It can be difficult to find a teacher who is consistently optimistic, no matter the circumstances. Furthermore, it is even more incredible to realize not only is that teacher optimistic, but that she loves her students as if they were her own family. English teacher Mrs. Pamela Hitt can be described that way.

Ever since high school, Hitt knew she wanted to become a teacher.

“I’ve always loved the idea that I would have the same schedule as my own children someday,” said Hitt.

Hitt taught at George Washington High School for seventeen years before becoming a Trojan last year.  

Her favorite part about teaching is getting to witness students understanding material for the first time. Seeing this makes her feel like she really has accomplished what she was set out to do. Hitt not only is proud of her students, but she has a lot of respect for her co-workers, as well.

“Those ladies [in the English department] are so special to me. They are very talented and devoted no matter what. They honestly welcomed me in as one of their own and I’m honored to be apart of this department,” Hitt said.

Hitt really enjoys teaching literature because she said that students don’t seem as interested in it as other classes. She has the goal of changing that when a student steps foot in her classroom.

Outside of teaching, Hitt has lived an interesting, full life.

She has been married to her husband, US Naval officer LCDR Frank Hitt, for 28 years and they have four children: Franklin, Erica, Rachel, and Leslie.

Her husband, due to his naval job, has been stationed in Florida, California, Maine, Italy, Nebraska, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia, so Hitt has lived a lot of places.

Moving so frequently was very hard for Hitt at first.

“I had to move over a thousand miles away from my parents the day after I got married. I was so homesick, but while we were stationed in Sicily, Italy, I really did some growing up. It wasn’t as hard after that,” she said.

While in Italy, Hitt gave birth to her fourth child, Leslie. Two weeks before Hitt’s due date, she was supposed to be transported to the mainland, Naples Italy hospital. However, Hitt went into labor a month early.

When her baby was born, Leslie started turning blue and wasn’t breathing. Fortunately, their base’s pediatrician came to check on them and immediately took them back to the airbase. While there, Leslie recovered, but that wasn’t the end of what Italy had instore for Hitt.

The Gulf War ended up breaking out, and where she lived, there was only one car, no phone, and no one spoke English. Terrorists started making threats toward Americans at this time, so the naval base ordered that American families be sent back to the states for their safety.

“My new baby had not received her Social Security card or her papers of US citizenship, therefore she wouldn’t be able to leave the country. I had to find families that would be willing to take my other three young children back to the states with them so I could stay behind in Sicily with Leslie. Luckily, it never came to that point, but it sure did cause a great deal of stress in my life,” Hitt said.

While in Italy, the family experienced earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and dangerous winds that came from the coast of Africa. Living in conditions like that for three years was challenging  and frightening for her and her family. However, it allowed the family to develop an even closer bond.

“We became a very close-knit family,” said Hitt.

Although she has lived many beautiful places, Hitt says Brunswick, Maine, was her favorite because of the quaint community and ever-changing scenery.

“It was one of the most beautiful states I’ve ever seen. It [Brunswick] has an area of quaint shops and taverns. In the winter, people would ice skate anytime they wanted to. It was just so beautiful. In the summer, the Boothbay Harbor would be full of these huge sailboats and gorgeous hot air balloons.”

Today, Hitt spends her time teaching, being a wife and mother, but also enjoying the role of  a grandmother.

She has eight grandchildren that she adores.

Her favorite part about being a grandma is “holding all eight of them at the same time and giving them all my love and affection.”

She also looks forward to family dinners where she gets to be reunited with all of her children and grandchildren.

“When all of my children come home and bring all of their children, it’s just one big party! There are eighteen members of my immediate family,” she said.

Out of all of the things Hitt has achieved in her lifetime, the most rewarding thing she has ever done was “staying home with all four of our children when they were young.”

Mrs.Hitt loves her job so much its unreal. She always sees the best in everyone. “I love kids and I always knew I wanted to teach high schoolers this job was definitely made for me,” Hitt said.