The Neshannock Staff’s Favorite Quotations: The First Installment

In this article you can explore some of the Neshannock Staff’s favorite quotations, where they found them, and why they have chosen them as their favorite! As you read through all of these thoughtful, deep, and interesting responses, I hope you can get some insight into some of the brightest minds from Neshannock. 

Mr. Frye- High School Physics Teacher

• • • “We learn by trial and error; NOT trial and rightness!”
    • Source unknown
    • It is important to learn that it is OK to make mistakes!  Too many people are trying to be perfect instead of being themselves.

Mrs. Moss- High School English Teacher

• • • “There are lots of ways of being miserable, but there’s only one way of being comfortable, and that is to stop running round after happiness. If you make up your mind not to be happy there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have a fairly good time.”
    • Edith Wharton, “The Last Asset”
    • Wharton is my favorite American novelist. This quote showcases her sense of humor while it also makes (in my opinion!) an excellent point:  forced happiness isn’t happiness. Her quote encapsulates those ideas–the idea of “happiness” isn’t true if a person runs around trying to attain it.  And, the rush to attain “happiness” negates the concept, because trying to achieve “happiness” makes one incredibly uncomfortable. I also find a connection to this quote because it personally reminds me not to over-plan life.  The best times, the times that create memories and lasting happiness, are rarely the times when everything was perfectly planned.  And, many times over-planning just creates more misery, when life should be about experiences and joy.  Wharton’s power as a writer elevates a simple idea–stop trying to be something you’re not, and start LIVING LIFE. 

Mr. Ferry

• • • “If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.”
    • John Dewey
    • This quote is my favorite because it explains the importance of staying relevant and learning new skills as an educator in order to effectively teach students the necessary skills and content that will feed them forward.

Mrs. Measel- High School, Junior High Principal

• • • “Life is like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you’re going to get.” 
    • Forrest Gump
    • I love this quotation because it is so true!  Life is so dynamic, so you never know what will happen.

Mrs. Hilton- High School Science Teacher

• • • “Being a girl could be about interest rates and skinny jeans, riding bikes and wearing pink. Not about any one thing, but everything.”
    • Sarah Dessen’s book Along for the Ride
    • People too often limit themselves based on a few finite areas of their lives.  Each person should realize that they can be a variety of things to a variety of different people.  I am a wife to a great husband, I am a mother to three wonderful children, I am a good friend to many, I am a teacher to a whole bunch of people.  I can be as many different things as I want or need to be.  I can like football and hockey and flowers and glitter!!

BONUS- Ashley Seyler- Elementary 6th Grade Teacher

• • • “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
    • Maya Angelou
    • I think this quotation forces people to stop and think about how they treat people; it makes people think about *how* they say things rather than just *what* they say.
    • “Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one.”
    • Eleanor Roosevelt
    • This quotation encourages people to be themselves rather than being the person others want them to be.