We decided to do an interview with one of the new college counselors. His name is Mr. Gebreyesus, and he’s brand new to college counseling. He certainly had many stories to share and thorough responses so stick around for his thoughts on some interesting topics! Some responses were edited for clarity and concision. Check out the full video interview here: Mr. Gebreyesus Teacher Interview
Jonathan: Tell me a bit about your background. For instance, your high school, college, and etc.
Mr. Gebreyesus: I grew up in Los Angeles, born and raised. In the mid ’80s, my parents immigrated from Eritrea, a small country in northeast Africa. I went to Fairfax high school in central LA. After that, I went to El Camino College before transferring to Long Beach State. I started substitute teaching and coaching basketball for a year after graduation before heading off to grad school at the University of Miami.
J: How was your experience at Fairfax high school?
G: That school was representative of LA. It was a really diverse school. I enjoyed my time there a lot. I was big on basketball during my high school career. My life revolved around academics and the court.
J: How would you place Fairfax’s basketball team against California powerhouses like Mater Dei?
G: We gave some of them a tough time. Our biggest rival was Westchester. Those games sell out every year. We played a lot of top schools and players like Kevin Durant for example. It exposed me to a lot of new things that helped me become a basketball coach and college counselor.
J: Who are some of the most impressive players that you’ve played against? For example, the Ball brothers.
G: I coached against Josh Cristopher who was picked up by the Houston Rockets in the 2021 NBA Draft (Round 1, Pick 24). He also went to Arizona State. It was a cool experience to watch someone at that level operate.
J: How did you find out about Basis?
G: I started to apply for jobs at the start of January of this year since I would be finishing grad school. I was also looking for places that I felt comfortable living in, and Arizona was one of them since I had family here and the fact that my best friend moved here in 2018. I was looking for opportunities in education, and I looked into Basis and everything they’re about. It matched up with my ideals and where I wanted to go moving forward.
J: How is your experience so far? (Pros and cons)
G: All in all, it’s been a good experience. You know those jobs where as soon as you walk out, you feel that a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. Well, Basis is definitely not that. The staff have been really helpful. For instance, the little things like bringing printed papers to teachers in their rooms or subbing in other teacher’s classes. The students have also helped me get acclimated to the Basis culture. One of the cons is the Arizona heat. I miss the LA ocean breeze.
J: Is it a stressful job?
G: Not at all. The things that stress me out aren’t school related but more life related. I don’t usually get stressed out from work issues.
J: Basis is known for its cohorts of nerds and non-sporty kids. Coming from a high school with extreme diversity, how does this new environment feel to you?
G: It’s different for me. I see some of the same traits that I would see in other students that you guys wouldn’t even think to compare yourselves to. You guys usually stack up against each other in academics. However, that competitiveness was also there at my high school except in different areas like sports. It’s interesting to see the same dynamic but in different contexts.
J: If you were to improve our school’s sports record, what would you do?
G: I think you have to build a culture. It has to be player oriented to show that your athletic program is worth participating in. For example, small things can do it for them. For instance, for basketball players, having a court that isn’t slippery, nice clothes that represent your school, and passionate coaches are all important factors. Investing more in athletics will go a long way. For example, my old high school had all the things like a main gym, auxiliary gym, weight room, and they were even sponsored. They also gave free Lebrons which was a dream.
J: On a side note, are you a big sneakerhead?
G: I wouldn’t say I’m too much of a sneakerhead since it’s costly. I do enjoy good looking shoes. My favorite pair of Nikes is probably the Air Max 97s. I love the design; I’ll rock a couple of them on campus. I love the versatility and how you can fit so many colors on those designs.
J: I see you rocking the Adidas Bapes sometimes. What are your thoughts towards Bape and streetwear brands?
G: I grew up on that. I grew up in Central LA where there were a lot of boutiques and streetwear brands that were trying to build their name. My old high school was located at Fairfax and Melrose, famous streets known for their culture. I would always go to the Hundred store across the street or Supreme, and I just enjoyed the culture and seeing people kicking it with their friends. I even saw famous people before they got famous like Tyler the Creator.
J: If you were to list your top five brands, which ones would you choose?
G: That’s tough since I’m old and since there’s a lot that I’m interested in. I think number one is Stussy. They’ve been so consistent with their drops, and everything has been high quality for such a long time. Number two would be Nike. They do everything whether you’re on the court or off it. Number three… Now that’s a bit tough. I would go with Vans. It’s a classic shoe that everyone has in LA. Everyone has either Vans or Chuck Taylors. Number four would be Adidas. They’ve been super consistent and their performance aspect is unparalleled. Super comfortable shoes. I’m a fan of their collabs with celebrities like Pharrell and BBC. If I was younger, you would’ve seen me rocking that everyday. Fifth one would be the Hundreds. They’re a brand that started near Fairfax and Rosewood. They were right by the school, and I felt that their growth was parallel to my own. I love their brand and what they stood for. Their owners were real cool unlike some of the other spots where they’re kind of snobby and boujee. It always reminds me of my high school days.
