Alum could have been ‘rich’ but, as a teacher, is
Ryan O'Block, a 2012 graduate in physics who is launching a career as a high school teacher, was once advised not to become a teacher. He has no regrets and a lot of gratitude for those who helped him make it through the university. He is seen here as a CU student working with a middle-school student in Thornton. Photo by Casey A. Cass.
A CU Teach alumnus and Noyce fellow, Ryan O’Block graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in December 2012 with a degree in physics and a certificate in secondary science education. He is now a physics/robotics teacher at Overland High School in Aurora. This is adapted from a speech he gave to CU Foundation development professionals in August.
“Ryan, you wouldn’t have to be stuck in a place like this place for the rest of your life. You could be rich. You could create something, make something, do something that would make you famous. You could go on to make a memorable, lasting impact on this world.”
These were the inspirational words that came from the mouths of some of my high school teachers. What you might not guess is that these were their arguments to try to persuade me to stay out of the teaching profession.
While their hearts were in the right place—like parents wanting better for their child than they had for themselves—my teachers didn’t realize that only the combination of my initial passion for science and my subsequent passion for teaching could have led me to this place in my life.
During my time at CU, there have been mixed responses to my decision to become a high school physics teacher. But now I realize that for every slighting comment or questioning face I encountered, there was someone in my corner providing me with support.
Looking back, I now know there is no way that I could complete my physics degree and finish my teaching certification without the support of an entire community—from my parents taking a tearful late-night phone call and sending cookies the next day, to my friends working with me into the wee hours of the morning on that week’s quantum mechanics homework set.
Over the years, I have been able to thank my friends and family for their love and support. But I now want to thank the generous people whom I thought I would never have gotten a chance to thank: CU Foundation donors.
No, you didn’t help edit my term papers. But with the scholarships I received during my time at CU, I have been able to remain a full-time student. I have been able to focus my time and energy during the school year on academics as well as other career- and life-enriching opportunities, rather than using that time to wait tables.
I am happy to say that in combination with summer jobs, participation as a research subject on campus, and the tremendous support of donors, it not only has been possible for me to attend CU, but also I am able to enter the teaching profession debt-free.
Thank you. It is people like you that make it a reality for students like me to follow our passions.
This essay originally appeared in Creating Futures, a magazine published by the CU Foundation.
July 2013