My parents were born and have lived in the same area, on the border of North and South Dakota, all their lives. They came from families of German-Russian immigrants and did not speak English until they started kindergarten. Growing up on farms near each other, they went to country school together. My mother’s father died when she was 17, but she continued her education through one year of college and became a country school teacher. My father is severely dyslexic and didn’t really like school, so he quit after eighth grade.
They married when they were 23 years old—late in life for marriage at that time. They settled on the Kappes homestead to begin their lives together. Five years later, their son, Scott was born, but he died soon after. Five years after that, I was born on January, 7, at 7 am. My father eventually started his own successful auctioneering and realty business and stopped farming.
As an only child, life on the farm was pretty lonely. So I found friends in the animals we raised. One of my favorite stories is when I was a little over 2 years old, my mom left the house to help with something my dad was doing outside. When she came back, I wasn’t there. She looked everywhere for me, and found me outside in the feed lot, playing in the dirt, surrounded by cattle. She tells me I nearly scared her to death—the cattle could have killed me very easily. My love for animals continues—I have 3 dogs: Loki (7), Sonny (4), and Casey (1); and cats Baby and Ebony (both 4). I hope to open my own kennel and training center one day.
When I was 6 ½, we moved into “town” (population 800), and I changed schools. That was really hard for me, but I was lucky - I had good teachers and made some great friends. Schoolwork was easy for me, except spelling and sometimes writing. My mom read all the time, and one day she read about dyslexia and realized I was dyslexic. She had always helped me with my homework, but now she knew what she had to do to help me be successful—and I was!
I had always loved to sing, and in 6th grade I had a vocal solo in an operetta our elementary school did. In 7th and 8th grade, I was allowed to participate in high school band and choir. Throughout high school, I was a frequent soloist. In 8th grade, I became first chair trombone—a position that was mine until I graduated. Music was the reason I went to school. I participated in all of the ensembles our school had. I won top ratings at state competitions in both the vocal and instrumental areas. My sophomore year, I was one of the top two Altos in the state of South Dakota.
Academically, I was a good student and graduated near the top of my class. College was never talked about in my house except, ‘When you go to college…” It had always been an understanding—I would go to college.
I received a vocal scholarship to Northern State College (now University). I majored in Vocal Music -- until I had my first Psychology class. I was fascinated and challenged—this is what I wanted to do for a career! So I changed my major to Psychology with a minor in Music and Sociology.
After graduating with Honors, I bought my first motorcycle and began graduate school for Guidance and Counseling. At that time, I believed that I didn’t want to work in schools—I wanted to work in mental health counseling centers. Then I got a job in a local treatment facility for emotionally disturbed youth. After three years of working there, I realized that I wanted to work with “normal” young people. Where are those kind of people located? In schools, of course, so here I am!
I started my career on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in western South Dakota. During my time there, I became very active in the Lakota Traditional Ceremonies and Religion. I also had the opportunity, through some training, to begin to deal with personal issues I hadn’t even realized I had. I will never forget the years there. I hope to return to the Rosebud sometime later in my life.
I continued working in western South Dakota---mostly on the Indian Reservations—working with K-12 grade students, until just before I came to St. Paul. In 1997, I got married, and a year later, I was a counselor in St. Paul.
On December 11 of this year, it will be 5 years since I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Talk about life changing events! December is a memorable month for another reason, I was divorced after 7 ½ years of marriage.
This is my 9th year in St. Paul and I am so happy to be at Open School and back working with Kindergarten through 12th graders. I feel like I am home!
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