Let’s be honest, most of us only know our PE teachers as the people who make us work out, yell “keep moving!” across the gym, and somehow always have a whistle nearby. Beyond the stopwatch, who are they really? The decision was made to change the unknown and learn something new by interviewing one of Lakes High School’s PE teachers, Nick Jensen, to see what he is like off the court, field, and gym floor.
Background and Passion
Jensen has been energizing our gym classes for the past 15+ years. When asked what drew him to teaching PE in the first place, he said he first wanted to become a coach, which led him to the PE teacher route. He was next asked what his favorite part of his job was, and without hesitation, he said, “building relationships with you guys.”
The Person Off the Court
Most of us might assume Mr. Jensen’s life is consumed by sports and athletics but when talking to him it was found out that there is more than you may know! When Jensen was asked what his favorite subject was when he was a student, he unsurprisingly said, “it may sound cliche but… PE.” However, it was discovered that Jensen also has a hidden talent you may or may not know. He was asked what’s something his students might not know about him, and he shared that he used to sing! Jensen explained he used to sing, enjoy musicals and play the acoustic guitar.
Memorable Moments and Fun Facts
Throughout his career, Jensen has had many moments that stand out. When asked what experiences stood out the most, he stated how seeing former students have their own accomplishments and families is the best. Finally, he has many varied colors in the brand Hey Dudes and many students are curious about how many so, he was asked if he knows how many pairs of Hey Dudes he owned. He jokingly said, “My wife’s going to be mad… Probably 20-25 pairs.”
Mr. Jensen isn’t just a PE teacher but he’s a positive influence who genuinely wants to see students succeed. If you see him around, make sure to stop for a chat, you might learn something new about your PE teacher!
