1. Spartan-Winning Personality Profile
Dressed in a summery pink skirt, one might guess that Julia Satterthwaite, journalism teacher at
Rochester High School, would be a bit on the girly side. However, having grown up in a house full of boys, that
is not exactly the case.
“The good part about growing up with four brothers is that there was something always going on,”
Satterthwaite said. “They were like built-in playmates and we were able to come up with inventive childhood
games. Our game was war-we threw crab apples at each other and borrowed our neighbors‟ squirt guns.”
Aside from the intense firing of apples at her brothers throughout childhood, she spent a great deal of
time participating in punching and burping contests as well.
“I am an excellent burper; I can beat anyone in a burping contest,” Satterthwaite said. “I don‟t think I‟ve
ever lost. That‟s like my hidden talent, I guess, which is gross.”
Burping, however, is not her only talent.
“I like to sing. I‟m in a band with my dad because that‟s the „cool‟ thing to do,” Satterthwaite said. “We‟re
called the „Generation Gap.‟ We do songs from his generation-like the 60‟s and 70‟s- and songs from mine- like
the 90‟s and early 2000‟s.”
Music isn‟t the only thing that has influenced her life. Energetically walking around the room,
Satterthwaite talks about a week-long visit to the Philippines, where she built homes with Habitat for Humanity.
She explains that the people had so few possessions, yet were so genuinely happy.
“I realized that when I have a bad day, it‟s really not that bad,” Satterthwaite said.
She has learned to enjoy the small things in life, like spending time with her husband Rod, who is also a
journalism teacher, and their two children Micah and Jonah.
“My son Micah has a little stuffed monkey that plays this song [„Dynamite‟] and we have family dance
parties in the kitchen,” Satterthwaite said. “It‟s one of the best parts of my day.”
Julia Satterthwaite is a devoted teacher, mother, band member and volunteer who has found through
many experiences how important it is to appreciate each day.
“Life is too short to spend all your time complaining,” Satterthwaite said. “We actually have it pretty
good, but we always like to complain because we always want something different. We should try to be content
with what we have and enjoy our time with those who are right in front of us … kind of like „ enjoy the present.‟”
Runner-Up Personality Profile
Julia Satterthwaite knows life is too short to spend it complaining.
Since childhood, she has appreciated the simple things. Despite being sent outside by her parents to
play with her four brothers everyday from the moment they got home from school until dinner, she came up
with plenty of ways to have fun.
“I had a good childhood,” Satterthwaite said. “There was always something going on. [My brothers]
were like built-in playmates and we were able to come up with inventive games.”
Satterthwaite and her brothers used their imaginations to create their own games such as “war” that
involved throwing crab apples at each other from forts, since their parents considered toy guns to be too
violent.
Since then, Satterthwaite has accomplished much more than successfully jumping the fence to
escape her brothers in a heated game of war. She has lived in Japan, gone on a life-changing trip to the
Philippines with Habitat for Humanity building houses for less fortunate people, and received undergraduate
and graduate degrees from Michigan State University. Throughout these experiences she acquired her positive
outlook. In the Philippines, she saw people living satisfied with only one or two outfits to their name.
Satterthwaite realized these people were so happy because they didn‟t let the small things ruin their
day. They were grateful and their attitudes were contagious. She said she learned to let go of her burdens and
focus on the brighter aspects of her life.
“I feel fortunate to have my health and family,” Satterthwaite said. “I know it can all change in a
second, so I try to enjoy every day.”
After learning such a valuable lesson, Satterthwaite just couldn‟t keep it to herself. As a journalism
adviser, she shares her wisdom with her classes.
“I try to pass that message on to my students that just because some girl wore the same dress as
you to homecoming, it does not mean it‟s the end of the world,” Satterthwaite said. “You‟re actually really lucky
if you look at what‟s important.”