This week's Faculty Friday features Michael Garland, our Engineering Instructor!
What inspired you to become a teacher, and how has your journey been so far?
I was stationed in the Coast Guard in Miami, FL. My enlistment was concluding in a few months and I was deciding at that point if I wanted to stay in the Coast Guard to complete 20 years, I had 12 years active duty at that point. I was reading an article in Parade magazine one Sunday about a program called Troops to Teachers, placing military personnel in schools once they leave the service. I was able to get into the Coast Guard Aviation Reserves so I wouldn’t lose my active duty time and I made the leap to leave active duty and pursue teaching. I became licensed through the Troops to Teachers program as a science teacher to teach grades 5-9. I saw a job posting for an Electronics teacher at a vocational school in Franklin and I thought,”I’ve been working on electronics for 12 years, I can teach that”. In 2007, the principal asked if I’d like to teach Engineering, and I said, “Heck Yea, that seems interesting”. It has been a fantastic journey, I still love being in the classroom and it’s still a daily learning experience for me 26 years later.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to your students?
High school wasn’t my favorite experience back in the 70s, I spent most of my time out of the classroom than in the classroom. My goal has always been to create an environment that any student wouldn’t mind being in school during shop week. My advice is to find something that is interesting and go after it. Between my junior and senior year of high school in New Mexico, I saw a commercial for the Coast Guard and I decided right then, that's what I wanted to do. When I was getting bored in my second enlistment and needed something new, I became a teacher, which I had to become licensed in MA while I was stationed in FL. It’s important to challenge yourself, doing something you like. I know it’s cliché but doing something you love makes it feel like you aren’t really working. Life is much too short to be unhappy in your career. I can not believe this is my 26th year, and I get paid to do this.
Can you share a fun fact about yourself that your students might not know?
While I was stationed in Astoria OR, I was part of a helicopter crew that rescued three people, including a 4 year-old boy, off the coast of CA. They were on a 75’ sailboat with a 45’ mast that was swinging like nobody’s business in 45-knot winds and 18’ seas and it was dark. It was one of the most thrilling adventures I’ve ever been part of. Because of this rescue we were all awarded medals, Distinguished Flying Cross for the pilot and hoist operator, and the co-pilot and I were awarded the Air Medal. We were also awarded the Aircrew of the Year by the Navy. It was amazing. I would recommend joining the Coast Guard over any other service for that type of excitement.
Besides teaching at Tri-County, are you involved in any extracurricular activities?
My extracurricular activities right now involve SkillsUSA advisor and Robotics Club advisor. These have been my favorite extracurricular activities, but I will say, back in the day when I worked with Mo Bakr, he wasn’t able to go to Houston for HUNCH (High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware). I took his place and I got to fly on the infamous Vomit Comet, with students, while we tested a microgravity scale. The "Vomit Comet" refers to a NASA program that introduces astronauts to the feeling of zero-gravity spaceflight. During HUNCH, students and teachers climbed aboard a specially fitted aircraft that dipped and climbed in parabolic arcs through the air to simulate the feeling of weightlessness in 20- to 25-second intervals. That was amazing.
What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of teaching?
I live in Plymouth and I used to live on the Cape because I love being near the ocean. Probably why I joined the CG from NM. Because of this, I am like Ken (of Barbie and Ken) who says, “I beach!” I like any and all activities associated with being by the water including reading, relaxing, kayaking, boarding and walking on the beach. I love to travel and will do so at the drop of a hat.