Alumni Stories: Rachel Simar ’21

From meaningful classroom moments to lifelong friendships and a faith that continued to grow beyond graduation, Rachel Simar’s time at PCA helped shape the path she’s on today. In this spotlight, she reflects on the specific teachers, experiences, and turning points that influenced her journey from middle school through college and into her current work and future goals.

What are some of your favorite middle school memories or teachers from middle school?

I started at PCA in seventh grade. I remember being so excited about the lunches, especially the KFC chicken pot pie. I got it every single quarter!

In eighth grade, my friend Emily and I were reading Uncle Tom’s Cabin. There was this little computer lab near the bathrooms in the middle school wing, and it had this small, enclosed space that felt like a little cave. We would go in there, shut the door, and read together. We thought it was the coolest thing ever, and we didn’t tell anyone about it. That’s one of my favorite memories.

Mrs. Ingram also stands out. In seventh grade, Mrs. Ingram gave me the “Wonderment and Awe” award. I’ve always had a lot of energy, and in the past that was often seen as a negative. But when she gave me that award, it reframed everything for me. It made me realize that my enthusiasm could actually be a strength. I’ve carried that with me ever since, that something I thought was a flaw could actually be a gift. She actually ended up doing my senior pictures later on. And Mrs. Treadwell. We’re still connected on Facebook and reminisce sometimes.

Of course, I also remember Mr. Hecklemann. At the time he taught Bible and history, and I remember this really fun activity where we created an industrial-age assembly line in the classroom using our desks.

What led your family to choose PCA?

I had grown up in private school, but when we moved from Missouri, I wanted to try public school like my siblings. I did one year, but the pace was too slow for me. I had already learned most of the material.

I missed the smaller environment, the closer relationships, and the faster pace. So we started looking at different schools, and ultimately chose PCA.

Then my mom began working at PCA as a counselor. At the time, I hated it. I was going into high school and wanted independence, and suddenly my mom was there. I was embarrassed. I didn’t want people to know who my mom was.

But there were definitely perks. I’d keep my lunch in her fridge, take naps in the prayer room after school while waiting for her… so I came around to it eventually!

How was the transition to Upper School?

I remember “step-up day” and thinking, “Wow, everyone is so old, this feels like college!”

But I ended up loving the Upper School. The biggest highlight was my friend group. We formed in eighth grade, stayed close all through high school, and we’re still close today. They were all at my wedding in 2023, and we still talk regularly.

The biggest highlight was my friend group. We formed in eighth grade, stayed close all through high school, and we’re still close today.

Which teachers had the biggest impact on you in the Upper School?

Mrs. Shoemaker stands out from freshman year; it was her first-year teaching, and we kind of grew together.

The teacher who had the biggest impact on me was Mrs. Graustein. I’ve always loved science, especially animals, but her classes, especially Marine Biology, completely changed my perspective. We’d go down to the dock, collect water samples, and study microorganisms under a microscope. It opened my eyes to a whole hidden world.

She’s just… a joyful woman. She connects with students based on their individual interests and makes learning personal. She made science fun and engaging, and she truly cared about us. Even during COVID, I remember talking with her about air quality because I had long COVID symptoms. She was always present, always invested.

Because of her, I discovered a passion for conservation and scientific research. I didn’t even know that path existed before. I later published research in college, and I truly credit her for setting me on that path.

[Mrs. Graustein] connects with students based on their individual interests and makes learning personal. She made science fun and engaging, and she truly cared about us…She was always present, always invested.

What was your graduation day like?

It was one of the most intense days of my life.

The morning of graduation, I prayed, “Lord, help me praise You in a way I never have before.” Later that day, I was in a serious car accident, about five hours before graduation. I T-boned another car going 40 mph. The airbags deployed, and it was incredibly traumatic.

Miraculously, my only injury was a cut on my wrist.

I still went to graduation, but I was in shock. I hadn’t done my hair or makeup. I just showed up. And what I remember most is how everyone surrounded me with support.

There’s a photo of me in line before graduation. My friend Sarah was fixing my hair, while my other friend Trevor was encouraging me. I don’t even remember the moment, but that picture means so much to me. It represents the love and support I felt that day.

Looking back, I realized that was my prayer being answered. Praising God in the middle of fear and chaos.

Where did you go to college and how was that transition?

I chose Kansas State University before my senior year even started.

Socially, the transition was hard. At PCA, everyone knows you and cares about you. In college, it’s not like that. I had to learn that not everyone wants to be your friend, and that was a big adjustment.

Academically, I felt completely prepared. Especially with writing. Essays that took others hours took me a fraction of the time because of how much writing we did at PCA.

You mentioned switching your major—what led to that decision?

When I first got to college, I knew I loved animals and science, so I chose Animal Science as my major. At the time, I thought that meant I would eventually go into veterinary work, which felt like the natural next step. But once I got into my classes, something didn’t feel right.

I chose a concentration in Production and Industry because I thought it would allow me to engage with animal ethics and sustainability. Things I cared deeply about. But in reality, a lot of what I was learning centered around meat processing, cuts of meat, and the business side of animal production. While I could handle it, I remember thinking; this isn’t what I’m passionate about.

At the same time, I kept coming back to experiences I had at PCA, especially in Mrs. Graustein’s classes. Marine biology, the dock studies, looking at microorganisms under a microscope, doing vegetation surveys, those moments had sparked something in me. They showed me that this entire world of science focused on ecosystems, conservation, and understanding the environment in a deeper way.

I just didn’t realize at the time that there was an actual career path for that.

During my freshman year, I started dating my now-husband, Chaylen, and he was actually the one who helped me start thinking differently.

Then one day, I was walking through the science building on campus, just heading to class like normal and I passed a board that listed different majors and career paths. And there it was: Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology.

I remember stopping in my tracks and thinking, “Wait… this is actually a thing?”

And honestly, I don’t think I would have had the confidence to make that switch if it weren’t for the foundation PCA gave me. Especially through teachers like Mrs. Graustein, who first showed me how fascinating and meaningful that world could be.

How did your faith grow during your time at PCA and beyond?

PCA gave me a strong foundation. One thing teachers always said was, “You need to make your faith your own,” and that really stuck with me.

Bible classes, especially with Mr. Morse, prepared me to understand and defend my faith. Being surrounded by Christian teachers and peers made a huge difference.

In college, my faith became more personal. It shifted from something structured and rule-based to something relational. That foundation from PCA gave me a starting point to grow into my own faith.

What are you doing now?

Right now, I’m working as an optometric technician. I love interacting with patients, especially kids and elderly patients, and I’m still using science every day.

Before this, I worked as a zookeeper, an ice-skating coach, and even managed multiple concession stands for Parks and Rec. That role helped me realize I didn’t want a business-focused career. I wanted something people focused.

Long-term, I would love to become a Middle School science teacher. That’s where I feel most passionate.

I met my husband, Chaylen, during my freshman year at Kansas State. We got engaged in 2022 and were married in 2023.

That foundation from PCA gave me a starting point to grow into my own faith.

What advice would you give to current PCA Upper School students?

If you’re not actively walking in your faith, it can feel like everything you hear just goes in one ear and out the other.

But I would encourage you to listen with an open heart. The things your teachers are telling you, they are saying out of love. There’s real truth and importance there, even if you haven’t fully realized it yet.