Almost three hours before the first bell rings, while most of the city is still asleep, Alesha Billmeyer, Introduction to Business Management and Advanced Business Management teacher, wakes up early and hits the ground running, starting her busy morning routine by taking care of her dog Billy.
“I have a golden retriever puppy,” Billmeyer said. “So I let her out to the bathroom, [and] I feed her.”
Then, Billmeyer goes for an ocean swim, which is one of her favorite parts of the day.
“[I’ll] head to the ocean, where I swim with my swim crew,” Billmeyer said. “Which is just an awesome group of [around] 15 people who go out at different spots along the coast in North County.”
Billmeyer’s morning swims give her much more than just enjoyment; they give her the motivation she needs to kick off the school day.
“I feel like I … have post-swim energy and excitement, especially in period one,” Billmeyer said.
Billmeyer’s ocean swim habit leads her to “love the mornings,” as it is the “best way to start off the day for [her].”
Although Billmeyer’s day starts early, she believes that she is not naturally a morning person. When it comes to her ability to maintain a disciplined routine, she credits her past experiences, especially in athletics.
“I think it was ingrained in me,” Billmeyer said. “I ran track competitively in high school and college, and I think … you don’t really have an option, you have to get up early [to] work out. So I almost … feel guilty if I don’t.”
However, the morning is only the beginning of her day, as Billmeyer then heads over to the school, teaching business classes throughout the day.
Jarick Hutton (10), a student in Billmeyer’s Introduction to Business Management class, appreciates her teaching style.
“I think [Billmeyer] is a good teacher,” Hutton said. “She’s really informative and helps us with group projects, and it gives us a very good class synergy … I’ve learned a lot about business, and how it functions.”
After the end of the school day, Billmeyer heads back home to wind down. She likes to spend her afternoons and evenings taking care of her dog, taking walks, cooking or seeing family.
A difficult part of daily life is finding a balance. However, Billmeyer’s schedule is a mix of consistency and flexibility. On days where she does not go to the ocean, she takes her dog on a walk. While she tries to build constant habits, she appreciates the “wiggle room” that she gets.
“I definitely like routine,” Billmeyer said. “I would say [my schedule is] consistent, with the room for flexibility.”
