We recently interviewed Mr. LeCompte, the Physics, Astronomy, and Chemistry teacher here at PVMHS as well as a referee and former player of quidditch. We asked him a variety of questions about his life and hobbies and here are his responses to them:
What’s your favorite part about teaching Astronomy?
His favorite things are the students in the room and being able to interact with them. He likes answering questions people have about the universe and things like that. They can become very large questions, and he enjoys answering them. “How big is the universe, are we alone in the universe, where did the universe come from, and will the universe end?”
As a teacher of astronomy, how do you deal with existential crises?
It’s not easy, because of how big the universe is compared to how small people are. He tries to focus on the things he can control and how he can make it better for the people he can. He tries to do good for as many people and tries to make the world a better place with him in it. “I can’t control how big the universe is, and I can’t control what stars or planets millions of miles away do. I can’t control what stars and galaxies millions of light years away do. I can’t control that, so I try to focus on what it is I am able to control and then I just try to make it better for the people I can.”
Why did you decide to become a teacher?
He became a teacher because he had a series of bad teachers and thought, “Oh yeah, I can do better than that.” He doesn’t complain about the job someone is doing unless he thinks he could do better and can step in and do it. He thinks teaching is really hard, but on the other hand it can be very rewarding at times.
If you could be anywhere in the universe right now, where would you want to be?
Earth is the only place he could live and survive. “If I was indestructible and immortal, it would be right near a black hole merger where black holes are colliding or maybe where two neutron stars are going to collide.” It’s something we could never experience on Earth, and if we did, it would only happen once. He would also like to see a supernova, or a star's death, in his lifetime. The last one was in 1987, and we are overdue for another one.
What is a memorable experience you’ve had in your life?
There have been many, but the most memorable was being able to play quidditch at the national championship for the College of Wooster. His team actually won a game against the University of Indiana. “It was spectacular.” They went beyond people’s expectations of losing every game. Taking a win back to Ohio was amazing.
Is where you are right now something you pictured when you were younger? Why or why not?
I don't know if I would go back and change anything. “ A lot of people’s lives come down to random luck and random chances.” Being able to play in the Quidditch World Cup was all from luck. Many happy things have happened because of luck and chance. His life is not what he pictured when he was younger. He wanted to be an umpire or referee when he was younger. When he was a little older, he wanted to be a lawyer or judge, and then he wanted to be a mechanical engineer. When he got to high school, he wanted to be a teacher. Now, he is a referee for many sports. He is also a physics teacher which has a lot to do with mechanical engineering. He’s not a lawyer, but he has the freedom to research and look up case law on the internet.
What do you like about playing or coaching quidditch?
He likes the quidditch community. It is a gender inclusive, full contact sport. There is something called the gender rule which is when no more than four of the seven players can identify as the same gender when playing. He’s really glad they have it and how it’s written and the idea behind it. “I also love the athleticism, and I love playing quidditch. The scoring points, making good defensive plays, and the ability to have that sort of fun. That sort of excitement when you make a really good play on offense to score, or when you make a really good play on defense and block a shot or stop a drive. It’s very, very exciting!” The community in general is great especially when he transitioned to referee from player. It’s great to see college students that are playing and he hopes some of my students get to go to a college that has it.
What is your favorite movie or show?
“My favorite movie hands down is The Princess Bride. It's not even close, that is such a fantastic movie.” He also likes the Korean movie Train to Busan which is a fantastic movie. It is a horror movie, so viewer discretion, but it’s really fun and exciting. His favorite show is The West Wing and goes back to him as a kid wanting to be a lawyer as it is a political drama and has a lot to do with laws.
Favorite holiday?
His favorite is a holiday he picked up in college called IS Symposium which is the day in college where you present your research from your independent study that you started working on in junior year. It was spectacular to see the work his peers were doing, and it acted as a celebration to the work being done for three semesters.
If you were in high school right now, do you think you would join The Tanner Times?
He’s not very good at journalism and isn’t his strong suit, so he doesn’t know if he would be the best addition.
Comments