Written by Journalism student Tiara A.

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A young Mrs. Eibes began taking pre-med, thinking she would soon become a doctor. Her then dreams were crushed when she failed calculus and had to make the quick shift to a writing and grammar major. Little did she know that low point, as she calls it, would turn her into the widely respected English teacher she is today.

Mrs. Eibes’ passion for teaching started from a young age. “When I was a little girl, I used to play school with my great aunt all the time. That’s all we did. I didn’t play dollies. If I did, I dressed them up and put them to bed or dressed them up and taught them.” When her husband encouraged her to get a job to keep her going, she started a search. At the time, the Eibes’ were going to Living Word; it was when they showed pictures of the then-new MCA building and classrooms that she heard the Lord’s voice telling her that was her school. Like most people, Mrs. Eibes had her doubts. “[...] and I said, I can’t teach in a Christian school because I went to the University of Minnesota, I went to Mankato State University, I teach at a public college now […].” But the Lord persisted, so in 2001 she started at MCA.

As most of us know, Mrs. Eibes doesn’t only teach English 10.

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[…] I’m the yearbook person, so I’m really into the kids’ sports and all of that.

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She recalls one of her favorite memories being when the girls’ basketball just closely won state. They were down 1 with 13 seconds on the clock when Jaclyn missed her free throw. It was just in the nick of time that Jazryn Thompson grabbed it, got the offensive rebound, and won the game. She says she loves that part almost as much as when kids get an “A” on a test.

“A good day is when everybody has their homework done,” Mrs. Eibes says. “There’s nobody bullying anybody, kids are in dress code; all that stuff is out of mind […] we’re actually learning.” A not-good day is when there’s late work. “Late work cripples teachers,” Mrs. Eibes adds. She clearly values when students manage their time effectively, as it benefits both parties.

Another thing Mrs. Eibes values is gratitude. Mrs. Eibes’ father passed away when she was young, and her mother never worked. “I went to college and people would say, ‘My dad’s such a jerk,’ blah blah blah, ‘he won’t give me this money for that and he won’t let me have a Visa card,’ or whatever. Yeah, and I was like, ‘You’ve got a dad. You listen to that dad.’”

From praying for food provisions, to dumpster diving for clothes in college, Mrs. Eibes depended on God’s promises every step of the way. “I remember having a bag of potatoes. I had cheese and I had a bag of broccoli and that’s all I had to eat and I ate it for weeks.” Gratitude is about recognizing and appreciating the gifts in our lives, big and small. It encourages us to focus on what we have rather than what we lack.

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If kids would know what it’s really like to have problems; like to be without food, to be without an income, to be without a father, some kids do know that but most people just take everything for granted, and I think that they really need to look at their own lives and just be thankful for whatever they’ve got that’s great.

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Don’t be quick to complain, but, instead, count your blessings. Shifting your focus to what you do have will brighten your day.

Mrs. Eibes hasn’t let her past stop her from becoming the excellent teacher she is today. Her daily life involves teaching yearbook and English 10, leading the study lab, and busting out-of-dress-code students. With her unwavering dedication and high standards, she inspires us all to strive for our best.

So, turn your work in on time, stay in dress code, and exercise gratitude.