Lake Johnson could have been an engineer, until he decided that he really didnt like college chemistry.
It was really hard. I thought, I dont like this anymore, he said.
So he changed his major to business. But that was boring.
Then he changed his major to elementary education.
That, he discovered, was fun.
But whats interesting, is that Johson is now teaching chemistry. And physics. Even some engineering concepts.
But at a sixth grade level.
Ill stick with sixth grade engineering, he laughed.
The affable Johnson laughs a lot while telling the story of how he became a teacher. That was far from his plan when he graduated from Spring Hill High School and started school at Baker University.
At first, money mattered.
I wanted to be an engineer and make the big bucks, he said. Turns out, moneys not everything. Id rather enjoy what Im doing.
Johnson became intrigued with pursuing elementary education by two things:
First, he grew up with younger siblings and always enjoyed being around children.
Second, his college roommate was studying elementary education. The more Johnson talked to his roommate and learned about the job, the more he realized how well-suited he was to teaching.
His natural interest in science, also fit in nicely with the position at IMS. After all, his initial goals were to be an engineer.
And, it turns out, sixth-graders have a slightly more mature but still silly sense of humor.
I think I relate to them pretty well, he said. I like talking. I like telling my stories. I sometimes tell too many stories, but I enjoy it.
Hes excited to delve into hands-on learning, conducting scientific experiments in chemistry and physics. So far this year, the class has experimented with liquids, using food coloring to study reactions in different temperatures of water.
Physics, especially, appeals to the athlete in him. Johnson played baseball at Baker, as a pitcher and in-fielder.
