The Interesting Life of Mr. Van Deurs

by Andrew DeDomenico, staff reporter

Christian Van Deurs is a chemistry and environmental teacher at WJPS who has the ability to connect with many students with his funny, or corny some might say, personality.

Throughout his life, he has always been the “class clown, or a runner up you can say.” He was always “good” with everyone, being able to “jump between groups, I could hang out with the jocks I could hang out with other the other kids in groups and I’d be accepted.”

Mr. Van Deurs says he was an all-around cool, funny, and nerdy student in school. He connected with most kids in his grade. He was pretty straightforward with others, “forthcoming with the things that I like… I’m not very secretive so I do not have much that I hide.” Which is how he is to this day with all students.

Being a young teacher, he has had the time and energy to do some amazing things in life. I asked him what was one of the most memorable and he replied with, “my girlfriend and I got a cabin in Massachusetts that didn’t have any power or water and we stayed here for about a week.When you really remove yourself from society, like I didn’t watch the news, go on my phone. It was very wholesome, very powerful.” On the other hand, I asked him the one thing he regrets in his life. Let’s say there are two sides to the story, he stated that he regrets going away for college, although it was “counter-intuitive” and  It was a great experience, although it was expensive and those student loans hurt me now.”  

When it is all said and done “kindness”, is what he wants his students, peers, and family members to associate him with.