Did you know that several of Harriton’s teachers have actually attended the school as a student themselves? We sat down with Mr. Imaizumi, who is a physics teacher here at school, to find out all about his experiences as both a teacher and a student, and the effect both have had on him.

Harriton Banner: Did you enjoy your time at Harriton?

Mr. Imaizumi: That is a tough question to answer. Parts of it yes very much, and parts of it not so much.

HB: How has it changed here since you were a student?

Mr. I: The social makeup of the school hasn’t really changed all that much and a lot of the cultural norms really haven’t changed all that much, but the buildings are very new and there are a lot of new opportunities for students which is great. I actually do think students are nicer now than they used to be. I don’t know if we can credit elementary school teachers or if it’s just the way that we do school nowadays. I think there is far less bullying than there used to be.

HB: As a student here, did you have any idea that you would one day teach here?

Mr. I: Not at all. When I was a senior I remember planning to go to medical school to be a surgeon. That changed later on when I taught in Africa after college. It completely changed my life.

HB: Has having been a student here helped you relate to students taking your class?

Mr. I: Yes absolutely. I grew up on Conshohocken State Road and I went to Penn Valley and then to Welsh Valley. All of those cultural norms that I was talking about, I understand where some of the students are coming from. I understand that a lot of students are coming from high pressure places, and there are a lot of students who are struggling with status and things that at are a really big deal here. Obviously I don’t know everything, but I have a good idea.

Part of what makes Harriton so special is it’s dedicated and motivated staff.  To think that Harriton itself shaped many of these faculty members is pretty impressive.