By Macey Schmitt and Steph Freund
Shoe collecting is a shared joy among many. At AHS, ISS para-educator Jeremy Blake is one of these. Students expect to see a different pair of shoes on him each day. “I honestly don’t know how many I have,” said Blake. He estimates he has spent over $10,000 on shoes in his lifetime. The most he has spent on one pair of shoes is around $200.
Blake has been collecting shoes since he started working in high school. He bought his first pair in 1997. He started collecting “cool” kicks because he always had to shop at Payless for shoes. He now has all brands and does not prefer one over another. However, he said, “I have a majority of Jordan’s.” Blake’s reasoning for having so many pairs of Jordan’s is he watched him play growing up. “They’re a status thing.”
“It always feels like I’m wearing a new pair because I have so many,” said Blake. He does not having a favorite pair.
Garrett Franken commented on Blake’s shoe collection, “I’m jealous because I want them.” Librarian Gina Honke said, “It’s his thing. It’s kinda cool. He’s got some cool shoes.”
Matt Tolton is not a shoe collector. “It’s too extensive for a guy.”
Coach Casey Pelzer said, “It’s ridiculous. I thought only girls had shoe collections.”