Inspirational Feature by J1 Reporter Anna Nulty

Julia Pick is a daughter, dedicated wife, mother of four, and science teacher all wrapped up into one incredible person.

It is not often that you see a woman with a career in science. At Marian, students are lucky enough to have five wonderful women to aid them in their science education. In college, Pick noticed the lack of scientifically involved women as well. Although many women are not involved in science, one woman caught the attention of one young Julia Pick. After taking a female professor’s cell biology course at school, Pick was hooked, not only on science, but on the idea of female leadership.

Pick is inspired by the idea of empowerment. While her focus is primarily on empowerment for women, especially obvious in her daughters and work with current female students, in the future she would like to see success for all her students no matter who they are.

“As a teacher, I get frustrated when kids just give up when things get tough,” Pick said. She wants to see her students reach their full potential. This is a lesson she was taught by her father and instills in her own children today.

Pick’s children are a source of happiness for her. The highlight of her day is reading them stories before bed and she strives to be the best role model she can be for them. Pick wants her daughters to go out and make a difference in the world. She wants them to do this by doing what they love.  “I tell my kids all the time that I don’t care what they do in their life – just love it,” Pick said. Pick seems to be a mirror image of her father mixed with a little twist of optimism.

Pick’s father was killed in a farming accident when she was in high school, but the lessons her father taught his children live on through his three daughters. He taught Pick to maintain a strong work ethic by allowing his daughters the responsibility of working on the family farm. Some responsibilities she had on the farm were scooping hog manure, driving tractors, mowing lawns, and cutting piglet tails. When a bad day came to an end, Pick’s father reminded her there would always be another day to try again. “’The sun will rise again tomorrow’ – My dad always said this to me when I thought the worst possible thing was happening to me,” Pick said.

Pick teaches biology and chemistry classes to freshmen and sophomores at Marian. Before coming to Marian, Pick taught at Millard South High School. She is working to earn an administrative degree and hopes to become a curriculum director. This position does not currently exist within Catholic schools, but she would like to be the first.

When asked how Pick inspires her, Lauren Novacek said, “Mrs. Pick never fails to brighten my day. She cares so much about all of her students and I’m so thankful for her.” From her uncommon profession to her optimistic outlook on life, Julia Pick is able to be an inspiration to women everywhere.