We decided to do an interview with the new NHS advisor! Mr. Winzeler is a math teacher at Basis Peoria and has taught a variety of courses from Algebra 2 to AP Calculus AB. In our interview, he had many ideas on the steps he wanted to take to make NHS more successful. Some responses have been edited for clarity.
Sansita: Now that you are the NHS advisor, what steps will you take to make the club more successful?
Mr. Winzeler: First, I would like to acknowledge how successful the NHS has been already. Our group of students has a history of serving not only the Basis Peoria family but our community as a whole in a variety of ways. It is my firm opinion that the success of the NHS is directly correlated to how well supported our members are in their areas of passion as well as their opportunities for meaningful action; I will do my best to improve our support in those ways.
S: How do you think the NHS has effectively spread its message and community service in previous years?
W: I think the spreading of our message is actually one of the areas that our chapter can improve on. In the past, we have relied heavily on morning announcements to disseminate information. Because the morning announcements are a daily occurrence (in normal school years), the message can sometimes be lost or tuned out. I hope to better leverage word of mouth to bolster the traditional avenues of communication but ultimately, NHS is student led and I am here in an adviser role to help bring out the members’ fullest potential.
S: What inspired you to become the NHS advisor?
W: I have found that the four pillars of the National Honors Society (Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character) have always aligned with my own worldview. I already stress those values in my own classes, with my own children, and in my own bubble of social influence. When the opportunity came to work with our NHS members to further instill those values in our community, I had to put myself forward as a candidate for consideration.
S: How do you think NHS can effectively give back to the community in this online environment?
W: I think one of the least understood, and most severe, side effects from the online environment is the mental and emotional health of our community members. Taking steps to connect with others and support them emotionally is a big opportunity for the NHS and has never been needed as badly as it is now.
S: Do you have any projects or ideas in mind right now?
W: I do, but my intent is not to impose my ideas on our members. I will of course offer guidance regarding opportunities for service, but I want our members to drive our service initiatives to the community and have full ownership of their influence. Service without passion or a focus on others is ultimately a hollow gesture or a means to build our own ego. Our members need agency in the process to truly have the passion I hope for.
S: Are there any things you would like to change about the NHS?
W: I am new in my role as an advisor, and it will take some time to really understand everything involved with our NHS chapter. I don’t have sweeping changes to make, but I would like to implement systems to better match our members with service opportunities both during the school year as well as over the summer.
S: Besides the NHS, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
W: Spending time with loved ones is number one for me but as far as activities are concerned, I have several things I am passionate about. I am a “foodie” who loves experiencing different cultures through the lens of their culinary traditions. Having been born abroad, I find travel to be critical in refining my world view and perceptions as well as scratching a proverbial itch to do and see new things. I enjoy many genres of music and attempt to play the guitar whenever possible. I also enjoy both creating and viewing art though I don’t make enough time for it in my schedule. I highly value craftsmanship and enjoy watching boring craft videos with no talking on YouTube. I am an avid reader who loves fiction in the fantasy genre. Finally, my favorite places are Thailand, the beach, or the forest.
