Ms. B: Adding Innumerable Lessons to Injury - By Zoe Aiolupotea
Athletics is synonymous with Richland, and many remember the great athletes that hang on our wall of fame. But there is an individual whose picture won’t be seen who has made a larger impact than the entire wall combined. Dawn Morales is the crutch that holds RHS sports upon a higher pedestal.
Simply known around campus as ‘Ms. B’, was born and raised in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. She lived there until she graduated high school in 2000, and decided to continue her education in Spokane Wa, at Whitworth University. Throughout her years at Whitworth, she wasn’t worried about her future, Dawn already knew what her future had in store for her during her senior year of high school. She already had an early love for the thought of becoming an athletic trainer but she knew for sure after she experienced a severe ACL sports-related Injury. She was inspired to stay somewhere in the world of sports medicine so she kept herself included in numerous high school sports medicine programs to better prepare herself for her long future career ahead, and this was only the beginning for Dawn.
After receiving her Bachelor's Degree in athletic training from Whitworth, she became a certified athletic trainer and a sports medicine teacher here at Richland High School in 2005. She's a teacher that's known for her ability to connect with almost anyone she comes across. Dawn strives while helping her students and fellow staff and is respected among some of Richlands most honorable people, for example, Mike Neidhold, Longtime coach and current head coach for Richland Football. Mike has shared many moments of impact from Dawn and he had said “We can't have Richland football without Dawn.'' This is most definitely the truth she has devoted around 17 years of her hard work and dedication not only to football but almost any sporting event you can think of. She is always making sure Richlands athletics stays up to the high expectations held at all times. Many coaches including Mike recognize her as a “safety net” she’s more than just a reliable person she’s prepared for everything and has proven herself to be one of the most reliable people here at Richland high. Mike speaks volumes on how big of an impact she has made on almost anyone she’s met, he expresses that “you don’t realize how lucky we are to have dawn here until you are in the moment” and he couldn’t have said it any better than that, Dawn is a treasure to have here at Richland ask anyone around campus.
Numerous students have considered Dawn to be a “safe outlet” for her students to be able to talk about their physical and mental health. She's a consistent advocate of positivity in any situation she is put in and will never turn down someone who needs help. Kaylin Pumphrey, a fellow student and teachers assistant for Dawn had said “Mrs.B is so passionate about what she teaches and makes an effort to form connections with each student she has''. Not only does she educate her students on the importance of physical health but mental health as well. Once a student steps into her classroom they are in for an experience, not every student gets. Dawn is a very knowledgeable individual who somehow always finds a solution to any problem, On the topic of mental health she speaks on creating connections with all of her students by letting them know she’s always there, Dawn has stated that “throughout my whole career one of the most important things to me is the impact I leave on people.” She has gone above and beyond to make sure that impact is a positive one. Being a teacher and athletic trainer all in one has brought Dawn a fair amount of hardships but she still continues to work against adversity every day for her students, words can’t describe the amount of positive influence she has made on several students, teachers, sports players, and coaches. The gift of compassion and genuine intentions that Dawn has is truly something special.
