Toni Reece: Hi there. This is Toni Reece, and welcome to the Get Inspired! Project for Berks County Living magazine. Today I have a very special guest, a wonderful lady by the name of Michelle Boyle. Hi, Michelle.
Michelle Boyle: Hi, Toni.
Toni: How are you today?
Michelle: I’m fine. How are you?
Toni: You look great in green!
Michelle: Oh, thank you.
Toni: It’s the season.
Michelle: Too bad we don’t have a camera on here, right?
Toni: Right. All right, Michelle. Take a moment and tell us a little bit about yourself.
Michelle: Okay. Well, by trade I am a schoolteacher for almost 20 years at Daniel Boone.
Toni: Wow.
Michelle: Yes. I’ve lived in Berks County now for about 30 years. Originally from Washington, D.C. I do a lot of volunteer work in the community, Antietam Valley.
Toni: Well, I’m very familiar with that, and you guys do a lot of really cool things. So, let’s get into the Project. What does inspiration mean to you?
Michelle: Inspiration to me is a process that is triggered by anything, really. I can be inspired by a song. I can be inspired by something I see in nature, and of course, I’m inspired by a lot of people.
Toni: Can you remember the last time you were inspired?
Michelle: As a teacher, I think almost every day. I’m lucky to be inspired by students. There’s just so many positive stories. I see inspiration a lot; whether it spurs me onto action sometimes is a different story. I think my students for the most part really do inspire me.
Toni: What does it feel like?
Michelle: It’s a great feeling. For me, teaching is one of those things where it’s a career that I wake up every day and I’m thrilled to do it. I feel like I’m actually making a difference, believe it or not.
Toni: Does that inspire you, that you know you’re making a difference?
Michelle: Absolutely. Yes. Even in bad days. Teaching’s not all roses, and there’s some very sad situations, but even getting through them and being there for that student who really needs you is also very … and they inspire me that they’re able to succeed against all odds, really.
Toni: What grade do you teach?
Michelle: Sixth grade.
Toni: Sixth grade. Do you ever get to see your students be inspired?
Michelle: Yeah. I mean, I teach language arts, so I hope that I inspire them sometimes with their writing and creativity. I have a real creative bunch this year, so they do get inspired. I know some of them have interests outside of the classroom that they’re inspired to do. Yeah, I get to see that a lot.
Toni: So how do you put that inspiration into practice here in Berks County?
Michelle: I think first of all with my teaching. I hope I’m an inspiration to my four children and two grandchildren. One’s very new, so I can't inspire her quite yet.
Toni: I bet you already have though.
Michelle: I hope. Mostly through the volunteer work that I do in the community. I think that’s probably the most visible right now.
Toni: How so?
Michelle: Because it’s the Antietam Valley Community Partnership, and it’s kind of a funny little area, which you know is Mount Penn and Lower Alsace. I think since I’ve been there, there has been … there was sort of a divide, and now I see it really being recognized as kind of one Valley, and everyone in it together. Whether it’s something like a movie night down at the A field or people coming to the Farmer’s Market, or having a golumpki dinner at the high school, they’re coming from all over the Valley. There’s this sense of oneness now that I think wasn’t necessarily there before the partnership began.
Toni: Is that what motivates you to keep volunteering to do the community work? Is that inspiring to you?
Michelle: Oh, absolutely. I think anytime you see your efforts rewarded and you see positive change, it spurs you on to continue. I’m a big fan of that Gandhi quote about being the change you want to see. It’s easy to sit there and complain and complain and complain, right? I think when you actually do something, it’s selfish. It’s good for you, and it’s ultimately good for whatever the project is you’re trying to complete.
Toni: Have you always done volunteer work?
Michelle: I did. When my three older kids were younger, I volunteered a lot at the church. I was raised with parents who set a really good example of volunteering. It was more a faith-based type of a thing. I remember in high school I taught Special Olympic swimmers.
Toni: Oh, that’s fantastic.
Michelle: Yeah. That was great. I mean, I was also an emotional mess at the end of it when they would win. Volunteering has just been something I think that I’ve done now ever since I can remember. Like I said, the rewards itself ... the rewards are positive to you and to those that you’re helping.
Toni: Who in Berks County inspires you?
Michelle: My husband definitely inspires me. He’s very active. He’s also a teacher, but he’s been very involved dealing with addiction, especially in youth in the community. He’s selfless. He keeps going, and he’s one of those doesn’t know how to say no types of a guy. I do get inspiration from my kids to be a better mother. I hope that they see what I’m doing and want to continue it. I’m also really inspired by those around me. I think if you surround yourself with great people, they’re always an inspiration. My girlfriends are an inspiration to me. I think the area I live, it’s really pretty. It’s a pretty area.
Toni: It is a pretty area, isn't it? So, what do you want your legacy to be?
Michelle: I guess legacy is defined as a gift. I just hope that my legacy is that I’ve left the area a better place, that some of these changes that have started continue. I’d love the Farmer’s Market to a be a permanent fixture, and when I’m 90 to hobble on down there and see it continue. I hope a legacy will be for my kids, that they’ll also be inspired to make some change around them.
Toni: I always say this, that people are living their legacy, and you can see it. You can feel it from you the way that you feel about your students, your friends, your family, and what you’re doing for the community. Thank goodness you are living your legacy.
Michelle: Thank you.
Toni: Thank you for that, and thank you for showing up to the Get Inspired! Project.
Michelle: Thank you for having me, Toni.
Toni: You’re welcome. Take care.
Michelle: Bye-bye.
