Ms. Becci Simmons: Genius at Work

As December rolled around the corner this Monday, the Senior School Gudewill Learning Commons was well on its way to creating a festive mood with various seasonal decorations. The most amazing decoration, by far, is the ‘homemade’ laser cut winter village made by Ms. Becci Simmons. 

Ms. Becci Simmons has been part of our GNS Tech Support Team for over 20 years and is a vital part of our GNS community. Her role involves troubleshooting any technological issues around campus, big or small, such as fixing classroom projectors or helping students reboot their computers. 

“Ever since computers were invented—because I’m that old—I have loved computers,” said Ms Simmons. “I love the logic and the challenge of them. I’ve always wanted to work with computers, but I did my degree in chemistry, and then I travelled the world as a language teacher. But eventually, I came back to using computers professionally.”

“A fun fact about me is I’m a qualified Apple technician, which means I am authorized to take apart computers, replace parts and put them back together again. It involves very tiny screws and very tiny screwdrivers,” she said. 

Ms. Simmons also enjoys the creative aspect of design and technology, especially when it comes to laser cutting. 

“I lucked out when the school bought a laser cutter, and the design team was allowed to use it when it wasn’t being used by the students,” she shared. “I’ve always had a crafty kind of background. I love to cook, I love to fabricate things. I’m not that great at design, but after discovering that Etsy sold a lot of electronic templates, I’ve had a lot of fun altering the designs and personalizing them. Instead of having a random bird in the lantern, I will change it to the birds that are in my garden, like the blue jay and the hummingbird.”

“It’s really just a great big 3D jigsaw puzzle,” she said., “As a kid, I was really into Lego. These things are just like Lego kits, only maybe a little bit more functional. So at the end of it, you end up with something you can use. And I love the design aspects of it.” 

Her impressive skill is not only limited to making miniature worlds but also creating cup coasters, book stands, ornaments, boxes and lanterns of various shapes and sizes. She has even made her own 3D paper-cut light box. When I asked what she uses her creations for, Ms. Simmons said, “Gifts! Or whatever I designed them for.” One of her favourite items to make for gifts are cup coasters, to which she always adds intricate designs that are personal for the gift receiver. She has also made countless bookstands for our Senior School Learning Commons that have been printed with the GNS Gryphon logo. 

What started as advice for students interested in technology and design quickly has turned into important life advice for everyone: “Don’t be afraid to experiment,” said Ms. Simmons, “Look at what other people can do. Look up to people who do it, not just what everybody by your side is doing at your level, but look at what the ‘real, top’ people in the field are doing, and then aim for that.”