By Nadia Rivas
One of Westmont’s most underrated teachers, George Palau, a Spanish teacher, was chosen to be this issue’s Old School teacher!! I got the pleasure to interview Mr. Palau about how his life looked back in his high school years.
Questions:
Where were you born?
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Where did you go to high school?
Monta Vista High School in Cupertino and then Harvard High in Santa Cruz
What was your school’s mascot?
Monta vista High School – Monty the Matador
Harvard High – The Pirates
When did you graduate?
1985
What was your favorite class in high school and why?
Choir because it was super fun and there was so much variety. Mr. Lidnsey was an amazing teacher, always kind, positive, and made the class super fun.
What was your most challenging class and why?
AP Bio because of the DNA,genetics, and lots of facts to remember.
What extracurricular activities were you involved in?
Cross country, wrestling, Track and Field, and I was the lead role in the musical Fiddler on the Roof
What was your favorite extracurricular activity and why?
Running, because I could leave all the stress behind and think creatively and feel at peace.
Who were your favorite bands/artists/songs while in high school?
The Police
What was your favorite TV show in high school?
Happy Days, that’s the only thing I can remember from back in the day
What was your favorite novel?
Tom Sawyer
What was your favorite movie while in high school?
The Firm
What are your favorite memories of high school?
Having a great time with teammates cross country and track, especially making new friends, and being in so many different activities was super fun, great teachers and the school had a lot of fun activities.
What is your least favorite memory of high school?
Switching to Harvard High school because they had no activities. No clubs or anything.
What time did school start and end?
School started at 7:30 am and ended at 2:30 pm
What was your GPA?
3.7
Did you receive any awards?
NHS, CSF, Most valuable runner, I won regionals in harvard, won championship, and some races.
How did you get to school (if you drove, what kind of car)?
Walked to Monta Vista, and then at Harvard my parents had to drive
Did you ever have to go to the dean’s or principal’s office? Why?
No but in high school I remember one time receiving a letter from the principal that I had a 4.0. It felt nice because it felt like someone cared.
What college did you attend?
I got a scholarship to Multnomah College and then went to Cabrillo College and then went to SJSU.
What did you major in?
Spanish and I minored in Latin American studies. I got my Master’s at Bethany College. I also went to SJSU.