SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Crystal Richerson knows from personal experience there are absolutely no guarantees in life, and that’s why she pushes her students to capitalize on the benefits of an education before life gets in the way.

“When I went to college, I started out a traditional student, but I didn’t end up that way, so I know how difficult it is to have to work for everything you get,” said Richerson, who joined Spanish Fort High School as a general science teacher in August.

“I want these kids to know that if they learn this now, it will make things so much easier for them later. They’ll be so much better off learning everything they possibly can in high school, and then they won’t have to struggle so hard in college,” she said. “I tell my own children, before you do anything, you have to get an education and be able to support yourself on your own before you can have a family. You never know what life’s going to throw at you, so you have to be ready for anything.”

Editor’s Note: This is the 10th in an ongoing series designed to introduce readers to some new faces in the Spanish Fort feeder pattern.

Two more teachers will be featured in the Oct. 6 Spanish Fort Sun.

See the rest of this story in the Oct. 1 Spanish Fort Sun—on stands through Oct. 5—and available at The Bulletin and Spanish Fort Sun office, 1805 Main St., Daphne.