The feeling of seeing your teacher grocery shopping outside of school may be a little weird, but learning about their hobbies and interests offers a new perspective on who they are beyond the lesson plans and lectures. Ms. Ginger Bryant, who has been working at Lake Highland for 30 years, teaches English 11, Newspaper I-II and III-IVH, and David Copperfield’s Project Magic. She also sponsors the newspaper and literary magazine, balancing tons of students, essays, projects, and more, and that’s only school-related. With her busy schedule, it’s hard to imagine she has any time to relax, but with a few questions, her mysterious miniatures were revealed.
Taking a deeper look into her past, Ms. Bryant was originally a studio art and English major at Rollins College and dreamed of becoming a book illustrator. She had a variety of freelance jobs, including working for The Royal Lichtenstein Circus as their coloring book and circus poster illustrator. She stated, “As I was sketching the performers backstage at the circus one day, the ringmaster told me that he thought he could talk me through an escape. I began learning how to do some of Houdini’s old routines, and I began performing magic. I also learned how to perform in The Globe of Death, which is a routine in which four motorcycles drove around me while I stood in a metal cage.”
Ms. Bryant’s creative and unique past led to the artistic hobby of miniatures that she’s picked up. Her love for all things circus an carnival led to her collection of miniature motorized carnival rides. Fifteen years ago, when she discovered Ron’s Miniature Shop, she purchased fully operational carnival rides there. When asked more about this experience, she stated, “ At that time, one of the owners told me that I could begin making my own miniatures. Since I love making things, I was intrigued. In no time at all, the two owners started teaching me how to fully electrify models using wiring about the thickness of dental floss.” Now all of the houses Ms. Bryant makes light up and are fully operational.
She describes miniatures as being, “Small model replicas of something in our day to day lives.” These can be copies of actual items or inspired by things in the imagination. Specifically in Ms. Bryant’s life, she loves making historically accurate houses from different time periods, along with all of the food and furnishings in one-inch scale for all the items. This hobby is very particular, with a specific scale for all items. Lots of students don’t realize what teachers do in their free time, and how these hobbies help them destress from all the teaching, grading, and eight hour shifts with kids. She explains that, “For me, crafting is the same as therapy. When I am focused on making something small, it is much like meditation because it requires so much focus. It clears my mind and enables me to step away from stress or worries of the day. If a hobby provides a person with this level of fulfillment, it can be pursued to balance out the other obligations of life.”
Learning about Ms. Bryant’s passion for miniatures reveals a side of her that students don’t often see in the classroom. What may seem like an unexpected hobby highlights her creativity, patience, and dedication, qualities that also shape her as a teacher. By discovering the hobbies that teachers pursue beyond school, students gain a deeper appreciation for them as individuals.
