Mr. Terzano has announced his retirement.

Loved and adored by many, a bittersweet feeling lingers in air across HSTAT.

I was lucky enough to get the chance to sit with him for a one on one interview to gain some insight on the decision, what he plans to do with his free time, and how he came in to teaching.

Youssef: So, our first question is going to be how long have you been teaching? 

Mr. Terzano: For 24 years. I started in January of 2000 and I was coming out of another career and I had actually applied to maybe 20 or 25 schools. This is the only school that sent me any kind of a response and so I came for an interview and they hired me right away, so I was very fortunate. This is the only school I’ve ever worked at. 

Youssef: We want to know a little bit about your upbringing, where you’re from, why you do what you do?

Mr. Terzano: Sure. Well, I was born in Brooklyn. I went to school in Brooklyn, at least through high school and then I went to school upstate. I became a chiropractor first. I went to, I should say, I went to an undergraduate school, I went to SUNY Binghamton as an undergrad, which is what you’ll be doing, then I went to a little Bible school for about two years, and then I went to chiropractic school. I practiced chiropractic for about ten years and I realized that I wanted to change.

I’ve always loved teaching. I used to work at tennis camps in the summer and I just loved working with the kids and I knew that this would be a good path for me to take and it’s been a history from that point. For me it’s more than a job, it’s like a calling, almost like I just so enjoy working with students. 

Youssef: Why did you shift from chiropractic to a teacher?

Mr. Terzano: Oh, I think because as a chiropractor… I love doing medical work, chiropractic, but it was very, there were a lot of legal issues that go along, you know having to do certain things for attorneys, getting them tests. Just, they seem to kind of like, at times dictate the way you practiced, and I didn’t like that.

And also, sometimes you almost feel like you have to kind of sell yourself, explain to patients why they need this, why they need to come in. I just enjoyed treating the patients, you know, I just enjoyed working with them getting them better, but anyway you almost have to be married to a practice if you want to make it succeed and I just didn’t want to put in time.

That’s when my boys were born, around that time when I switched over to teaching, I wanted to invest time in my boys, that’s what I really wanted to do and I thought if I’m running a practice that’s going to be really difficult. This was a much better option for me, although it takes a lot of more time.

Youssef: Is there any reason why you specifically chose to teach physics? 

Mr. Terzano: Because they needed a physics teacher that’s why.

I’m really a chemistry undergraduate but they wanted to hire a physics teacher so I said I can teach physics, so you know, that’s why I’m teaching physics now, and that’s where I’ve stayed and I’m so glad I did, because I really enjoy teaching physics. 

Youssef: Is there a specific moment or favorite moment that you’ve had in your years here? 

Mr. Terzano: I have to say there were many moments the best part of this job, to me the best part of the job is just is making connections with students you know, getting just listening to their hopes, you know, and dreams and what motivates them, and to me, working with students is such a privilege, I mean, you have a part in shaping the future you know, not only for the students, but I know you guys are going to be the movers and shakers you know, I’ve not seen as many students as motivated as you are, just so that I could have a part shaping the future of so many Incredible students. 

Youssef: Do you have anything specifically that you’re gonna miss? 

Mr. Terzano: I’ll really miss interacting with my colleagues. I’ve made so many good friends here. I’ll miss coming in September and just meeting the students. Just a great thing to get to know students, who they are, it’s been …. I love this job. 

You know, I really, I love it. I truly do. It’s just that I, I’m getting a little tired. I want to retire with a little strength in me, you know, still. So that’s why I’m doing this. Yeah, it’s been a great career for me. Really great. I really enjoy every moment of it. 

Youssef: So what do you plan to do after? 

Mr. Terzano: Oh, well, lots of reading, because I love to read. I’ll be on the tennis courts quite a bit, you know, working on my game. My wife and I would like to maybe do some traveling, explore restaurants, you know, all the things that make life so enjoyable to live, you know. It’ll be really good, I think. But this has been a great, great, great school for me. It is a great school, but it’s been especially good to me. The administration, you know, they’ve been very kind to me. And I’ve just made some great friends here, you know. I mean, teachers, you know, it’s been great. This is a great place. It’ll always, always have a place in my heart. That’s the only place that I would have ever wanted to have taught in this place right here. 

Youssef: A little bonus question, if you could do anything without failing, what would you do? 

Mr. Terzano: I think I would have still taught, because I love to teach, you know, I just really, I really enjoy it. Yeah, I think that’s, I don’t think I would have changed anything, to be honest with you.