The Teacher in Me

Story by Nathan Moravetz

Teaching has always been a big part of my life. My mom, grandma and sister were teachers, so, growing up, I wanted to model after them. Later, I spent five summers working at summer camp and came to realize that the most rewarding part for me was being a positive influence on young people.

After my first two years of college, I took a year off to be a student missionary, working as a boys’ dean in Michigan. But I yearned to serve overseas. One day, my friends and I started a conversation about being teachers on the island of Yap, and before we knew it, we were serving on the small island in the Pacific Ocean.

I spent the year teaching history for grades 7–12, coaching basketball, playing piano, preaching at church and enjoying lots of coconuts! 

That year taught me a lot of things. One being that I needed to depend on God every day because I was faced with many challenges: no Wi-Fi in the classrooms, leaking roofs, a hot climate, and air-conditioning only available in the office. Despite these conditions, it was truly one of the best years of my life, and I found it rewarding to see the growth in my students.

So, how did I end up in the cold state of New Jersey? After being a student missionary, I finished college, married my wife, Annie, and moved to California. But shortly after, God was calling us somewhere else. I put my resume out and applied to many places. One day, I got a call from the New Jersey Conference to work at Lake Nelson Adventist Academy. I really felt that God was leading the school, and after some prayer and thought, my wife and I decided to move across the country!

It’s been a true joy teaching the 22 sixth graders that I currently have in my class, and I can say that this has been my favorite job by far. I really feel the school has its priorities down, and it’s amazing to see the involvement that students have every week. Leading out in chapel, singing songs, having a positive spiritual influence on their peers—these are the kind of things that I can get behind.

At the end of the day, God can work through us wherever we are. I know that each of us is right where we’re supposed to be, as long as we commit our lives to God every day and ask for His guidance. I’m happy to be here in New Jersey, and I’m thankful for the God who leads us, even when we don’t know exactly where we’re going.