Vicki Wetmore vividly remembers the first time she walked into the lobby at Jasper Junior/Senior High School. It was 1996 and she had just accepted the position as the school鈥檚 new secretary.
鈥淚 remember my first week being so overwhelming that I went right up to Mrs. Karpluk鈥攚ho was the principal at the time鈥攁nd I told her that I didn鈥檛 think I鈥檇 be able to continue working there,鈥� Wetmore said with a laugh. 鈥淎nd I guess she talked me out of it.鈥�
Wetmore quickly fell into the routine of things鈥攍earning all the students鈥� names, helping teachers and participating in almost every school event.
鈥淭here鈥檚 always so much activity going on in the school鈥攕ometimes it鈥檚 hard to keep up with everything, but I always get so caught up in the excitement of the staff planning things and the students coming and going,鈥� Wetmore said.
However, after 20 years, Wetmore is getting ready to retire. Her last day will be Sept. 27.
鈥淚鈥檓 both nervous and excited, but I think I鈥檓 getting more excited as it gets closer. It鈥檚 kind of like starting a whole new phase of your life. My job has always kind of been my identity so I guess I have to figure out who that new person is,鈥� said Wetmore, adding that even after hours she鈥檚 often stopped on the street by students trying to give in permission slips or money for school trips.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely going to be strange not having that as a part of my life anymore.鈥�
Since that first day in 1996, Wetmore has watched hundreds of Jasper鈥檚 kids become adults.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really enjoyable to watch them come in as little kids in Grade 7 and leave as adults in Grade 12. It鈥檚 actually kind of emotional when they graduate鈥攜ou feel this kind of sadness knowing that they are going out into the world,鈥� Wetmore said. 鈥淵ou make a connection with these kids.鈥�
Sitting in the school鈥檚 staff room for one of the last times, Wetmore recalled a memory she won鈥檛 soon forget.
鈥淓very year we do random act of kindness week, and there was one day where every couple of minutes a student would show up with a red rose,鈥� Wetmore said. 鈥淏y the end of the day I had two dozen red roses on my desk.鈥�
Aside from the many bonds she鈥檚 made with students, Wetmore said she鈥檚 also met a ton of fantastic colleagues and dedicated parents.
鈥淭he staff here have always been so supportive of me鈥擨 think I鈥檒l miss working with all these people the most. It鈥檚 always been a great place to work,鈥� Wetmore said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檝e also spent a lot of time working with parents and volunteers and I鈥檓 going to miss being involved with them.
鈥淚鈥檒l probably shed a few tears on my last day鈥攊t鈥檚 going to be emotional for me.鈥�
As she starts looking ahead to the next chapter of her life, Wetmore said her and her husband will stay in Jasper, but she plans to use her newly acquired spare time travelling the world and visiting with her family.
鈥淥ne of the things on my bucket list is to go to San Francisco鈥擨 really want to bike across the Golden Gate Bridge,鈥� Wetmore said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l see what happens now that I have all this free time.鈥�
Kayla Byrne
[email protected]
