We often think of teachers as people who have always been in education, but in reality, many educators have led very different lives prior to stepping into the classroom. Some have worked in fields that seem far removed from teaching, but their experiences shape how they tackle their present careers. One such teacher at Tahoma High School is Mr. Roth, World History teacher and Freshman Head Coach of the Bears Baseball team. His background in the military has given him a unique perspective that influences all facets of his life, his approach to teaching being no exception.

Mr. Roth served in the U.S. Army as a 19K from 1989 to 1991, as a recent high school graduate. He worked as an M1 Armor Crewman, specializing in maintaining and operating M1 Abram tanks. He initially performed the loader role, later advancing to the tank driver position. During his service, he participated in Operation Desert Storm, citing the extremely long days of labor, lack of sleep, and constant stress of warfare to be among the most challenging aspects of this experience. This operation was the combat phase of the Gulf War (1990-91), during which the U.S. and its allies launched an attack to drive Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.

The demanding realities of combat have shaped him immensely, helping him face challenges with the mindset that nearly anything afterwards “really isn’t as hard as training or going to war”. His love for coaching as well as history drove him to pursue his current line of work as a teacher and coach. He incorporates many military values in these positions, namely discipline, preparedness, and maintaining structure. He holds his students to similar standards, expecting them to work hard and avoid “slacking off, because the military doesn’t allow that.” Mr. Roth’s past experiences have allowed him to “see things for what they are”. Recognizing that few challenges will ever amount to the ones he overcame during his service has “set [him] up to always be able to face adversity”. He knows how to handle difficult situations and “just get the job done” without “stressing or freaking out”. Looking for some final advice? Mr. Roth’s friend once said it best: “you just gotta keep getting out of bed and trying the best you can.”