Alumni Service Corps member (ASC) Sigmund Gusdorf  ‘15 spent his time teaching at SLUH much like he spent his time on the wrestling team as a student: quietly and diligently working to improve his teaching, coaching, and the SLUH community as a whole. Going into the school year last fall straight out of college, Gusdorf jumped right in to get his bearings as a sophomore English teacher. He found guidance in the other sophomore English teachers, who helped him find his way as a teacher.

    “I’d say the sophomore English group as a whole, especially like in this fourth quarter, has really worked together and collaborated on things,” said Gusdorf.  We’ve let each other know ‘this is what we’re doing,’ and that’s been really helpful for me because I didn’t really know what I was doing coming in.”

    As the year progressed, Gusdorf seemed more like a seasoned veteran than a brand new teacher.

    “Unlike other ASCs, I’d include myself in that even though I wasn’t one, you would have a hard time telling it was his first year because he seemed so on point with everything,'' said English teacher Adam Cruz. “He might have been like a duck with his feet going fast under water, but he kept his cool above the surface.”

    A 2015 SLUH graduate, Gusdorf saw SLUH as a teacher for the first time, while his recent experience as a student brought a new perspective to the English Department.

    “It was great to be on the other side; really cool to come back,” said Gusdorf. “It was really cool to get to know colleagues that I’ve looked up to for so long at SLUH on a deeper level as human beings instead of just teachers.”

    “I think he added  a good perspective from someone who was just in SLUH,” said English teacher Sean O’Brien. “I went to SLUH in 1998; that’s a different era. Someone that’s been there recently can go, ‘When I was a student it felt this way,’ so that perspective was great to have.”

    Besides teaching, Gusdorf also found his way back to the wrestling room and rugby field, this time as a coach for both teams.

    “I think coaching was really fun, said Gusdorf. “I got a lot out of it, I hope they did too, and it was really sad that the rugby season got cut short because we were just getting into the swing of things.”

    Coming out of his year-long stay at SLUH, Gusdorf’s favorite part of his time was forging new relationships with his students and athletes.

    “More than the actual teaching, I feel like the coolest part of it was getting to know the guys more,” said Gusdorf.

    “Mr. Gurdorf brought a very easy going vibe to his class,” said sophomore Matthew Kluba. “He really just said stuff as it was and made you feel comfortable.“

    Gusdorf will attend the University of Iowa for law school next year.