High School Matters

Shayna Domnitch went through high school with relative ease. She was a sweet, pretty, popular, and confident girl back then. She got positive attention from guys and had a lot of close friends, many of whom she is still close with today. Shayna eventually had to face her biggest challenge when she was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. We discuss openly how she dealt with this challenge and how her upbringing, her high school life, and her current family have all contributed to the way in which she dealt with this tragedy so bravely and so publicly. Shayna is—and has always been—a true survivor.

David Niknam was one of the quietest guys I ever had in any of my classes. Even though I had him for 2 years in a row, I never really got to know him. I did many things to try and get him out of his shell: calling on him often, engaging him in discussion, and even offering him extra credit to get up in front of the entire class and yell at me (which most people, especially a kid as quiet as him, would find totally uncomfortable). In a prior podcast conversation ('The Guy who Sought Discomfort?'), Won Jung and I wondered how David felt about my actions back then and now. In this conversation I ask David all those questions, and also finally get to the bottom of why he was so quiet all along. Everyone can remeber a kid back in high school that barely ever spoke in class. This is your chance to finally hear what goes on inside the head of one of those kids. "This is the sound.....of silence"....

Jen Doppelt (@JenExotic) is one of the funniest people I know. Back in high school she pushed the envelope with hilarious and often outrageous comments that got a reaction out of both peers and teachers. It turns out that Jen actually used her humor as a bodyguard, protecting her from stuff she wasn't ready to deal with. In this conversation Jen opens up about several aspects of her high school life including her sexuality, her humor, sports, the way she treated people in school and so much more. If you can multitask laughing while listening, you will most certainly enjoy this special conversation.

Steve Amara is the reason I am a chemistry teacher. As part of his 40-year teaching career, where he inspired many students along the way, Mr. Amara was MY honors chemistry teacher back in 1992. In this enlightening and nostalgic conversation, we share not only our views on how to be a teacher and how struggle builds character, but also many other topics, including the ones that emerged throughout this podcast series. This season finale episode is proof, that for students and teachers alike, high school matters.

Josh Kam is one of the reasons 'High School Matters' exists. Josh was in my AP Chemistry class during his junior year of high school back in 2007. That year was the onset of a student-teacher relationship that was more of a friendship than anything else. Josh has asked me for guidance during various stages of his life, but I think the process gave me guidance of my own. He decided to flip the script on me in this episode and asked me a lot of questions. The result was a fun conversation that reveals information about me, him, and the origin of this podcast.

Jen Halper went through high school and the majority of her childhood in chaos. Jen was with me in Chemistry during her junior year back in 2005. To describe her chaos in a few sentences of text would minimize the significance of her experiences. The main takeaway is that Jen is living proof that "there is always hope." Jen is strong, resilient, vulnerable and impressively positive about her experiences. Her unique way of handling and reflecting on her struggle serves as a guide for anyone dealing with pain.

WARNING: Many of the topics in this episode are very intense. We will take an in-depth look at addiction, depression, and suicide. If you or someone you know are struggling with addiction or any other mental health issues, please know there is help.

Please call Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at

1-800-662-4357.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, please call the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Hotline at

1-800-273-8255

Lauren Nassimi (Lauren Yaghoubi) is a member of the Mashadi community, perhaps the most conservative subculture among the handful of Persian communities in New York. Lauren was a student in my Biology class back in 2002 as a high school freshman. We talk very openly about how growing up as a female in this community has distinct impacts on her experiences in high school, and later in college. As a wife, a mom, and a daughter, she still struggles to this day to figure out how to balance her own desires with her cultural expectations. Her insights are a valuable guide for girls in similar situations.