From green and white to black and white comes one of our new counselors. Hailing from MSU, Counselor Lori Koza (last names Pe-Z) is a panther at last. Learn about where she’s from, what she’s expecting from West Ottawa, and some inside facts from the woman herself.
Where were you before WO?
“I spent three years in a middle school in Indiana, and loved it. Then I moved to Grand Rapids and worked at Kelloggsville high school for four years and then I’m here!”
How do you like WO so far?
“Everyone I have met has been awesome, and this building is incredible. Resources are just so available, I love all this pride, and I feel like I’d look good in black and white so it’s going to work out.”
What was surprising about WO?
“I think the students have been surprisingly more… put together. They really seem to know what they want out of school and how to get it… The whole student body, in general, has just been very impressive to me.”
Do you have children?
“I have 6,000 here in the high school, but none of my own, no… I really like to focus on the ones at school, and then when I go home I don’t know if I can handle another one!”
What’s your favorite 90’s jam?
“First of all, I love music and absolutely love 90’s! Anything by Alanis Morissette, her album spoke to me. That one and, how about anything like old 90’s, like Weezer.”
How many Taylor Swift songs do you listen to every day?
“Well, a ton because I just totally went and saw her concert in May. I love Taylor Swift. I’ve been to two of her concerts now, but daily I would say at least one or two… Whatever’s on the radio.”
What is the funniest thing to happen to you recently?
“Let me think… I like, love when people fall. As long as they’re not hurt. It’s like the funniest thing in the world.”
What superpower would you like to have?
“I wish I could make everyone like, secure… like happy. I’d also like to be able to eat as much pizza and candy as I want and not get sick. I also wish I could play any instrument in the world. Any kind of musical abilities.”
If you could be any fictional character for a week, who would you be?
“I would be Anna Kendrick in Pitch Perfect. Or anybody at Hogwarts, I don’t think I’d want to be Harry Potter, though, because of all the stress he’s under, but maybe I’d be Ron Weasley. He’s got it the easiest.”
If you were having a dinner party and could invite 3 famous people, who would you invite?
“Amy Poehler, Tina Fey and Kristen Wiig.”
What was your favorite and least favorite year of high school?
“When I was in high school, we started as 10th graders and didn’t have 9th grade. I’d say 10th grade was probably my least favorite, because we got treated like 9th graders do now. Loved senior year. I loved all of the special events and the attention that you get. You’re kind of established.”
Who was your biggest role model growing up?
“I really enjoyed anybody that was unique in my life, or really confident, or went down a different path. Sometimes it was friends, sometimes it was my older sister, and then teachers or coaches, that type of thing.”
Do you have any specific role models now?
“There are certainly people I admire, probably just really close friends and family, and students, honestly. I do get inspired a lot from them.”
Do you have any embarrassing guilty pleasures?
“I love musicals. Like, broadway plays. I will belt them out in my car. Any of the classics, like old school stuff. I also really like MTV shows, I’m 34, I really shouldn’t be watching them. I love Catfish, Teen Mom, Awkward, I love them all. It helps me to stay in touch with high school students.”
All in all, Koza is a cool person and if your last name is Pe-Z, you’re be lucky to have her. If you love Taylor Swift, MTV, and Harry Potter, she’d love to swap stories. Give our new panther a warm welcome if you come across her!
