LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Anthony Christian was nominated by a student.

"My junior year was my first year experiencing the tech-ed options that Arrowhead Union High School had to offer. Metals-1 was my first class, and Mr. Christian was the teacher. On the first day of class, one could tell he was different from your normal general elective teachers. The way he shared how we could learn in his class would be different from others. Yes, there would be a few quizzes and tests, but Mr. Christian would grade us on our ability to learn, produce, and grow in the shop. I was interested in this class because of the ability to learn a new skill I could hone for the rest of my life and with the hope that it would become something larger than a class I took junior year," said the student.

"Mr. Christian always finds time to help one if you have a question or ask for extra seat time to practice what we had done during the day. He always gives you a pass for study hall to let you work in the shop instead of extending your time in the metals shop. Mr. C is always willing to help and give another demonstration if you ask because he wants to see you succeed and learn to enjoy and love his craft as much as he does. Mr. Christian has helped me in so many ways and has inspired me to go into the trades and become a welder when I go to college and get out," said the student.

"Mr. Christian is someone I look to be when I am older. He is compassionate, humorous, and hard-working, which shows when he teaches. Mr. Christian will call you out and keep you on track and always reminds you to submit your classwork before the deadline. He is forgiving and will make something work to accommodate you if you are absent and gone so you can catch up and not feel so behind or overwhelmed with work," said the student.

"Without Mr. Christian, I would never have found my new-found passion in welding, and I would still be searching for a career path, unsure of what I would want to do after school. I want to thank him for all of the work and time he has put into me to make me a better person and welder and for all the learning experiences he has given me throughout his Metals-1 class," said the student.