High school teachers aren’t trying to make students’ lives hard. Teachers were once students themselves. They partied, went to games, and got in trouble, just like the average student.
In just ninth grade, science teacher Joshua Hoins realized that he wanted to be a teacher.
Hoins looked up to his current educators and wanted to make a similar impact that was made on their students.
Hoins hadn’t decided then that he wanted to be a science teacher, but he did realize that he was good at chemistry and physical science.
Hoins was on the football team for all four years of high school and was on Speech and Debate, and Quiz Bowl teams. Hoins was awarded the superlative of ‘most spirited’, he attended as many games as possible and was the loudest one there. Hoins went all out for spirit weeks and themes.
“My favorite memory from high school was our last basketball district game. Everybody was screaming and the energy was there,” Hoins said.
Students could take notes. Showing school spirit isn’t something to be embarrassed about. Strong student sections are not just for the athletes. Excited high schoolers cheering for their school is fun to watch and shows pride.
“Now, school spirit is not something nearly as prevalent as it was when I was in high school,” Hoins said.
Hoins took his fun energy with him into college. He was the president of his fraternity, Delta Tau Delta, at UNL. This originally was not Hoins’s plan.
“My first semester I lived with my friend from high school, don’t ever do that,” Hoins said.
Hoins had a scholarship at UNL that paid for on-campus housing. He had a limited amount of options considering he no longer wanted to live in the dorms with his friend.
Hoins came to the conclusion that he would join Greek life. His father was in a fraternity and some of his closest friends happened to be in fraternities. His father’s former fraternity signed him into the frat in the spring of 2020.
Because of COVID-19, college students were sent home. This pushed Hoins’s move-in date to the start of his sophomore year.
The UNL fraternities try their best to support the communities. Hoins’s house served local food banks and a nearby elementary school with whatever they needed.
Most frat members aren’t like how they are portrayed on television. Greek life isn’t about parties or making new friends. Hoins reported that the average day around the house would be the different boys getting to class or completing their schoolwork. Hoins recommends joining a fraternity but for the community and learning aspects.
“If you make friends and all you want to do with them is party and skip class and waste your money, you will absolutely do that too,” Hoins said.
However, not all of Greek life was fun. A legal case with protestors swarmed a nearby fraternity. The protestors had the right intentions. It was a peaceful protest at first. Unfortunately, signs were made by the targeted fraternity and protestors. The signs threatened the other side and said hurtful things.
With drama circling the 25 fraternities, not everybody liked each other. Luckily for Hoins, in high school, he mastered the art of avoiding drama. Hoins did notice his old classmates struggled with friends and he can see students having the same problem.
Seeing students struggle socially is hard for Hoins considering his favorite part of the day is seeing them with a smile on their faces. Hoins believes that a big cause of losing friends is because of jealousy.
“Value your friends, but don’t get caught up comparing yourself to them,” Hoins said.
Hoins went to college with the intent of graduating ready to teach. He became a teacher and the assistant offensive line coach to help him maintain his love for football.