J: How would you describe your personality? For instance, extrovert or introvert.
G: I’m definitely an introvert. 100%. I think the people that I’m comfortable around, they might think of me as an extrovert. I don’t enjoy going out too much like in crowds. I’m more of a low-key person. I like small gatherings with the people I know. I just need a small circle that’s tight.
J: Being an introvert, how does it feel to approach a new school with so many new faculty and hundreds of new students?
G: There are aspects of this school that make this tough. It is a bit intimidating working at this school knowing how much the students know and how high achieving they are. Adjusting to the student’s high expectations was a bit nerve-wracking early on, but I think I’ve got it down now.
J: Switching on to sports, what basketball position did you play?
G: I’m still hooping, and I won’t stop. I’m a shooting guard/small forward.
J: Favorite team?
G: Easy. I’m a total Lakers fan. Favorite player on the team has to be Lebron James.
J: What are your favorite players by position?
G: Russell Westbrook has to be my favorite point guard. I just love the attitude he brings to the game, his enthusiasm. My favorite shooting guard is James Harden. He’s one of the most creative players. Super innovative and out of the box. He’s changed basketball on the offensive end. He might not be the most dedicated, but he’s brilliant. I think the youth can learn a lot from him. My favorite small forward is Lebron James. I mean what else is there to say. When he joined the Lakers, I almost lost it. He changed the way the game is played. Power forward would be Anthony Davis. I’m trying not to pick all Lakers, but it has to be AD. He’s a hard worker with a great attitude. He’s not afraid of dirty work. Center would be Shaq. For someone who grew up in the early 2000’s, there was no way you wouldn’t be drawn into Shaq. He’s ridiculous and dominates over everyone. One of the most exciting players to watch, and one of the more fun personalities. Great person, very giving person.
J: Besides sports, how else do you like to spend your time?
G: Music is a really important part of my life. It’s very therapeutic, and I spend a lot of time trying to find new music. Back in the day, I used to surf SoundCloud. I’d try to discover all sorts of new music there.
J: What are your favorite genres and artists?
G: One of them would have to be rap, specifically south LA rap. The older I get, the more regional my tastes are. It just sounds like where I grew up; it’s hard to explain. I also like electronic music where it morphs traditional elements of electronic music, rap, and R & B into one. For example, FKA Twigs or Tokimonsta. As for LA rap, I like 03 Greedo and G Perico. I’m also into some of the more mainstream ones like YG.
J: Are you a fan of the Soundcloud rap scene?
G: I’m not even sure if it’s truly a genre. I think those artists deserve more respect for what they’ve done and the new generation of artists that they ushered in. A lot of the artists that talk down on mumble rap actually take elements from them and incorporate it into their own music, so respect should be given to them. Some of them do deserve the disrespect though.
J: Are you a fan of concerts?
G: Definitely. Before Covid, I went to my fair share of concerts. I was able to see Kanye West, Playboi Carti, and Kid Cudi at Camp Flog Gnaw at Dodger stadium. I’ve seen Future live. Those are the ones that I can think of off the top of my head. I’ll definitely head to more in the future.
J: What are some of your favorite things to eat?
G: Since I was a kid, pizza has been my favorite. You really have to make a bad pizza for me to not like it. I also like all kinds of pizza. If I’m really hungry, I’ll go deep dish. If I’m looking for a casual lunch, I’ll settle for a wood-fired Italian. I also love all the taco trucks in LA. They make such quality food for a cheap price, and you’re also supporting low income people. I like birria, carnitas, carne asada, burritos; I love it all.
J: What are your favorite cuisines?
G: Italian. I love marinara, and many of their dishes are marinara based. If I’m at home, I’ll eat a lot of Eritrean food that my mom makes. For instance, injera, tsebhi, and shiro. It’s super easy to get Eritrean food in LA in places like Little Ethiopia.
J: How do you deal with stress?
G: I like to get away and go to my safe space – playing basketball while listening to music. In LA, I lived five minutes away from a 24 hour gym. I would head to the gym with my headphones and my basketball and just shoot around till I felt better mentally.
J: Do you feel that talking to others and venting about your issues helps?
G: Yes, but I would caution on who you bring those issues to. Your friends aren’t always well equipped to handle personal issues. But, it definitely does help to talk about issues where someone else might relate. It sounds dumb but just knowing that someone else is going through the same issue will help you feel better even if nothing is solved. Talking to people is helpful as long as it’s the right person.
J: What’s a special quality that makes you who you are?
G: I think I’m able to adapt to different environments without changing who I am or conforming. I’ve been to work at schools in LA and Peoria. Despite the major differences, I’m able to work and be who I am. I don’t think a lot of people have this trait; a lot of people are really rigid or just conform and don’t have a strong identity.
J: Do you have any words of advice for the students watching?
G: I would say embrace who you are and learn who you are. You can’t live life for anyone else except for yourself. It sounds cliche, but you have to do what makes you happy. As long as you follow that course, you will find success. You need to center yourself first and do what you need to do to satisfy yourself.
