Nicole Kirsch is one of Pinecrest’s new park service aides, but in the long run she has her sights set on much higher goals.

"I want to be an elementary school teacher," she said. "I was brought up around children and I learned how to deal with them and how to cooperate with them. I’ve always loved children and I love teaching. So, that’s what I’ll end up doing."

Kirsch, 19, who graduated from Palmetto High in 1998, plans on going to Miami-Dade Community College, then on to Florida International University to get her degree in education.

"Some people my age don’t have their plans for their education laid out," she said. "But, I do. I already know what I want to do."

As a part-time park service aide, Kirsch said she will be working about 21 hours a week at the Coral Pines Tennis Center. She will assign tennis courts to players and do maintenance and cleaning up in the park."

Kirsch is a native Miamian, born at Baptist Hospital. She lives at home in Perrine with her parents, Tom and Mary, and for the last year since graduation she has worked at Publix Supermarkets. She admits to having a boyfriend, but has no immediate plans for marriage. In high school, she was a member of the Living Reef Club, which she said taught her a great deal about marine life and protecting the environment.

"It was fun," she recalled. "But, a lot of work, too. We cleaned up the beaches and the reefs. Since I’m out of school, I’m not involved any longer."

When asked to relate something interesting about herself, Kirsch smiled and said that she has a passion for auto mechanics.

"There are not a lot of females out there that like to work on cars," she said with a laugh. "But I enjoy it, particularly the older cars. I went to Robert Morgan Auto Mechanics School for a year and I really want to finish that program."

She said she picked up her auto mechanics interest from her father and several friends, who were always working on cars when she was growing up.