Streaks Alumni Profile- Jennifer (Watters) Robinson 1989

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Jennifer (Watters) Robinson from the GHS Class of 1989. 

Jen was a great student, great athlete, and active in many organizations while at GHS. 

I had the opportunity to coach Jen when she ran cross country at GHS. When I coached cross country, I got to work with some great athletes and some great teams. Jen was part of one of the best teams, they won the Western Big Six Conference. Jen and her teammates’ loyalty, team bond, and commitment were truly inspirational. 

After college, Jen came back to GHS where she has had an outstanding career teaching both foreign language and social studies. She has impacted so many students during her time. 

Jen has been a student, athlete, and teacher at GHS for over 30 years. She shares her unique perspective on how GHS has changed during this period. She shares some tremendous insights. 

Favorite Teachers/Classes

Some of my favorite teachers at GHS were the American Studies teams of Gayle Stewart/Joe Patterson and Hal Devore. Joe Patterson taught the fall semester while Gayle was on maternity leave and I think my classmates and I were blessed to get to experience both of their teaching styles.  

In math, Rosemary Eismann and John Kessler pushed us all to give our best efforts and I learned a lot from Larry Diemer about writing in rhetoric class.  

Ann Pennington was an awesome Spanish teacher who I had for 3 years and she played a huge role in my choice to become a Spanish teacher. 

FCA Officers

Sports / Activities / Jobs at GHS

While at GHS, I participated in cross country, track, and cheer for all 4 years. I was a member of the Spanish Club and student council.  I was an officer and member of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and a member of National Honor Society and G-Club.  

I didn't have any jobs during high school except for a couple of weeks in the summer that I worked in at my dad's veterinary office as a receptionist and I worked at the basketball summer camps as a timer and scorekeeper! 

Best Memories Growing Up in Galesburg/ Attending GHS

It is hard to find just a few memories because I really did enjoy growing up in Galesburg and particularly my years in high school.  I had a great group of friends and as I look back, there are so many positive moments.  

Of course, as a student I enjoyed going to the basketball and football games, experiencing the spirit weeks and pep assemblies, and I also liked my classes.  

But some of the best memories include being on the cross country teams.  I'm not sure anyone can explain the bond that develops when you compete in a sport together.  Cross country is not particularly glamorous, and is sometimes really difficult, but we always managed to have fun.  Whether it was running through puddles in the rain, or running out to Lincoln Park for our weekly rolling hills workout, I made some of my best friends during those workouts and those friendships have survived since graduation.  We would have our pre-meet get-togethers at Happy Joes each Friday evening and would each order our favorite "Little Joes." Highlights of the cross country experience were being on the Western Big Six champion team in 1986 and qualifying to state as an individual. 

Education after GHS

After graduation I spent a year as a Rotary exchange student. I traveled to Colombia, South America and lived there with a host family and attended a high school.  I did not receive any "credit" for the school since I had already graduated, but I learned a lot about myself, the Spanish language and Colombian culture.  It was an amazing experience and had a huge impact on my future career decision.  

When I returned, I entered the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) and earned a B.A. in the teaching of Spanish with a minor in history.  I later received an M.A. in History from Western Illinois University.

Career

I was hired in the fall of 1994 as a Spanish/History teacher in Galesburg; I had a split position and traveled between Lombard Middle School and Galesburg High School.  After about 4 years, the position became full time at GHS and I have been here ever since.  Some years I taught a mix of Spanish and history, some years all history, and for the last 15-ish years, I have been a full time Spanish teacher and am currently the department chair for the World Language Department.  I also co-sponser the National Honor Society and I am the sponsor for the Rotary Interact Club, a service organization.  

What You Are Doing Today

My husband and I own a farming business south of Galesburg where we raise corn, soybeans, and pigs.  We have 3 children:  Anna (GHS '16) was married this past fall and is working in the St Louis area, Grant (GHS '20) is a true farm kid and works with us on the family farm, and Julia (GHS '24) will be a sophomore at the University of Illinois where she is studying pre-nursing.   

Our two daughters were Rotary Youth Exchanges students (Anna to Indonesia and Julia to Brazil) and my husband and I have been host parents to 4 students from around the world.  

Outside of my teaching career, I continue to volunteer at my church, work with Rotary Youth Exchange, and serve as treasurer for our local St Jude run to Peoria. 

Advice for present students/athletes

Be present!  I think there is a temptation to wish this time away and always look forward to moving on.  But truly, there are really good moments and memories to be had here in Galesburg and at GHS.  We all (adults too!)  need to put down our phones, do a bit less scrolling, and see what is around us.   

As I looked back at my time at GHS in order to answer these questions, I realized that it was the people that I remember the most.  The relationships and the friendships that formed are the memories and experiences that continue to impact my life.  We need people and connection and that's what enables us to be our best selves.

The second piece of advice is simply to be kind.  Be kind to your classmates, your teachers, your teammates, your family members,...in short, everyone.  It costs nothing and makes our school culture, team culture and community culture better.     

 

You have been at GHS as a student and as a teacher for quite awhile. How has it changed thru the years?  

Some of the changes are very obvious and some are a little more subtle.

  

My former teachers have retired and in their places are younger faces but the commitment to a quality education and the dedication to their students remains.

The building and campus is significantly different, especially since the addition of the Wicall gym and pool (and now the wrestling room, weights and batting areas),  the fieldhouse, stadium, and GAVC center.  Add to that the remodel in 2021 and the addition of grades 7-8 to the campus and the physical school is much changed from 1989.

 

Graduating class sizes are smaller than in the 80s and 90s.  

We have gone from a 6 period day when I started, to the block schedule, and now back to a 7 period (traditional) schedule. 

Technology has changed the way we interact with our students, and continues to evolve.  From overhead projectors, to powerpoints, to a whole catalog of apps, we have changed the way we access, present, and distribute information to the students.   

The use of cellular phones and other personal technology has sometimes been a challenge over the years but has brought opportunities as well.  The use of social media has greatly impacted the students and that has been another layer of change that we see in our society and in GHS.