Toni Reece: Hi there. This is Toni Reece, and welcome to the Get Inspired! Project for Berks County Living magazine. Today I have a very special guest, a wonderful lady by the name of Michelle Boyle. Hi, Michelle.
Michelle Boyle: Hi, Toni.
Toni: How are you today?
Michelle: I’m fine. How are you?
Toni: You look great in green!
Michelle: Oh, thank you.
Toni: It’s the season.
Michelle: Too bad we don’t have a camera on here, right?
Toni: Right. All right, Michelle. Take a moment and tell us a little bit about yourself.
Michelle: Okay. Well, by trade I am a schoolteacher for almost 20 years at Daniel Boone.
Toni: Wow.
Michelle: Yes. I’ve lived in Berks County now for about 30 years. Originally from Washington, D.C. I do a lot of volunteer work in the community, Antietam Valley.
Toni: Well, I’m very familiar with that, and you guys do a lot of really cool things. So, let’s get into the Project. What does inspiration mean to you?
Michelle: Inspiration to me is a process that is triggered by anything, really. I can be inspired by a song. I can be inspired by something I see in nature, and of course, I’m inspired by a lot of people.
Toni: Can you remember the last time you were inspired?
Michelle: As a teacher, I think almost every day. I’m lucky to be inspired by students. There’s just so many positive stories. I see inspiration a lot; whether it spurs me onto action sometimes is a different story. I think my students for the most part really do inspire me.
Toni: What does it feel like?
Michelle: It’s a great feeling. For me, teaching is one of those things where it’s a career that I wake up every day and I’m thrilled to do it. I feel like I’m actually making a difference, believe it or not.
Toni: Does that inspire you, that you know you’re making a difference?
Michelle: Absolutely. Yes. Even in bad days. Teaching’s not all roses, and there’s some very sad situations, but even getting through them and being there for that student who really needs you is also very … and they inspire me that they’re able to succeed against all odds, really.
Toni: What grade do you teach?
Michelle: Sixth grade.
Toni: Sixth grade. Do you ever get to see your students be inspired?
Michelle: Yeah. I mean, I teach language arts, so I hope that I inspire them sometimes with their writing and creativity. I have a real creative bunch this year, so they do get inspired. I know some of them have interests outside of the classroom that they’re inspired to do. Yeah, I get to see that a lot.
Toni: So how do you put that inspiration into practice here in Berks County?
Michelle: I think first of all with my teaching. I hope I’m an inspiration to my four children and two grandchildren. One’s very new, so I can't inspire her quite yet.
Toni: I bet you already have though.
Michelle: I hope. Mostly through the volunteer work that I do in the community. I think that’s probably the most visible right now.
Toni: How so?
Michelle: Because it’s the Antietam Valley Community Partnership, and it’s kind of a funny little area, which you know is Mount Penn and Lower Alsace. I think since I’ve been there, there has been … there was sort of a divide, and now I see it really being recognized as kind of one Valley, and everyone in it together. Whether it’s something like a movie night down at the A field or people coming to the Farmer’s Market, or having a golumpki dinner at the high school, they’re coming from all over the Valley. There’s this sense of oneness now that I think wasn’t necessarily there before the partnership began.
Toni: Is that what motivates you to keep volunteering to do the community work? Is that inspiring to you?
Michelle: Oh, absolutely. I think anytime you see your efforts rewarded and you see positive change, it spurs you on to continue. I’m a big fan of that Gandhi quote about being the change you want to see. It’s easy to sit there and complain and complain and complain, right? I think when you actually do something, it’s selfish. It’s good for you, and it’s ultimately good for whatever the project is you’re trying to complete.
Toni: Have you always done volunteer work?
Michelle: I did. When my three older kids were younger, I volunteered a lot at the church. I was raised with parents who set a really good example of volunteering. It was more a faith-based type of a thing. I remember in high school I taught Special Olympic swimmers.
Toni: Oh, that’s fantastic.
Michelle: Yeah. That was great. I mean, I was also an emotional mess at the end of it when they would win. Volunteering has just been something I think that I’ve done now ever since I can remember. Like I said, the rewards itself ... the rewards are positive to you and to those that you’re helping.
Toni: Who in Berks County inspires you?
Michelle: My husband definitely inspires me. He’s very active. He’s also a teacher, but he’s been very involved dealing with addiction, especially in youth in the community. He’s selfless. He keeps going, and he’s one of those doesn’t know how to say no types of a guy. I do get inspiration from my kids to be a better mother. I hope that they see what I’m doing and want to continue it. I’m also really inspired by those around me. I think if you surround yourself with great people, they’re always an inspiration. My girlfriends are an inspiration to me. I think the area I live, it’s really pretty. It’s a pretty area.
Toni: It is a pretty area, isn't it? So, what do you want your legacy to be?
Michelle: I guess legacy is defined as a gift. I just hope that my legacy is that I’ve left the area a better place, that some of these changes that have started continue. I’d love the Farmer’s Market to a be a permanent fixture, and when I’m 90 to hobble on down there and see it continue. I hope a legacy will be for my kids, that they’ll also be inspired to make some change around them.
Toni: I always say this, that people are living their legacy, and you can see it. You can feel it from you the way that you feel about your students, your friends, your family, and what you’re doing for the community. Thank goodness you are living your legacy.
Michelle: Thank you.
Toni: Thank you for that, and thank you for showing up to the Get Inspired! Project.
Michelle: Thank you for having me, Toni.
Toni: You’re welcome. Take care.
Michelle: Bye-bye.
