From laboratories to classrooms to planetariums, Joel Jarusek has followed his love for physics across Omaha. And soon, he will be sharing that passion with the next generation.
Jarusek, a University of Nebraska at Omaha physics major, will begin teaching high school math and science in the coming fall. It is a career step the Omaha native is excited about, albeit one that was unexpected.
Initially, Jarusek had been drawn toward a research-driven Ph.D. career track. But as he reflected on the aspects of physics that brought him the most joy — namely his jobs as a teaching assistant and planetarium educator — his path curved toward education. He discovered that even though he enjoyed delving into niche research focuses, he felt most excited when he was sharing the broader aspects of science with new audiences.
While changing career goals may feel fraught for some, Jarusek felt encouraged by his professors and mentors when he discussed his new goals with them.
“Everybody I talked to is very encouraging and very excited to see one of their physics students go into education,” Jarusek said.
In addition to beginning his teaching career this fall, he will also be starting his master’s in secondary education at UNO.
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By Joel Jarusek University of Nebraska at Omaha
. It reflects the author's views and has not been edited by our newsroom. It may have been generated using AI assistance.
