by Miriam Priborkina and Kavya Sridhar
The new school year has stirred apprehension in many students, especially freshmen. Joining a new school comes with a new environment and strange new feelings. However, the ninth grade class isn’t the only new addition to Biotechnology High School this year: Mr. Daniel Levinson, a teacher of IB Mathematics SL and AP Computer Science Principles, is a new addition to BTHS as well.
Although this is Mr. Levinson’s first year at Biotech, this is certainly not his first year of teaching. Prior to BTHS, Mr. Levinson taught at the Health Science Academy in Mercer County Technical School District, and his experience has come in handy. When asked how he has adapted to his arrival at Biotech, Mr. Levinson expressed, “I think I have adapted pretty well. I am having a good time, I love the students, love the courses I am teaching. I taught for three years at a similar school before this, so the transition has been very smooth.”
As a seasoned educator, Mr. Levinson is not inexperienced with ambitious students. BTHS traditionally has a competitive student body, and students feel as though they have to exceed expectations. However, we all have a certain capacity at which we can tolerate mental strain, and many students have times in which they struggle with motivation. Mr. Levinson offers advice for both of those problems. According to Mr. Levinson, “what motivates me is the overall passion and energy from the students because they are excited to be here, and that drives me further. And I'm similarly just passionate about education, so that motivates me. I understand that from a student perspective, you don't have a choice, necessarily, about the classes that you're taking, but I do have a choice for this career, so liking my job is a motivator.”
In addition to this, many students have to deal with academic and parental pressure, which leads to them prioritizing their school work and grades as opposed to their mental health. With regards to this topic, Mr. Levinson stresses the importance of allocating time to yourself: “...if you take on too much, then you are not caring for yourself. And your sleep, you need sleep, please sleep…You need time for friends, you need time for family. You need time for yourselves, even if it’s sitting in your room, reading, watching Netflix, whatever…make sure to really look at all the things that you do, and ask yourself if it’s worth it for your own health and your future to be taking on as much as you are.”
As he works to make our school year as obstacle-free as possible, it is important for us to treat him the same way. When asked how his students can make his job easier, he simply states that the balance between your own personal enjoyment and schoolwork can make his life easier. He notices “that's typically really hard for freshmen, but this current group, at least for me, has been accomplishing that pretty well, so if you can balance that…[and] if you're open and honest about your struggles, that makes my job easier as well.”
Overall, Mr. Levinson is a great educator and member of the BTHS community. Being a new student at a new school can be nerve-wracking, but you are not alone. Many students are dealing with the pressure of a new environment, and having the empathy from a teacher can be highly encouraging. Together, we can look forward to an amazing school year.