BREWED WINTER ISSUE (February 2017) | Page 48

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Why did he become a teacher ? When Mata was around 16 he actually already started teaching a circus course . Later he ’ s taught teenagers how to build websites in the time that was still an unique skill . These were mostly teenagers who had some kind of run-in with the police and Mata helped them to build something up . So the NHTV was not his first ever teaching gig . What he loves most about teaching is being able to get people excited about their ideas , and helping them grow . He loves learning and being able to see the ideas from students that make him go : “ that ’ s brilliant !” And explaining to the student why that ’ s brilliant , too . has a PhD in cyberpunk . When he was 13 / 14 he adopted a line of reasoning that was much like “ what would be skills that adult me would like to have ”, and that ’ s what got him this impressive CV .
What ’ s one thing he wants you to take away from your classes at the NHTV ? “ For many of you , if you ’ re not doing a PhD or a master this is the last time in your life there is someone with you in the room whose sole purpose is to make you better . So please , please make use of that . If you have a question , ask it . Engage with the knowledge and the wisdom that surrounds you now , but also respect the teacher when they say they ’ ve given you the answer and now it ’ s up to you to understand it .
Does he really juggle ? So before I even got to my last question , he already answered it a bit by telling me he taught a circus course . So yes , he really does juggle . He has also done fire eating ( just once !) and walking over broken glass as a circus trick . If you dig into his CV a little further there ’ s a lot more to discover . He himself called it “ ridiculous ” but I would personally go with impressive . If you ’ d describe him he ’ s an in 23 countries broadcasted oil-painting martial arts & circus practitioner who made a game that influenced the British water policy and
As you can read there ’ s more to the teacher than just , well , teaching . The NHTV hires people with a great amount of experience and a wide range of hobbies , something us students might not always realize , but really should , as we can benefit greatly from all the knowledge we ’ re surrounded with .