At the very heart of the school’s science department, there is a new physics teacher who is inspiring his students to look at the world from a different perspective. Mr. Altopp, in his second year of teaching at Cardozo, is on a mission to share his love for the subject and unlock the hidden secrets of nature for his students.
“Physics is everything,” Mr. Altopp said. “It finds patterns in things that are hidden from us until we look more closely. It is nature’s secret language.” The belief of Mr. Altopp in the power of physics to unlock the mysteries of the world is evident in his teaching style.
But, how did Mr. Altopp end up in a classroom, teaching physics? His story of becoming a teacher is one that, like the subject he teaches; it has its own twist.
“I decided to pursue teaching when my fiancée asked, ‘What if you were a teacher?'” Mr. Altopp recalled. “And I replied, ‘Yeah, what if?’ And here I am, loving teaching, especially when my students come to class.” His response, though light-hearted, revealed that sometimes in life, the best path is the one you didn’t exactly anticipate.
Although teaching is a big part of his life, it is not the only thing he is passionate about. Mr. Altopp was also a member of a band, and he played a number of performances throughout the city before he decided to stop playing music to focus on his teaching career. This unique combination of interests and experiences lends a unique quality to his teaching, where not only will he be teaching his students about the laws of physics, he will also be teaching them the value of creativity, determination, and juggling multiple passions in life.
One of his greatest beliefs is that the challenges of physics are what make them so interesting.
“In my opinion, the things that make physics difficult are the same things that make physics interesting,” Mr. Altopp said. “I don’t mean that physics is interesting because physics is difficult. I mean that if you want to truly appreciate physics, you have to want to think hard.”
His advice to his struggling students is quite simple, yet profoundly effective: “Nothing is beyond anyone’s reach if one attends class every single day and tries their best.” However, it is not just the subject matter that he is passionate about, but also his desire to form a connection with his students.
“Sharing the joy of physics with my students is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching,” he said, with a smile. “And balancing all my teacher duties? Well, a lot happens behind the scenes, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Outside of the classroom, Mr. Altopp’s interests are just as eclectic. He has a secret dream he hopes to fulfill someday. “I think it would be fun to be a voice actor.”
If any of Mr. Altopp’s students want to catch up with him and discuss the wonders of physics or his aspirations of being a voice actor, he is in room 254 for periods 4, 6, and 7. He is also available after school if any student is interested in discussing the wonders of physics or his aspirations of being a voice actor.
