Here’s the truth: You think you don’t want to grow old, because you have to get wrinkled, but I have everything that you would dream of as a kid. When you’re young, you want to have kids of your own that will grow up big and strong, I did that. You want to have a job that you love, I’ve done that. You want to be able to travel all over the world with your significant other and not have a care, I’m doing that. I’m gonna live out the life that I’ve dreamed of.

Many dream about the day that they will retire, but for most of us, that day is still years away. However, for Ms. Dianne Newton, that dream has finally become a reality. On the cusp of her retirement, Newton looks forward to never having to wake up to the incessant ring of an alarm clock again — but she will miss teaching.

“Everybody who is a teacher loves the kids. We hate the paperwork, but we love the kids. I will surely miss them the most,” said Newton.

Newton’s second home, her Creative Writing and Speech class, lies on the second floor of the Tribe building at the beginning of the hallway. Many students look forward to going to class with Mrs. Newton everyday.

Newton has been teaching for a remarkable 30 years. She started off as an English teacher at a middle school for 15 years. She then progressed to a becoming a Speech and Creative Writing teacher at Seminole High School for an additional 15 years.

“I will always appreciate how Newton really put life into perspective for me. She taught me how versatile conversations can be, and that’s something I’ll always utilize in my future life,” said senior Kennedy Richardson.

Mrs. Newton has impacted many individuals at Seminole. She stresses how important it is to step out of your comfort zone. She inspires students to achieve more in life and to never give up. She sets them up for success not only in college, but also for further life.

“When I started her class, I was already confident with public speaking and thought it would be a breeze, but Mrs. Newton found ways to challenge me to become a better speaker and [to] enhance my skills,” said senior Dillon Jules.

She has big plans for her retirement, and she will begin her new chapter with a lot of traveling. In her first year alone, she is planning on going to North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, and Maine during the summer. Then, for the next three months, she plans on motorcycling in the southwest. By April, she will be in a rented RV traveling from Idaho to Alaska.

“To anybody and everybody, kids and adults alike, who came in smiling, made my life sweeter everyday. This job never felt like a job. It felt like I was in camp, and I will always miss being at camp,” said Newton.