The student news site of Oakton High School

Oakton Outlook

The student news site of Oakton High School

Oakton Outlook

The student news site of Oakton High School

Oakton Outlook

Remembering Ms. Weger

Many+students+left+messages+for+Ms.+Weger+on+her+door+to+show+their+appreciation+following+her+death.+
Many students left messages for Ms. Weger on her door to show their appreciation following her death.

Ms. Melissa Weger, a U.S. history and psychology teacher, passed away Friday, May 6 due to complications from leukemia.

Ms. Weger taught at Oakton for two years, beginning in the 2014-2015 school year, and although she was relatively new to our community, she was an integral part of it. Ms. Weger was always smiling; she was quick to greet anyone she saw in the hallway and offer a kind word. High school can be stressful for many students, but Ms. Weger was a bright light that shone through the tiresome muddle of testing and anxiety that make school difficult for many.

Ms. Weger’s enthusiasm and passion for learning and teaching were infectious. She truly brought out the best in her fellow teachers and in students at Oakton. Her students report that she consistently gave lessons that were engaging, relevant, and above all, fun and interesting. For Ms. Weger, school was about more than exams and grades — it was about learning, discovery, and intellectual exploration. Ms. Weger lived and taught by an ideal that we all should remember as we descend into the frenzy of AP exams and finals. Life is about more than a letter or number on a paper, and Ms. Weger looked beyond grades in her interactions with students. She didn’t classify anyone as an “A” student or a “D” student — she considered us as individuals and treated everyone with the utmost kindness and respect.

Although I never had the pleasure of being in her class, I knew Ms. Weger through the Model United Nations Club and interacted with her often in my capacity as Vice President of Model U.N. Before Ms. Weger volunteered to sponsor our club, we had been going through a difficult period after our longtime sponsor, Ms. Insanally, left Oakton in 2014. Several teachers stepped in to keep the club going during the 2014-2015 school year, and we remain grateful for their essential support, but that was only temporary. Ms. Weger’s guidance and leadership truly invigorated our club and allowed us to expand access to Model U.N. to many more Oakton students. Although she was new, Ms. Weger jumped in headfirst with no hesitation. She loved getting to know all of the students in the club and made everyone — from new freshmen to seniors — feel at home during our meetings. I am still in awe of her great enthusiasm and kindness. Her excitement motivated members of Model U.N. to strive further and try harder.

Whenever our president, Miseon Lee (12), or I encountered an issue involving the club, Ms. Weger would immediately go over it with us and take care of the problem, whether it was about conference logistics or club management. She was undoubtedly busy preparing lesson plans and grading assignments for her classes, but Ms. Weger always took time to listen to us and help us plan conferences and meetings for Model U.N. We truly appreciate her support — without it, Model U.N. would not be the same. Many students have benefited from participation in the club — improvement in public speaking, more self-confidence, stronger research skills — thanks to her.

Oakton adopted the moral “Live Kindness” a few years ago as part of an initiative to make our community more welcoming, open, and friendly. Ms. Weger epitomized this standard — her genuine warmth and kindness left a meaningful impression on not only me, but many other students as well.  In the days after Ms. Weger’s death, one of my teachers told me that the best way to remember someone we have lost is to take a piece of him or her and incorporate it into our own lives and actions. As I continue on, I will strive to make Ms. Weger’s kindness a part of my life — choosing to react to situations with kindness when it is tempting to act otherwise. I don’t think there is any better way to honor Ms. Weger’s memory.

The Outlook is planning to include a memorial page in the next print issue to honor Ms. Weger. We hope to print testimonials about Ms. Weger written by current and former students who knew her through class or Model U.N. If you would like to participate, please send a submission of 100-150 words to [email protected] as soon as possible.

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Remembering Ms. Weger