by Cuahutemoc Solorzano

St. John Bosco welcomes a new sophomore Modern World History and senior Civics instructor, Mr. Ryan Voortman, who wants to provide his students history lessons as well as life lessons.

Q. What high school did you graduate from?

A. I graduated from Ontario Christian High School in 2014.

Q. What college did you graduate from?

A. I graduated from Grand Canyon University in 2018.

Q. What school did you use to work at before you were hired at St. John Bosco?

A. I used to work at Western Christian High School before I joined Bosco.

Q. How did you come across Bosco?

A. I constantly drove by Bosco over the course of the past several years as I went to visit friends who lived in Downey and always hoped that there would be an opportunity in the Social Studies Department.

Q. Why did you come to Bosco?

A. I wanted to work alongside students in a faith-based atmosphere that’s in my local community.

Q. Why did you become a teacher?

A. Believe it or not, I was actually in nursing school for a year before I decided that teaching was what the Lord was calling me to. I believe that holding this position has equipped me with the unique opportunity to share not only my love for history but my faith as well. 

Q. What is the most difficult part of being a teacher?

A. Juggling the many hats that you have to wear as a teacher: grading, lesson planning, attending meetings, doing after-school events and building a relationship with my students, while also taking care of my family at home. 

Q. What’s your favorite part about teaching?

A. Getting to know who my students are outside of the classroom.

Q. Did you move to California? If yes, then from where and why?

A. I have always lived in California. I’m originally from the Chino, Ontario area. However, I moved to Lakewood six years ago.

Q. What do you think the role of a teacher is besides educating?

A. Whether students enjoy your subject or not, as a teacher, it is my job to inspire my students to be difference makers and use their God-given talents to the best of their abilities.

Q. Has being a teacher taught you anything?

A. After being a teacher for seven years, it has taught me not to be so serious and hard on myself. We may have difficult days in this profession, but there is always a tomorrow. 

Q. Did/Do you play sports before and what were/are they?

A. I didn’t play traditional stick and ball sports. I occasionally race in motocross and play disc golf. Those are my favorite pastimes. 

Q. What’s your favorite genre of music?

A. My favorite type of music is country music. I actually wasn’t a really big fan of country music until I got into college. I had a roommate who was a really big fan of it, and I sort of just got into it afterward.

Q. What is at the top of your bucket list?

A. To travel to Italy and the Mediterranean with my family.

Q. What is the highlight of the school year so far?

A. The highlight of my year would simply be how inviting all of the other faculty members and students have been, as well as the connections I have been able to make with my students thus far. 

Q. What do you hope to bring to Bosco as a teacher?

A. I hope that students at Bosco will see me as someone who cares about them as more than just a student, but as a person. 

Q. In high school what was your favorite subject?

A. My favorite subjects would be social studies, English or religion. Though, I’ve always enjoyed Social Studies the most. I liked traveling a lot when I was younger and went to a lot of different countries. My grandfather when I was growing up would bring my sister and I to a different museum almost every single day during the Summer. That really sprouted my love for history. Then I had a lot of really good history teachers in high school, namely my World History teacher who taught me more than just history. He taught me about life in general. My AP US History teacher that I had in high school fostered that love as well.

Q. What do you wish more people knew about you?

A. My testimony as being a father and sharing the way God has affected my life as a whole, especially in the last couple of years. I think that it’s a powerful story that I hope I get to share at some point.

Q. What are certain aspects of history you love the most?

A. The aspects of history I love the most are seeing the way a previous era in history impacts the next era; the way one thing causes another – like a domino effect.

Q. Who in your life inspires you the most?

A. My daughter is the main reason I get up in the morning. She really inspires me the most.

Q. What do you like about Bosco the most so far?

A. I actually got this question a couple of times before. My wife and my family members are like, “What do you like most about this school?” I’d have to say the best part of Bosco is how welcoming everyone is here.