Marilyn Johnson is the Lower School Music Teacher (K-4) at Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg, Florida. Her goal as an educator is to be a positive influence on her kids. “You never truly know what students are going through, and I want to be a constant in their lives at school. As a young teacher, I am doing my best to provide a safe space for my students to express themselves primarily through the arts. I don’t see myself as just a music teacher though. I feel very strongly about showing my students how to be kind to everyone, to fight up for what is right, to be compassionate members of the community, to be an upstander, and to respect themselves, each other, and the environment. We learn music in my classroom, but we also learn kindness, perspective, and leadership.”
Growing up, her biggest role model was her mom, Trish. “She influenced my teaching style and love for music so much that I became a music teacher just like her. My mother taught me how to love unconditionally. I am also blessed with two more mother figures: Tamara and Bobbie. All three women challenge me to be my best self and I feel extremely grateful for that.”
“As an adult, I am most influenced by the fierce female role models in my life: my college roommates (India and Katarina), my flatmate in Scotland (Sydney), my Florida best friend (Melissa), and my KY godsister (Elise) have all become my soul sisters for life. Of course, I am also incredibly influenced by my sisters by birth, Olivia and Jerusalem. They amaze me every day.”
Marilyn feels her greatest accomplishments happen when she pushes herself outside her comfort zone. “At 18, I moved away from home to go to school in New Orleans, where I knew no one. At 20, I moved to study abroad in Scotland, where I knew no one. At 22, I accepted a job in Florida, where I knew no one. Every time I put myself “out there,” I found countless opportunities to grow. I learned to rely on myself, my partner, and my community.”
The best advice Maryiln has received is ‘Life is too short to not take risks. Put yourself out there.’ She adds, “Be a goofball. Be a clutz. Be a weirdo. The people that truly love you will not love you any less because of it. Save money, but also travel, go out to dinner every once in a while, and treat the people that you love. Do one thing everyday to make someone else smile. It’ll make you smile in return. GO TO THERAPY. “
When asked about her biggest obstacle in life, Marily said, “I think that my biggest struggle is mental illness. At a young age, I experienced so much love and safety, but I also experienced a tremendous amount of grief, sadness, and pain. I’ve been in therapy since I was in the 3rd grade, and it is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Going to therapy doesn’t make you crazy, it makes you sane. In the last decade of therapy, I have learned that it’s okay to be kind to myself, to create boundaries when you need them, to open up to others, and to figure life out as you grow. Therapy saved my life more times than one.”
Resource suggestions Marilyn wished to share with our readers include finding a therapist in your area. “Right now, many health insurances are providing free or low-cost teletherapy. It’s worth it. For yourself, read - Carry On Warrior by Glennon Doyle, For your relationship, read - Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love, and For the lover of cows, watch: Sanctuary Cam.”
Moving forward, Marilyn is looking forward to being able to travel again. “I love experiencing new places, but COVID obviously makes that pretty difficult. I’m looking forward to being able to hug my friends again. In the next few years, my partner Ben and I are planning on moving abroad to teach before we settle in the Colorado area. We love where we are right now, and the future is looking pretty bright.”
Recent milestones for Marilyn include becoming a Godmother to a beautiful baby girl. “Her name is Eleanor, she is 6 months old, and the daughter of Steven and Elise, two of my good friends in Kentucky. I feel really honored to be a part of their lives.”
In her free time, Marilyn enjoys doing anything outside -- hiking, picnicking, walking. “ I live about 10 minutes from the beach, which makes beach days really convenient. I also LOVE to run. I’ve finished three half marathons (one in Scotland and two in New Orleans), so I’m pretty proud of that. I just finished watching Schitt’s Creek on Netflix. It’s a Canadian comedy TV series about a rich family that hits rock bottom. It’s clever, lighthearted, and absolutely worth pushing through season 1.“
“I’d do anything or go anywhere with Ben. He is caring, hard-working, and hilarious, which makes him really fun to be around. I’m convinced that I have the best partner. Ben and I met in 2015 and took our time being friends before we fell in love three years ago. It’s an incredible thing to be in love with your best friend.”
Marilyn can be reached via
Instagram (@marilhayes)
Facebook (Marilyn Hayes Johnson)
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