With the arrival of a new school year, also come new teachers. Mr. Cesene is just one of the new additions to El Segundo High School's faculty. Most people might not know of Mr. Cesene considering he only teaches one period at El Segundo High. I am one of the fortunate students to be in his only class English 11. Mr. Cesene has a unique outlook on how to teach and on how to treat students. He helps his students tap into their creative side and make you look at situations in a completely different way. I think this type of teaching method helps to expand the mind and give whole new perceptions about literature, English, and everyday life.

Scheduling an interview with Mr. Cesene was a bit of a challenge due to the fact that he shares a room with two other teachers. Only having one class to teach here at El Segundo High seems like a super easy day, but in fact, his day is always packed with things to do, such as teaching at the Arena Learning Center for the rest of the day. 

Mr. Cesene told me that he has been teaching for about five years at schools such as Santa Fe Springs High, Claremont High, Arena Learning Center, and now, El Segundo High. His favorite subject to teach is English, but more specifically, poetry. When asked what his favorite class was when he was in high school, he adamantly said, "Not English!" He then goes on to tell me that he was best at math, but it too was not his favorite subject. It seems that Mr. Cesene has no classes that were his favorite when he was in high school. What motivated him to become a teacher, let alone an English teacher? When he was younger he got into a car crash and almost killed himself and three of his friends. That experience made him want to make a difference in the world by guiding young people and creating a brighter future for them. This made me wonder what he would want to be if he didn't become a teacher. He said that if he weren't a teacher, he would want to be a shortstop for the baseball team, the Angels. Mr. Cesene told me that in his spare time he writes, plays basketball, hikes, and soon, is going to learn how to snowboard. When asked what his hobbies are, he simply laughed and said, "There's no time for hobbies, I'm a teacher!"

 I asked Mr. Cesene what his favorite music is and he said that as of right now he listens to jazz, classical, and classic rock. His five favorite music artists or groups are Tool, Radio Head, Zeppelin, Beethoven, and Gregorian Chant. His favorite movies are "Fight Club," " The GodFather," " Shashank Redemption," and "Miller's Crossing." What asked if there was any random information that he would like to add to the interview he said, "I need a new truck…a Tundra."

Being a new teacher isn't an easy task. So far, Mr. Cesene has done a great job teaching. His unique teaching strategies set him apart from most other teachers. His views on life and teaching are exemplified through his favorite quote, "Do not follow in the footsteps of the wise, seek what they sought." -Basho (Zen Master)

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