Mr. Olson: Chef
Turned Teacher
Rhoslyn Kersten (11-4)
Photo courtesy of Rhoslyn Kersten (11-4)
After the roster change weeks after classes started, four sections of seventh and eleventh grade English classes were left without a teacher. Finally, a new teacher appeared after winter break; after many delays and hold-ups, on January 12, Mr. Olson became the newest member of Masterman’s English department.
Growing up in the heart of Washington DC was the perfect setting for a museum-goer like him. On a daily basis, he found himself at many of the Smithsonian museum branches, specifically the Smithsonian Zoo. When he was not admiring the art and history of museums, Mr. Olson focused on human rights. As the president of his school's Amnesty International club, he and his peers organized a walk-out on the topic of the war in Iraq in the early 2000s. Mr. Olson’s interest in activism spanned into the next chapter of his life.
Mr. Olson’s career as a chef began in eighth grade when he took a summer job as a cook and fell in love with it. Little did he know that this summer job would inspire the next section of his life. Mr. Olson continued this job every summer until he finished high school. After graduating, he moved to San Francisco and volunteered for AmeriCorps, an organization that connects volunteers with communities in need. As Mr. Olson was a volunteer, he needed to find a job on the side. Fortunately, his culinary experience opened up opportunities and allowed him to work as a chef. This experience led him to go to culinary school.
After cooking in Washington DC, San Francisco, New York City, and Argentina, Mr. Olson found himself missing reading and having conversations about books. In addition to the lack of literary enrichment, Mr. Olson had a feeling of disappointment with the culinary world, as working 80 hours a week with an insufficient salary was not easy nor acceptable. On a whim, Mr. Olson decided to go back to school. He briefly researched St. John’s College, one that he had previously wanted to attend, and ended up being accepted. The moment Mr. Olson stepped into his first class, he knew that English was something he wanted to work with for the rest of his life.
Starting at Masterman is a daunting task in and of itself. Not only is Mr. Olson starting at a very competitive and fast-paced school, but he is also moving to a new city and school district. Mr. Olson described his first impressions of Masterman, saying “I have never met a group of young people who are more engaged, not just with their work, but engaged with the world around them. That has been the most impressive thing so far. Also, people are really friendly and welcoming to me, which is different from where I am coming from.” On the other hand, Mr. Olson described how his arrival has not always been easy. While the other teachers are in full swing mid-way through the year, Mr. Olson is just arriving and learning all of the standards and practices. He is trying to balance adapting to the new environment while simultaneously keeping up with the expectations of eager students and parents.
When Mr. Olson is not in the classroom, he enjoys exploring the city of Philadelphia. He is no newcomer to Philadelphia, as he has been visiting for the past year to see various shows, but is still able to find new places and events. His favorite part of Philly is the art scene, as anyone is able to express themselves as they please. Mr. Olson also admires the vegan community, being a past vegan and current vegetarian himself. Keep your eyes peeled for Mr. Olson at local flea markets and shows around the city!