Marissa Meyers was only a freshman when she was Gabriella Montez, the main female role in North’s production of High School Musical.

“I feel like a lot of people do know me because of Gabriella,” Marissa said. “It promoted my talents in the school.”

Though that was just one of her first shows at North, as opposed to many members of the drama club, Marissa soon learned she wasn’t meant to be in the limelight. She was meant to coach those in the limelight. She was going to be a teacher.

Marissa found herself sitting in the “So, You Wanna Be a Theater Teacher” workshop at the Missouri Thespian Conference. Career paths are unclear to most high schoolers but after attending this workshop it was clear to Marissa that she wanted to be a theater teacher.

“I like getting others involved.” Marissa said.

To help her along her teaching path, Marissa got a job as a babysitter at Club Fitness. Tuesday through Thursday’s she’s there patiently caring for children while their parents work out at the gym. They range from a few months old all the way to seven. Sometimes even older.

“I like it when the kids play,” Marissa said. “Interacting with them is fun and creating relationships.”

She’s gotten spat on.

She’s gotten toys thrown at her.

She’s even had to clean up puke.

But every day, after play practice,  from four to eight, she’s there, because there isn’t anything else she’d rather do. One day she hopes to coach her own Wildcats and teach another Gabriella.

“Marissa basically is either always acting with kids or singing or with Ellen,” Megan Theilbar said. “I don’t even know what else she does. That’s all she does.”