A remote in hand, Mrs. Callaghan stands at the front of the classroom, guiding her students through the lecture slides on the smart board. The sounds of voices and footsteps from the hallway drift in through the door, blending with the soft rustle of papers on her desk as a breeze slips in through a nearby window. The walls of her health classroom are adorned with posters on nutrition, exercise, and well-being, alongside quotes that inspire resilience and self-care. Clad in a cozy cardigan, Mrs. Callaghan smiles and checks in with the juniors and seniors in her class, either asking about their day or lightening the mood with playful comments upon noticing their tired but hopeful expressions. Her comforting presence makes the room feel like a place where it’s okay to pause, breathe, and regroup.
Despite the bits and pieces from the occasional stories told by Mrs. Callaghan, upperclassmen continue to find themselves surprised by the facts that they manage to learn about her. Whether it’s a story about her past experiences, like her journey of starting college surrounded by new people, or inspiring tales of her family members and friends, there always seems to be something unexpected that adds another layer to the teacher they thought they already had figured out.
During a memorable class discussion, an upperclassman was left shocked—yet impressed—by what he learned about Mrs. Callaghan. She had asked the class if she looked like the type of person who lifts weights. The junior boy sitting at the back of class hesitated at first but then confidently answered with a “no,” to which Mrs. Callaghan responded with a proud smile, revealing that she actually lifts weights in the morning on a daily basis—and this is just one of her many fitness practices.
From an early age, and in an arguably more traditional time period, Mrs. Callaghan considered herself a “tomboy,” always participating in male-dominated sports, football being a prime example. Throughout high school, she was involved in a variety of sports: she participated in track and field, showcased her skills on the uneven bars in gymnastics, played every position and actively moved around the court in volleyball, and was also a member of the girls’ basketball team. At her high school graduation, Mrs. Callaghan was honored with the Best Volleyball Player award. She fondly recalls these moments but also notes how sports were very different back then. It was a time when girls were only allowed to take three steps after dribbling in basketball and were not offered sports scholarships like boys were.
Growing up in Massapequa, Long Island, Mrs. Callaghan enjoyed a carefree childhood. Her father, a World War II veteran originally from Brooklyn, met her mother after returning home from the war. They married, bought a home, and had children, embodying what most would call the ideal American Dream. However, Mrs. Callaghan’s parents didn’t follow the trends of today’s generation, when parents sign their kids up for little league baseball, soccer clubs, or other athletic activities. Instead, Mrs. Callaghan’s love for athletics was naturally manifested, perhaps also influenced by the culture of her time, when attending sports events was the norm— whether it was football games on Saturdays or wrestling matches and basketball games in the winter.
As she transitioned to college life, more significant political and cultural shifts began to occur, such as the Vietnam War and protests in the 60s and 70s. These events redirected the focus for many, including Mrs. Callaghan, away from formally continuing sports, especially since women were not yet offered sports as a profession. After experiencing the carefree and funky life depicted in modern-day high school movies, Mrs. Callaghan faced the ultimate decision: choosing between nursing and teaching. She recalls that on one fateful day, a new opportunity changed the course of her career. While sifting through a catalog with her friend, they discovered that health education was being offered as a new major. At the time, New York State had just mandated health education in schools. It was then and there that everything lined up, and Mrs. Callaghan, combining her insights and passion for athletics and self-care, decided to become a health teacher.
Despite not formally pursuing athletics, exercise has remained an important facet of Mrs. Callaghan’s life, maintaining continuity in her daily routine. Even amidst her busy schedule, she stays active as a runner, biker, hiker, golfer, and pickleball player. She has played in a pickleball league for years, playing every Tuesday night from seven to nine. On top of that, she practices yoga every Saturday.
Just as there is continuity in her exercise routine, fitness is also an important aspect of another one of Mrs. Callaghan’s passions— traveling. This is a shared experience with family and even a group of friends she’s met through golf, all of whom enjoy exploring new places. Mrs. Callaghan has traveled to many parts of the world, including a safari in Africa and trips to China, Israel, Iceland, Thailand, Turkey, the Galapagos, and Australia, to name just a few. Needless to say, her extensive travels often involved hiking or biking. Her most recent trip, last February vacation, took her hiking through Death Valley.
Mrs. Callaghan shares wisdom through her past adventures rooted in her guiding mantra: “Live in the present moment.” She reveals that she sometimes pauses and thinks, ‘Okay, I’ve got X amount of time, roughly, or maybe not. What do I want to do? Who do I want to be? And who do I want to be with?” Her perspective is a reminder and inspiration to embrace life’s spontaneity. Whether attending her monthly book club meetings, regularly participating in her Mahjong group— a tradition she began ten or fifteen years ago— or staying physically and socially active, Mrs. Callaghan continues to thrive.
When asked about Mrs. Callaghan’s classroom atmosphere and her energy, a student said: “I think it’s her personality that makes me want to participate more frequently in this class compared to my other classes. She’s a very nice and attentive teacher, so I have eight gold stars as a result of answering her gold-star questions.”
