Reece Jackson played basketball all four years at Schenectady High School, and then went pro in Europe. Now, he’s back teaching in the school he graduated from in 2010.

I interviewed Mr. Jackson when he returned to substitute teach in the Journalism class he took as a student.

He stated how his goal was to play basketball professionally in the NBA but he settled to play professionally in Europe. Which goes to show how hard it is to play professionally in America, plus how limited the opportunities are. Before that, he traveled around the east coast for 2 years playing basketball. Not to mention he lived in Florida, Scotland, and London.

After graduating Schenectady High, he went to college at LeMoyne, a private school in Syracuse. He later transferred to SCCC which got him a scholarship to play in Florida at Ave Maria College. Then he went to UAlbany to finish his undergraduate degree.    

He earned his masters degree in Sport Policy at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He stated that Scotland had an appearance like Harry Potter’s Hogwarts school, with pretty, old architecture.  Its was hilarious when he announced that he couldn’t survive in Scotland without that special American hot sauce. Then went to declare how he got hot sauce ordered and shipped for $30 in Scotland.  

When he attended Schenectady High School more than a decade ago, there was no E wing. He decided to take the journalism class because he thought about going into journalism. Later on, it was his minor for undergrad college.  

Down below are his answers to my interview questions : 

Q: Anything you regret doing in High School ?

A: None, I don’t have regrets. If I could go back though I would try playing tennis and do choir at Schenectady High School. 

Q: Was there ever a chance when you almost got kicked off the basketball team during your time at Schenectady High?

A: No. I made sure that even if I was doing something I shouldn’t be doing I wouldn’t get caught. I wouldn’t jeopardize my spot on the basketball team. 

Q: What’s your favorite subject beside English?

A: Gym, Science (Forensic)

Q: What’s one thing you’re looking forward to at SHS?

A: Helping people as a teacher. Figuring out things they want to do. Helping somebody who didn’t want to be helped and seeing them grow from it.

Q: So far since you´ve been here do you think anything should change?

A: Well when I was a student I only had 65 minutes for classes. How do you guys deal with being in a math class for about an hour?  . . . .  

Mr. Jackson is striving to be an English teacher at his own previous high school to give back in some way. Although he does plan on leaving Schenectady. As you can see he enjoys traveling and seeing the world.

Mr. Jackson’s Motivational Quotes :

 “We´re walking a path not everyone can so go easy on yourselves at the end of the day nobody got us like we do.” 

¨Dream big and go get it.¨

¨Start a list from bottom to top.¨

¨Try not to look forward too much.¨

¨Anything you want to do in life, go after that. Even if you don’t like certain subjects it could take you far.¨

¨ You can do it, you got it in you.¨

-30-