by Nicholas Valenzuela

St. John Bosco High School welcomes a new teacher and coach, Mr. Kellyn Carlson, to lead the Entrepreneur Pathway and teach students crucial business lessons, as well as to serve as an assistant water polo coach.

Q: Where did you grow up? 

A: I grew up in Tacoma, WA.

Q: What was your best subject when you were in school? 

A: History. I like to learn from the past to be prepared for the future.

Q: Where did you go to school to get your degree? 

A: The University of Washington and California State University, Long Beach. I have a B.A. in Political Science from UW and an M.A. in Sports Management as well as a Teaching Credential from CSULB.

Q: What jobs did you do before teaching at Bosco? 

A: A lot.  I started in the family business, Aqua Quip. I stocked shelves and cleaned, fixed and built pools and spas all the way to managing the logistics of the service department. I had many sales jobs at biotech that taught me that I am not a salesperson. I also had coaching jobs here at Bosco many years ago and spent time at Orange Lutheran and Millikan as a teacher and coach.

Q: Why did you decide to pursue a future in teaching? 

A: During the pandemic, I lost my job like many other people and got back into coaching, that led me to realize that making a difference in people’s lives made me feel like I did when playing sports, and no matter how many hours I spent coaching or teaching, I never felt like I was working.  When you love what you do, it’s not work.

Q: What is your favorite sports team? 

A: Washington Husky Football might be my all-time favorite and Liverpool FC, as well.

Q: If you could have lunch with one person from history, who would it be and why? 

A: Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome. The stoic philosophy he learned from Epictetus and other ancient Greek philosophers is something that I am using to make myself a better person every day. I find it fascinating how those philosophies helped him rule over one of the greatest empires in history.

Q: What is your favorite band or musical artist and song, and why? 

A: Tough question. I think it depends on my mood. I love Bob Marley and his message, but at the same time, I think my musical evolution into jazz has me listening more and more to Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane and other jazz legends.  I grew up in the Grunge Era of Seattle music, so I always like a little bit of Pearl Jam, Nirvana and other 90’s era music. 

Q: What’s your favorite cuisine, and what is your favorite dish from that cuisine?

A: Again, it depends on my mood, but I always go back to my northwest roots of seafood.  I love oysters, clams, salmon, halibut and really anything from the sea mixed with fresh vegetables and a little rice.

Q: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? 

A: I would like to visit Eastern Europe and attend professional water polo games in Hungary, Croatia and Montenegro. Water polo is huge there, and I have never had the opportunity to visit that part of Europe and see the sport where it is most loved.

Q: What is the advice you would like to give to students in your class? 

A: To be open to learning and not miss the great opportunities they have here at Bosco. It is an important time in your life, and you have a faculty that is passionate about helping you. Take this big step forward into the adult you want to become.

Q: If you could start a business, what would it be? 

A: A small community pub. Pub is short for public place where people gather to talk, share stories, play music and connect.  I like food, people, and talking, and would love to do it all while making a living.

Q: How much can you bench? 

A: Today, not as much as I used to that is for sure.  I couldn’t tell you.  I think if memory is correct I was somewhere around 235-250 lbs. at one point, so not very much.

Q: What’s something that you learned from a hard experience?  

A: When times are rough, those closest to you will be there for you without question.  That is why keeping great relationships and honesty are so important.

Q: What sports do you coach and why? 

A: Water polo and swimming. I try to pass what I know on to others and help others go as far as they can.  I like seeing athletes achieve more than they thought was possible.

Q: Do you prefer coffee or tea, and how do you make it? 

A: I like my coffee black, but don’t mind having a cup of tea either.

Q: If you were on a stranded island and could only bring one item, what would you bring? 

A: The book Meditations by Marcus Aurelius to remind me that I am so lucky and privileged to have every day on that island.

Q: If you found out you had 48 hours to live, what would you do with it?  

A: Spend as much time with my family as possible.  I am very lucky to have an amazing family where generations are connected so deeply and help each other with no questions asked.

Q: If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?

A: I would tell myself that the journey is unexpected, not what you think it will be, and that the experiences will lead you to happiness and doing what you’re meant to do.  

Q: What motivates you to work hard?

A: The desire to do things right and an innate sense that I always want to do it better than someone else.  I am very competitive and that drives me to always be better than I was today.

Q: What’s your proudest accomplishment?

A: Having the opportunity to travel overseas after college and continue to play water polo in Australia and win their National Water Polo League Championship.