Meet Karlye Buzen. Mrs. Buzen teaches 11th grade US History here at Santaluces. Buzen knew that teaching was what she wanted to do with her life, but she didn’t know that it would be high schoolers that she would be teaching; instead, she saw herself teaching preschool. She started out working at a daycare while going to FAU, majoring in secondary education. She quickly realized that little kids weren’t the right fit for her, but she now thinks that Santaluces is where she is “supposed to be.” Buzen’s first introduction to teaching high schoolers was here at Santaluces, filling in for a teacher and eventually taking over the class. This school year would make it her second official teaching year.

This wasn’t Mrs. Buzen’s first rodeo with the school, though. Buzen is one of our own, a former chief who used to roam the same hallways we do. She says that being a former student at Santaluces has played a role in how she sees her students. Buzen stated, “I definitely can put myself in their shoes… I’ve sat where you guys have sat, and I get it.” I think that being a younger teacher can give more insight and perspective into students’ lives. Being a former chief also helps. Speaking as a student, it’s nice to have a teacher who can relate to you and comes from a place of understanding since they’ve been through a similar experience as you in the sense of going to high school in the same generation.

When I asked Buzen about having regrets from last year, she stated, “I regret not creating relationships sooner than I should’ve.” Personally, I do have a close relationship with Mrs. Buzen. Although our friendship did start closer to the beginning of last year, I do wish it started earlier. We’ve had great memories and moments together, and I have her to thank for getting me through my junior year. The close relationships you form in high school, whether they be with teachers or with students, are the ones that you’ll cherish when you leave. Those are the most memorable ones that you’ll look back on later in life and appreciate.

I wanted to know how teaching has impacted Mrs. Buzen’s personal life. “I normally can’t speak in front of people… I picked a profession where I have to speak in front of people, and I think that helped me a lot. I feel more confident when I speak to people. I feel like I’m definitely a better leader outside of school too.” I found this to be motivating because it shows how there are benefits to stepping outside of your comfort zone. It’s human nature to stick to what you’re comfortable and familiar with, but sometimes we have to overcome our fears and face them head-on.

Mrs. Buzen is a great teacher and a great person in general. I am lucky to have had her as my teacher and now a close friend. She’s a great addition to the staff here at Santaluces, and I can’t wait to see what else is in store for her!