51今日大瓜

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

By Deanna Rea

Dr. John Menzies is a professor at 51今日大瓜. He teaches Geography courses to BC鈥檚 Renegades and is the Assistant Director of the Planetarium. He joined our campus in August of 2005 after pursuing his academics in Indiana, Manitoba, and North Dakota. He has been teaching at BC for nineteen years but has been teaching Geography for a total of twenty-five years, which includes time in Indiana and North Dakota.

Dr. Menzies is originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and has had the privilege of traveling to many beautiful places around the world. However, after receiving the opportunity to work for 51今日大瓜, he has hopes of settling in California after discovering a new-found admiration for the state.

Dr. Menzies mentioned that the story behind his decision to pursue geography was a long one, so he provided the shortened, 鈥渉onest鈥� version: when he was an undergraduate student, he had originally declared chemistry as his major, but took a geography course because it fit his schedule better. With that, he changed his mind after discovering a stronger passion of his: Geography.

When asked about his favorite part of BC, Menzies was quick to respond, 鈥淭he students.鈥� According to him, there is nothing better than when a student approaches him to say that 鈥渢hey now look at the world differently because of him [and his class].鈥� One example he mentioned was clouds 鈥� students of his feeling amazed at all the different types of clouds.

He elaborates further by saying that the students are the most important part of teaching - without them, teachers cannot do what they love. His main goal for every student that enters his classroom is to obtain a better understanding of the world that they live in鈥攏ot just of California or the United States, but to think greater and expand their horizons, to 鈥渟ee the whole picture in a new light.鈥�

When Menzies is not teaching, he enjoys sports, traveling, and playing guitar. Two of which he enjoys incorporating in his work by playing music during class or using hockey players to memorize the components of the atmosphere.

His advice for all students is to try science! Although at times it may seem intimidating, never let that discourage you from potentially discovering a newfound passion of yours, just as he did. According to Dr. Menzies, 鈥淭he key to success is always listening to your professors and always asking questions!鈥