Imad Abselem
Former engineer and video game enthusiast, Imad Abselem is currently an Algebra II teacher at the high school. Prior to Brookline, he has taught in the Boston Public Schools, New Mission High School and TechBoston Academy. When he’s not grading tests, he loves riding his motorcycle and playing Ghost of Tsushima on his PS4.
Why did you want to get into teaching?
When I left college, I didn’t go into teaching right way when I did my undergrad. My bachelor’s degree is in physics, and before receiving my bachelor’s, I had always wanted to be a teacher. But as you know, tuition is so expensive, and teachers don’t make that much, so when I was nearing graduation, I had a choice to make. Should I become the teacher that I want to become, or should I go into industry and work in science where I can pay off my loans way quicker? I went into engineering, and I was an engineer for eight years. I can say I liked the engineering aspect of it, but I didn’t like the corporate side of it. Competition between co-workers and even group members was a really toxic environment. After several years, I was starting to think about teaching and pursuing that passion that I had kind of ignored. So I quit my engineering job, and I actually started working at Runkle. In that meantime, I got my masters in education and then started working at the Boston Public Schools.
How have you adapted to the online format?
One thing I’ve noticed is that everything takes a lot longer. Typically in the past, I create an assignment, print it out, give it to the kids. But now, after doing all that preparation, I have to virtualize it and turn it into something that students can see and consume on their virtual devices. So time commitments have been huge.
What hobbies do you have?
I’m a gamer, so I play on the console and PC. Right now, I’m playing Ghost of Tsushima, which is a PS4 exclusive. Before that, for several months, I was into Modern Warfare. I also play soccer. My dad used to play all his life, so he got me into it as a youth. I played on the high school soccer team and the college soccer team. Then, after graduating, I just play pick-up with friends. And I also enjoy riding motorcycles.
Do you have any road rage stories?
Not really, but I do have road rage stories against me. People don’t like bikers, so I’ve had lots of people flick me off. People love to cut you off because you’re small, and they almost treat you like a bicycle sometimes. You just have to be cautious, 24/7. You can’t look down, and you can’t daydream. It’s tough, but it’s fun.