The Warrior Word sat down with 11th and 12th grade English teacher, Mr. Jeremy Adams, to talk about what he was like in high school and his love for music and teaching.
Michal Cohen: Where did you grow up?
Mr. Adams: I was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and I moved to the Boston area when I was three.
MC: What school did you go to?
Mr. A: For college I went to Brown University, and for my masters I went to Boston University
MC: Why did you want to become a teacher?
Mr. A: Good question. I started out thinking I would become a rock star. When that didn’t work out, I thought I would be a music journalist, which I tried for a long time, but it’s really hard to get a job. So as I kept writing, I started substitute teaching, and I thought, oh this is fun, and I could probably get a job this way, and I could move out of my parents’ house, and I could keep playing music and keep writing on the side. So that’s when it started. I started to teach full time, and write on the side.
MC: You wrote for Rolling Stone Magazine, tell us a little bit about that.
Mr. A: Top secret. A journalist never reveals their sources. But I have been lucky to make some interesting connections over the years, especially when I was doing a lot of writing. I wrote for the Rolling Stone four pieces, I wrote for the Boston Globe, Boston Phoenix, Las Vegas Weekly, Miami Rail, mostly been through crazy connections like randomly running into people at concerts or friend of a friend, you never know.
MC: What were you like in high school?
Mr. A: I was a big nerd. And I worked too hard. I got along with everyone, and I got good grades, but in retrospect, I wish I had more fun as well.
MC: Have you ever gotten in trouble?
Mr. A: what kind of trouble? Like police?
MC: No, in high school.
Mr. A: No. never. I was a goody-two-shoes. Still am.
MC: What is the worst thing you’ve done in high school?
Mr. A: I can’t think of anything off hand.
MC: Never cheated off a test?
Mr. A: No. I remember once in summer camp, a couple of friends and I, we stole the coffee machine from the lodge, and made a lot of counselors angry, because they couldn’t wake up in the morning. That’s about it. Then we put it back of course.
MC: Oh, okay, good. What do you like about the school?
Mr. A: To me, the best part are the kids and will always be. You guys are the coolest, and nicest kids I have ever had the pleasure of teaching. So that makes my part of the job easy. And because I work so much, I talk to you guys more than I talk to my friends. So it’s really cool. And you guys seem to have a nice connection with each other too.
MC: Lastly, what advice would you give to the high school students?
Mr. A: That’s a really good question. I would just say, as somebody who used to stress out all the time, about every grade and every assignment, as I know many students do; in the end, it doesn’t matter as much as you think. And it’s better to enjoy this time as best as you can. I know there is a lot of pressure with college and parents, and grades, and driving. But try as best as you can to enjoy the present.
By: Michal Cohen (11th Grade)
Comments