By Ishita Agrawal
Staff Writer

On June 2, 2009, Emma Girardi made her first appearance into this world.

Girardi went on to explain her emotions when she first saw the face of her daughter. She says it was an emotion that she had never felt in her life. A combination of being “super happy” and really scared. Girardi says one has to feel the emotion to understand it.

Jennifer Girardi, Biology and Marine Biology teacher, here at WA gave birth to her daughter just 16 weeks ago.

Aside from Girardi, seven teachers became parents last year, making it a trend here at WA. When they meet in the halls, they chat about their newfound parenthood.

Ever since Emma was born, Girardi and her husband have realized how important family is. Although the two see less and less of their friends, they are satisfied with their family and Emma.

Girardi has always been close with her family while growing up. Apart from her mother and father, she has an older brother who is not yet married. She says that every since her Emma was born, she has strengthened the bonds in the family further.

“Having a baby is one of the most memorable moments in my life”, says Girardi.

She and her husband had always wanted a son first and then a daughter, but Girardi says that now that she has Emma, she could not picture it any other way.

While Girardi is at WA teaching, her mother takes charge of little Emma.

“ Emma loves her Nana, she’s really close with her”, says Girardi.

Having a baby has also been a demanding job. She has got absolutely no sleep because she takes care of Emma through the day and in her free time, she grades papers. The lack of sleep has taken a small toll on Girardi’s teaching.

“ Unfortunately, I have been a little less energetic”, says Girardi.

Girardi has also had to give up her position as the freshmen soccer coach, a job she misses. But she is not complaining. Girardi loves going to pick up Emma from her mother’s home and riding home with her daughter.

Christopher Connole’s son, Will, and Emma have become good friends. Over the summer, they got together a couple of times and have become friends. Girardi and Tina Fowler’s daughter have tried to get together, but it has been hard because of the distance between their two homes.

Girardi says that she loves teaching, but she wishes that she could have had more time to spend with Emma.

“I feel as though now my family is first and then it is my teaching.”