Hi! My name is Ms. Horton.
I am a teacher and a graduate student at Appalachian State University.
What I look like:
- I usually have wavy/curly brown hair, but in this first picture it is straight for my graduation from ASU.
- I am very pale, have brown eyes, and am average height for a girl.
I LOVE…
- My cat. Her name is Meredith. She hung around my house long enough that she eventually became the baby of the family. Now for those who don’t like cats: I really didn’t like cats before I met Meredith, but I learned that not all cats are mean or scary or don’t like cuddles. Meredith loves attention, being brushed, and even being petted on her tummy. This is her at Christmastime in a scarf that matched our family’s pj’s.
- The mountains. I currently live in Boone, North Carolina, and it is my favorite place in the world. I love to be on top of a mountain because it makes me feel peaceful and calm. Three years ago I spent a summer in South Lake Tahoe, California. The Rocky mountains were very different from what I’m used to, but I learned to appreciate both environments in different ways. This past year, I taught in Ireland, and also got the opportunity to hike around the mountains there.
- Chocolate. My parents decided to not allow me to eat candy when I was little. The result of that is now I have a big sweet-tooth, but especially for all things chocolate. Growing up my favorites were Hershey’s bars, Reese’s peanut butter cups, and kinder eggs from Germany. As I’ve tried new things, my favorites now are Lindt chocolate with pretzels and salt, chocolate ice cream, and brownies.
- Reading. I have always loved reading. It is my favorite hobby and I wish that there was more time in the day to do so. I’ve learned that many people don’t like reading because they’ve never found a book or genre that they are really interested in. The trick to reading good books is to be open, not judging a book by its cover, and to put a book down and move on if you are not interested in it.
I DISlike…
- Printers. They are probably the object that frustrates me the most. Every time I am in a rush and need to print something quickly, the printer stops working. I actually dread going to print something and have learned to give myself extra time.
- Injustice. I actually did a whole project on a few social justice issues that can be explored through books. You can explore that website here. Injustice really makes me frustrated and angry because I see people treating others unfairly when they could have chosen kindness instead. Each person’s words and actions can make a huge impact, and I think we all should try to see others as people just like us.
- Heat. I love the cold. Every time the temperature rises above 90 degrees I become really irritable and am not fun to be around. I have a low tolerance for heat and avoid spending too much time outside in the summer. I’ve learned that just because the heat makes me feel uncomfortable and short-tempered doesn’t mean I can take that out on others. I really have to watch my words and to remember to be patient when I am over-heated.
- Raw meat. I love to eat meat and I think it tastes delicious, but cooking or touching raw meat really grosses me out. When I was younger I even refused to look at it before it was cooked. Now that I have to cook for myself, it is something unpleasant that I have to get over if I want a tasty, meaty meal.
How I ACT…
- Calm. I am a naturally calm person. I rarely ever get truly angry. In stressful situations I am always outwardly calm, even if I don’t feel like it. One time my friends and I got trapped in an elevator, and both of them were freaking out while I calmly called the fire department. I think I get my calm demeanor both from my dad and mom. My dad is naturally a calm person too and my mom is good in stressful situations because she is a nurse.
- Honest. I don’t like when people lie about things or sugarcoat situations. I believe in telling the truth in a kind way. Because I am naturally an honest person, I have to work on not being hurtful when telling the truth. I have been told that sometimes I am too blunt. I would rather someone give me their honest opinion rather than lie to make me happy.
- Adventurous. As seen in the pictures below, I love to travel and go on adventures. I made a bucket list in 10 minutes recently and filled the entire page. I love finding new places to explore in my town and spontaneous little road trips. For example, sometimes I will drive to Tennessee just to see the sunset. My summer in Lake Tahoe was one of the most adventurous times of my life, as I explored places I had never heard about or seen before with people I had never met. While there, I went cliff jumping and woke up at 2 a.m. to hike 10 miles up Mt. Tallac to see the sunrise. If you want to read my blog posts from my time student teaching in Ireland, click here.
- Positive. I like to look at the bright side of things. I don’t like to complain because I think it is pointless. I think each of us can choose how we see the world, and I prefer to view it through a kind lens. My brain is always working as a devil’s advocate, or seeing both sides of a situation, and I think this helps me when viewing sad or scary things. There is always a bright side if you look hard enough.
What you should know about me…
- I only eat popcorn with a little bit of cayenne pepper on it. A few years ago a roommate taught me how to make popcorn on the stove and I’ve never looked back. Homemade popcorn is so much better than microwave popcorn, and I learned that a little bit of cayenne pepper makes it especially delicious.
- Ferris wheels terrify me… but I’m not afraid of heights. When I was little my sister rocked the seat at the very top of a ferris wheel and I’ve been scared ever since.
- I hate repetition. I don’t like doing things over or learning the same things again and again. For example, I don’t like when teachers go over the same material I’ve already learned, because it is boring and I’m not learning anything new. I don’t like cleaning because eventually I will have to clean the same thing over again. I especially don’t like learning the same life lessons over and over again, because I think I should have got it by now. I’m learning that sometimes you have to do things that you don’t want to, because it is ultimately good for you (a life lesson I have to re-learn all the time).
- Ironically, (see repetition above), about every 2 years I donate most of my hair. As you can see in my pictures, my hair length dramatically varies from shoulder length to really, really long. I love donating it, and I actually would love to someday shave my head (but only for a good cause).
“I was standing in front of the mirror. I dared myself to cut off my hair. I did it. Now I feel like I can do anything in the world.” -Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Textbook
- It takes me awhile to warm up to people. I never thought of myself as a shy person, because I know that I’m not shy with my close friends and family. I’ve learned that I am quieter when first meeting a person, and that’s okay. Through that revelation, I’ve also learned that I am a pretty good judge of character and have good instincts about people. Those initial judgements have kept me safe in sketchy situations and directed me in who I allow into my life. Being an observer is good, but I need to be reminded to be brave and step outside my comfort zone sometimes, and that I am also not always right.
- I’m allergic to cinnamon but I love cinnamon rolls.
- I will not catch something if you throw it at me. I have poor hand-eye coordination and have never been athletic. The game in class where teachers threw a ball to students to answer questions was something I dreaded. The last time I threw a frisbee I hit someone in the head. My instinct when an object is coming towards me is to duck or watch it fall.
- I have seen many black bears up close and personal. “Brown, lay down, Black, fight back, White, goodnight.”
Follow me!
Instagram: @_mshorton
Twitter: @Ms.Horton
Horton Who? 