Why teaching, instead of research or industry?
“I did research in undergrad and liked it, but I liked explaining ideas to people even more — that feeling when a concept finally clicks for a student is honestly a bigger rush for me than a good day in the lab was.”
What does a physics teaching career actually involve beyond the classroom?
“I coach our school’s Physics Olympiad team, run a weekend outreach program for middle schoolers, and I’m constantly redesigning labs and demonstrations — that part is genuinely creative work, not just delivering the same lecture every year.”
What do you wish more students understood?
“That not enjoying physics class doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy physics. Grades and pacing in a required course are a completely different thing from what the actual field is like. Some of the students who struggled most on my tests are the ones who come back years later working in STEM, because they found their own way into the material outside class.”
Advice for a curious high schooler
“Go to office hours, ask ‘dumb’ questions, and don’t confuse a rough grade with a verdict on whether physics is ‘for you.’”