This Yadanr, tmy24@uakron.edu
I have the pleasure of introducing AECHs to our new staff member Mr. Diruzza as well as being one of his many students. In class, Mr. Diruzza carries a goofy and funny attitude. He is kind to his students and makes a class like physical education fun for everyone, even someone as unathletic as me. He enjoys watching Anime and listening to its music. That’s something we learned through his class. I interviewed Mr. Diruzza to get to know him better and to help our school see a new side of him. I asked Mr. Diruzza what inspired him to be a teacher and he shared a touching story: “When I was younger, I was unhealthy and had tons of strange illnesses. I found a passion in mindfulness practices and wanted to help younger generations”. He cares very deeply about our health and the wellbeing of our generation. Mr. Diruzza has a degree in religious studies and transpersonal psychology. Formally a substitute and wellness coordinator, this is his first year as a PE teacher. I asked Mr. Diruzza how he feels about our school and our students, and he only had positive things to say: “I really, really like it and feel lucky to have a job here because it’s an awesome atmosphere”. By introducing things like yoga and martial arts, it’s not always about how fast we can run and who’s the best athlete. He follows a philosophy that says “everyone is a secret genius, we just have to tap into it”. He shares that his favorite part of the job is to see our students smile and get lost in the feeling of being good at something. I’ve seen Mr. Diruzza in a professional setting and he always tries to engage and motivate our students. Although some challenges arise, such as complications with the college facilities, we always find something fun and enjoyable to do. Mr. Diruzza is incredibly patient and passionate about the work he does. Personally, I thought I would hate PE and I saw that attitude in a lot of other seniors but we love to interact with Mr. Diruzza and follow his diverse curriculum.
Comments