Instructor Alex Menendez said he has learned a lot during his five years at South.
Menendez teaches Freshman Seminar, a career-building course designed to prepare students for both their academic pathway at South as well as Honors Marketing 3-4.
Menendez, who attended Cameron High School in Missouri, said that while teaching wasn’t always his dream, his desire to help and make a difference in students’ lives led him to pursue the profession.
When asked what he enjoys most about working at South High, he answered without hesitation.
“Honestly, the students,” he said. “They make the biggest impacts; it’s a weird impact they make actually.”
Menendez explained that as a teacher, you can end up caring deeply for your students, even those you may not have the best relationship with. Sometimes, Menendez said, he even finds himself wondering why they aren’t at school. “It’s weird and crazy.”
Menendez said his relationships with students this year are especially positive, adding that the students are literally amazing.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better group; they are receptive, interesting to listen to, they ask for advice and are very open compared to other groups.”
Menendez described his teaching style as online and structured; this way students are able to follow routines well and know what to do when he is not present in the classroom.
Menendez said he hopes his students leave his class with skills that have prepared them for any job and the ability to be adaptable and flexible in life.
“Life can be messy, but as long as they learn one of those things, I think I will have done a decent job,” he added.
