Q: What do you teach and why?

A: “Oh, I teach physics—all kinds of physics—because I love physics. I mastered in physics and I was always curious about things around me: how things go, how things move, and what happens, especially things you can’t see in nature, but exist. So that’s why I did my undergrad and grad in physics. Although I moved to engineering afterwards, I was still interested in physics so I became a teacher so I could teach physics.”

Q: Describe your high school experience.

A: “My high school experience was very interesting. My school was like an IB school, so we chose our path in 11th grade. My path was biology, chemistry, and physics—that means we had to do all 3 sciences 11th as well as 12th grade, along with math and English. It was pretty intense; I thought I would become a doctor but after I did the dissections, I decided that was not my liking and something I could do for a living. My experience was very similar to high school nowadays; we had a boys and girls school and the same kind of kids but 25 years backwards. It’s the same thing; when I see you guys, I feel like I’m one of you. This is how I was.”

Q: What would you recommend to incoming high school freshman?

A: “This is what I always tell people: you have to spend 4 years of your life working, and working hard. That could be any 4 years. It could be 9th-12th grade; it could be 4 years of college; it could be 4 years in your job, but it’s best if you work hard when you have a support system at home. So the earlier you work, the better. So work hard! If you work 9-12 hard, it sets into your system and you’re done, otherwise you have to find time to work hard, which becomes harder as you age.”

Q: What do you do in your free time?

A: “Oh I play violin! And I sing too, and I love it. And I teach a choir in my temple. And… what else do I do? Yeah… I just mind my kids, asking them what they’re doing all the time. And I cook.”

Q: Who is a role model for you?

A: “My mom. She was a physics teacher. Growing up, I saw her enjoy teaching. She used to conduct science fairs and everything and she used to tell me, “Be a teacher. It’s fun!” I never listened to her, but I did eventually after so many years.”