Pacifica Stories

Violet Comer is a Pacifica alumna who has made her way back to the Wolfpack, this time as a teacher! In her first year on staff, she is teaching multiple sections of dance in addition to Modern World History and AP European History. After graduating from Pacifica in 2019, Ms. Comer matriculated to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. She immediately returned to Santa Monica to pursue teaching at the school whose education was incredibly impactful on her life. While this will be her first year as an academic teacher, Violet has been teaching dance in some capacity since 2014, whether it be subbing classes of various styles from a young age or teaching classes of her own throughout high school and college. She’s also had experience with choreography, having choreographed a performance of the musical “Singing in the Rain,” in addition to her own tap, contemporary, and hip-hop fusion piece for her college’s student choreography show. 

Not only was Pacifica impactful on Ms. Comer’s educational journey, but her faith journey as well. Violet grew up in a Christian household, attending church for her whole life and proclaiming her faith in God as soon as she was capable of making that conscious decision for herself. Her dad and beloved Pacifica staff member, Scott Comer, began teaching at Pacifica soon after it was founded by members of her church, and she says that both of these institutions were critical in shaping her faith and supporting her as she grew up.

“Although I've always considered myself Christian, there have definitely been times where the way I've lived out my life hasn't reflected the mental assents I make to the existence of God, his love for me, and that active faith leads to salvation,” says Violet. “Some Christians refer to this as head knowledge versus heart knowledge, and in busier or tougher seasons of my life, my heart hardened as I clung to control, prioritizing my plan for my life rather than allowing myself to submit to God's will for me. I struggled with this most during college, when I was out of state and no longer physically involved in my home church or the Pacifica community that had always redirected me back to the Truth. I had to take a look at my life—how unfulfilled and lost I felt the less time I spent with God—and reorient myself. I've been more intentional with my faith and community the past couple of years, and I was ecstatic to come back to Pacifica—this time as a teacher—to be able to impact students in the way my teachers impacted me.”

Ms. Comer appreciates the unique mission and community at Pacifica, and is happy to be back. Furthermore, pertaining to her classes, Ms. Comer thinks that it is important for students to leave history classes with the understanding that differing worldviews and beliefs are the driving factors behind all major movements and developments throughout history, and she is passionate about integrating these discussions into her classes, especially at a Christian institution. 

Violet’s favorite part of teaching so far has been moments where something clicks for a student. Whether it’s someone finally understanding the mechanics of a dance move and seeing that instant boost of confidence, the excitement of the musical cast when they nail a section of choreography, or a history student drawing an astute connection between historical events, asking thoughtful questions, or getting their first 100% on their Short Answer Question in AP Euro—she says that it’s incredibly rewarding to see their hard work pay off. Ms. Comer has high hopes for all of her various students as they pass through her classroom.

“I hope my dance students leave class with a better understanding of how to use their body to create different shapes, convey various emotions, properly function in a plethora of styles, and embody the many elements of the music we dance to (i.e. beats, melody, & lyrics),” she says.  “Further, as my class culminates in a choreography unit, I hope they end the year with an understanding of the various ways they can apply the skills we've learned in class to make their own art, move in a way that's unique to them, and explore and use the music however they feel compelled. My wish for my AP Euro students is that they leave the class with an understanding of the power of community and that, through hard work and perseverance in a class that is essentially AP training grounds, they will have developed strong academic habits that will serve them throughout the rest of their educational journey. Lastly, I hope that my Modern World students leave with the understanding that history is relevant to their lives and is still being written, as well as useable skills of historical analysis that will allow them continue to draw comparisons across history, see cause and effect, and recognize how we are always influenced by our historical context.”

In her free time, Violet enjoys choreographing and dancing, writing songs, playing guitar and piano, and going on sunset walks along the beach. We are so excited to welcome Violet back on campus and are anticipating how she will make her mark on Pacifica as a faculty member.