While not having a clear favorite between the two classes he teaches at FHC, Christopher Start can reflect fondly on his minimal time at the school thus far.
New to FHC this year, Start has worked in education for 13 years, having taught across the Midwest in Nebraska, Kansas, and, now, Michigan. Although having a prevalent interest in the sciences, Start wasn’t originally looking to become an educator.
“I had [initially] hoped to work with the national or state forests or work in environmental consulting,” said Start, who considers himself to have been an outdoorsy kid. “I thought briefly about environmental law, and then realized that I would never pass the L-SAT.”
Start studied environmental science at Michigan State University and earned a Master of Education at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, which were, for the most part, his primary schools of choice. However, he only pivoted toward pursuing a career in education following a fulfilling experience volunteering in classrooms with middle school students.
A self-proclaimed A and B student who enjoyed learning, Start had multiple notable teachers who helped positively shape his high school learning experience. Most importantly, his ninth-grade English teacher, who taught him to appreciate the art of teaching and to enjoy learning itself, and his AP Biology teacher, who inspired Start through overarching knowledge of the learning material.
“You never quite know what topics are going to inspire [you],” Start said. “Having a teacher who knows their content [and] their craft just helps a young person know that this is a possible other field of interest or [become interested in] teaching itself. You never know how you’re going to inspire that next generation.”
Start has been able to appreciate the learning process from both the learning and teaching standpoint, and he values the moments in which teaching visibly illuminates the student and their comprehension struggles evaporate.
Since Start teaches both Biology and Forensic Science at FHC, the former for Freshmen and the latter available to grades 10 through 12, his teaching spans multiple, stratified demographics of students.
“I think, [what I enjoy most about teaching at FHC], is the same thing with teaching anywhere,” Start said. “When you see students suddenly ‘get’ a complicated topic that has been given them trouble, and the lightbulb goes off, [those] are really the [best] moments. Or, when I get to try something new as a teacher and see if it works great with students or doesn’t work; I get to learn how to better craft my skills.”
Being a teacher of generally more “hands-on” science courses, his classes generally allow for more project-based learning techniques, allowing both the students and instructor more freedom than the traditional curriculum for primarily sedentary classes.
Although doubtlessly having to overcome rudimentary teaching obstacles that all educators face, Start has found FHC to be a welcoming environment this school year.
“The kids here are just fantastic,” Start said. “[They’re] very [good at] getting school work done and treating each other nicely, for the most part. The staff is excellent at helping each other out and sharing what has worked [in teaching] and what they’ve tried in the past.”
Having moved across state lines numerous times, from growing up in the small Eastern Michigan town of Brighton to moving farther west regions of the country, and ultimately relocating back to his Michigan roots, he is familiar with change.
In addition to solely location, career readjustments have allowed him to swivel directions with life and career goals.
Due to the varying routes he has traversed across, he encourages others to be receptive to the assorted opportunities that life provides.
“Just be open to where your path takes you because you never quite know where tomorrow will lead,” Start said.
