DOUBLE LIFE

A look into the life of West High Staff member Mrs. Burns, as a mom and English teacher.

Having one job is a lot of work. Having two full time jobs, both involving kids, is even more work. Traci Burns, an English teacher at West, works full time at West and as a mom to three young kids, Lilliana (6), Brady (3), and Graham (1).

Burns has always planned on being an English teacher. “If it wouldn’t have been English it would have been math, but yes always a teacher.” Even though she always knew she would be a teacher, Burns said that at one point in her life she was convinced she would absolutely never have children. However, when she went to college, she began working at a daycare and loved all the kids. She currently has three kids but says she has always wanted four; however three is a lot right now.

Burns says she’s had to change things in her life and learn how to not be a perfectionist all the time.

“With my third child, especially, I’ve had to give up some things, like I’ve had to become a mediocre teacher so that I could be at least a mediocre parent and that’s really hard for me because I’m a perfectionist in both areas.”

Being a perfectionist can be very exhausting. It’s very hard to be the perfect mom and the perfect teacher, let alone at the same time. However, Burns does a good job managing both and says that she still gets good quality time with her family despite teaching three different classes. Her kids are still young, so they aren’t super involved in any activities right now which makes it easy for her to be with them on the weekends.

Being a teacher can help prepare parents for being a parent to a teenager. Burns’ kids are 6, 3, and 1 years old but she says that having conversations with her students about what their lives are like will allow her to better coach her kids in a good direction. She has a better understanding of what our lives are like so she can better understand what it may be like for her kids when they reach our age. Her childhood was obviously very different from ours, with less social media and less advanced cell phones during her childhood. Having an inside look into how all of that really affects most teenagers will definitely help her out in the future. Burns feels she’ll be more prepared for their attitudes as they become teenagers.

She jokes, “My husband will be like ‘what the heck is going on?’ Whereas I’ll be like oh, yeah, no this is so to be expected.”

Balancing two jobs can be extremely exhausting but Traci Burns does it with passion, love for her students and kids, and a smile on her face.

STORY AND DESIGN BY SOPHIE GOERS

Many athletes get injured during their high school career. The things you do while recovering are very important to be able to do what you love again. Nutrition is a key aspect of recovery, along with physical therapy, and rest.

Sheila Stiles works full time as the athletic trainer for West High. Although she has been an athlete her whole life, she didn’t always want to be an athletic trainer. After being diagnosed with scoliosis in eighth grade, Stiles wanted to be a physical therapist. She came to the University of Iowa thinking she would major in physical therapy, but then discovered athletic training.

“I loved the idea of working with only students, being part of a team, and seeing my athletes every day,” Stiles said.

She is in charge of the health and safety of the students involved in sports at West. She helps prevent, evaluate, and rehabilitate injuries along with coordinating care for student athletes with other medical professionals.

Many high school athletes get injured while playing and are out for many months. Athletes come to Stiles with a broad range of injuries from an ankle sprain, to a dislocation.

“Most injuries are mild and take one to three days to heal,” Stiles said. “Occasionally there are those that last one to four weeks to heal.”

There are also severe injuries such as grade three ligament sprains, meniscus tears, dislocations, and many more.

“They may or may not require surgery, but the timeline to return to play is extensive- anywhere from one to six months,” Stiles said.

Although it is frustrating when you get injured and are out of the sport you love, there are ways to help yourself stay healthy for the future. Most people spend many months in physical therapy, and it is important to take time off when you get injured. Physical therapy, proper nutrition, rest, and support from family and friends all play a signifcant role in the road to recovery.

Physical therapy is important to do while you’re injured, because it will help to strengthen the weak muscles for better stability, while also improving mobility. It may feel boring, or like a waste of time but it will be worth it in the long run, to get back to doing what you love.

Proper nutrition gives the body the right nutrients to build muscle, repair injured tissue, and accelerate the healing process. Foods that are rich in protein also help your body build and repair muscle, skin, and other body tissues.

Sleep increases blood fow in the body and to the muscles so they can repair themselves. Rest is essen tial to make sure your body gets a break, and has time to heal itself.

It is important to allow injuries to fully heal before you start practic ing, so the injury doesn’t reoccur, or get even worse than before. Injuries are frustrating, but it is essential to listen to your doctors, and do what they say to get back to what you love.