Mrs. Lanning is a new addition to Aliso Niguel High School’s beloved library staff. Beginning only this year, she has already made a lasting impression on ANHS students and staff through her kindness and endless patience.
Mrs. Lanning was born and raised in San Diego, California. She explained that her love of books and learning stems from her earliest childhood memories. Mrs. Lanning’s grandmother had been a teacher in Mexico for the majority of her life before marrying, and loved that job more than anything else in the world.
Lanning remembers visiting her grandmother’s house where she would be made a warm bowl of alphabet soup and quizzed on its contents. This was just one of the ways her grandmother incorporated education into their time together.
Mrs. Lanning also recalls helping her younger siblings with homework and anything else they needed. Her fondness for books and helping kids intertwine in her position as a librarian, and her ambition to become a social worker.
Her typical morning includes arriving a little before 7 a.m. every morning, turning on all of the lights, preparing the computer system and waiting for the first few students to come in. Once the school day formally begins, Mrs. Lanning will assist students with checking out books, chromebook issues and any general questions they may have.
Students who frequently use the library may notice small flower and leaf-shaped cutouts dangling from the library ceiling. These decorations are just one example of Mrs. Lanning’s, and the whole library staff’s, commitment to creating an inviting and comfortable environment for students.
When she is not working on campus, Mrs. Lanning focuses on studying social work, spending time with her family and volunteering at Friends of the Library in San Clemente.
When asked, ¨If you could travel back in time and select a book to give to your younger self, which book would you choose and why”, Mrs. Lanning explained, “I believe that you read things and things come your way when you’re ready. I read this book, its called ‘The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.’”
“The Four Agreements” goes through four specific life lessons, and Mrs. Lanning suggests that anyone experiencing something difficult, and everyone in general, should read it.
Mrs. Lanning shared that if she had the opportunity to choose books for a school curriculum, she would teach anything by Brené Brown, who has a background in social work, as well as books of all religions.
Faith is a major component of Mrs. Lanning’s life and she believes that our home environments, parents and knowledge we are exposed to early on affects us greatly. She believes in the importance of sharing all different perspectives.
ANHS is incredibly fortunate to have someone as passionate and understanding as Mrs. Lanning as part of our staff. There is no doubt that she will continue to uplift and inspire students everyday both in and out of the library.
