The butterfly effect

When I think back to when I was a young child and just starting elementary school, I often recall that first year in kindergarten. It was far from being the separation-anxiety-filled experience many children have. I thrived in that social environment, full of opportunities to learn and play with other kids my age. And I know a big part of my positive experience was my teacher that year, Mrs. Curtis. A friendly, intelligent teacher, Mrs. Curtis was no stranger to the classroom, and my year with her would have a ripple effect throughout the following years.

Like any high-energy kid who finishes tasks quickly, I often found myself wondering what to do once I was done. In many cases, this is the point where children act out because they’re bored. However, Mrs. Curtis knew I just needed a little bit of guidance. She would always have another option ready for me, whether it was pointing me to the classroom library to pick something out to read for a little while or, during the second half of the year, arranging to have me sit in with the first grade class in the morning. While it may not have seemed like much to Mrs. Curtis at the time, her actions and support then had a significant impact on my childhood years, encouraging my curiosity and insatiable appetite for learning, and even setting me up to graduate early from high school.

Some people only cross paths with us briefly, some walk the path with us for many years, but all leave an indelible mark on our lives. In the five years that I’ve had the privilege of working in the horticulture industry, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know many great people; in fact, the people are a big part of what makes this industry great. With that in mind, I present to you our “Power of the People” issue, featuring horticulture industry members, networking and customer service tips, pointers on how to motivate your employees and much more. We hope you enjoy seeing some familiar faces, and getting to know a few new ones.

kvarga@gie.net

P.S. In honor of our 20^th anniversary, my headshot this month is from 1995, a few years after my year with Mrs. Curtis.