For this edition of our Teacher Feature articles, we spoke to Shaler Area High School nurse, Mrs. Darcy Lutz.

Q: First I have, what is your favorite student slang and how do you use it? 

A: Well, six, seven is the thing right now. I have middle schoolers at home, so they say that a lot. I don’t know what it means, but my kids say it all the time, so I guess I’d say that’s my favorite right now. I think that it’s something that means so many things, it doesn’t mean anything. But I just hear them say it constantly, then I try to say it just to be cool and they’re like, “oh my God, Mom, don’t say that.”

Q: What is the funniest reason someone has come into the nurse’s office? 

A: I had a kid who injured himself from snapping too hard, which is a little silly, but, I don’t want to make fun of anybody’s injuries. Sometimes it’s just comical the way that kids can get injured. 

Q: What was your most irresponsible purchase?

A: When I was in college, I didn’t really understand the way that credit cards worked. My parents had gotten me a credit card just to use for books for college — that’s all I was supposed to use it for. Instead I went out to dinner and bought all sorts of things that I really couldn’t afford, and then had to pay off all the debt later. Then I learned about Compounding Interest and how credit cards work. That was a good learning experience for me.

Q: What is your favorite place you’ve ever visited? 

A: I love going out to Denver, Colorado. I have family that lives out there in the Boulder area, and I just think it’s beautiful with the mountains and there’s so much to do outdoors there, like hiking and biking. That’s probably my favorite place.

Q: If you could have any exotic pet, what would it be?

A: I would have a miniature pig. Although, did you know that miniature pigs are usually not a thing? They get sold as miniature pigs, but then they end up being full-size pigs. So there’s all these people who try to get miniature pigs because they’re super smart, smarter than dogs. And then it turns into a giant hog in their backyard, and they have to get rid of it. There’s actually a rescue organization that rescues pigs from that situation (Pigsburgh Squealers); where someone thought it was a miniature pig and then it was a giant farm animal they can’t take care of in their suburban home. If I could get a true miniature pig, I don’t have room for a big pig, but if I could get a real mini pig, I would.

Q: If you could meet someone dead or alive for 30 minutes, who would it be and what would you talk about? 

A: I’m going to be nerdy and say Florence Nightingale, who is a personal hero. She’s the founder of modern nursing. Before we understood things about germ theory, she helped treat soldiers after wars and recognized that soldiers who were in the fresh air and whose wounds were kept cleaner died less. She helped institute some of the first protocols that we followed to help prevent infection and help people get better after injuries.

Q: What advice would you give to your younger self?

A: I would tell my younger self that it is always okay to change your mind. I think I felt a lot of pressure to decide where I wanted to go to college and decide what I wanted to do as a career and to get it right the first time. I wish I felt the grace to know that at any point in your life, you can pivot. You can make a different decision. You’re not ever, ever locked into anything. If you find a way to chase your dreams and your happiness and it changes over time, you should just feel empowered to make changes.

Q: What was one of the craziest places you’ve ever been to? Kind of similar to the other one. 

A: I worked for several years in an Emergency Room, so I’ve taken care of some crazy injuries and traumas. The hospital I worked for also did Orthopedic care for some high profile athletes, and I once walked two Steelers players back for injury MRIs after a late Sunday night game.

Q: Are you able to tell when someone is actually sick or hurt or if they’re just cutting glass?

A: I can usually tell. Sometimes it’s because it’s a kid who’s in here all the time, so I just know, but I also think that sometimes kids need a break from class, and it’s not necessarily that they’re trying to cut, but something’s going on in their life. Maybe it’s emotional, maybe it’s just been a really stressful week, and they need that time. I want kids to feel like they can advocate for themselves and say that they need a break if they need a break. They don’t have to lie to me and say that their head hurts if their head doesn’t hurt, they can always just say I really need a break this period. I’m happy to provide that safe space to take a break and mentally reset if that’s what you need to do.”