Tiffani Wheeler has spent nearly half of her life inside the walls of Arbutus public schools.
Catonsville's Rachael Atherholt was home-schooled from kindergarten through high school.
Despite the differences in their educational backgrounds and perspectives, the pair will embark on similar journeys when county public schools open Aug. 29.
They will begin their first full-time teaching jobs only miles away from where they received their elementary, middle and high school educations.
A graduate of Halethorpe Elementary, Arbutus Middle and Lansdowne High schools, Wheeler will teach six special needs students at Relay Elementary School.
"It's nice to be able to work in the area where I grew up," she said. "I can give back to my community, so that's nice."
Even though Atherholt never set foot in a public elementary school classroom as a student, she will soon welcome her fourth-grade class to Halethorpe Elementary School.
"It's really just been a blessing being so close to home," Atherholt said. "As teachers, we have such an incredible opportunity to touch so many lives."
Even though Wheeler and Atherholt each will begin her first year as a full-time teachers, both have experience to help the process.
Last year, Wheeler worked as a paraeducator at Arbutus Middle School and received a master's degree from the special education track of the Towson University teaching program in May.
Even with last year's experience working as a paraeducator, who works under the supervision of teachers, Wheeler acknowledged a different feeling accompanying the upcoming school year.
"I'm very excited. It's new," the 2001 Lansdowne High School grad said. "I'm just looking forward to a change, something new, working with younger kids, just getting to know the students and getting to know what works for them."
With less than two weeks left before Baltimore County public schools open for the new year, Wheeler said she is setting up her classroom and attending new teacher orientation and other workshops.
"I'm actually learning many different strategies," Wheeler said. "(I will) get to know the kids and use what's best for them."
Atherholt, too, comes to the job with the fresh eyes of a recent college graduate.
In May, Atherholt graduated from Stevenson University with an elementary education degree and a fine arts minor.
"Just a few months out of university, and here I am with my own classroom," Atherholt said. "I've wanted to teach ever since middle school."
Atherholt caught the teaching bug when she was a student instructor at Turning Pointe Dance Academy in Elkridge.
"I figured, "All right, I can handle this,'" Atherholt recalled. "I love watching (students) grow. I love watching them develop. I love seeing the light bulbs go off."
As Wheeler and Atherhold put on the finishing touches to their classrooms, they reveled in the experience and expressed gratitude for the support from their new colleagues.
"I'm a little bit (nervous), but not too much," Wheeler said 12 days before her first day at Relay Elementary School. "Everyone is helping. Everyone in the county is helpful."
Atherholt echoed the sentiment.
"Everyone has gone out of their way to make me feel welcome," Atherholt said. "It really is a family. You can sense that."