beauty of spring (even with snow!), a job well done. The definition of life is blood flowing through your veins, and breath moving through your lungs. I think as long as those things are present, we should seek every day to reflect the beauty around us, and seek to sow seeds of kindness to those with whom we interact. Each day is an opportunity to begin anew, set new goals and live in the present. The past is gone, but we can learn from it. The future isn’t here yet, but we can plan for possibilities. But the present, ahh yes, the present is before us now, in this very moment. We need to make the most of each moment that is granted to us, and bloom where we are planted.
