Mr. Moll Interview
In this format, we will be going to interview our teachers to get more info about their life outside of school. You never know, they might even be superheroes of the night!
Behind every teacher, there is a unique person with different personalities and past experiences. Through these interviews that we will be holding, we will be going deeper into discovering personal life outside the school and interesting things about our loved teachers.
Who better than one of the most experienced teachers in our school to start this format?
Here it is the Mr. Moll interview!
So first of all, what's your name and your role in the school?
"My name's Michael Moll. I'm the PHE teacher here. And I've been here for a quite long time, this is my 19th year at H-farm."
And how did you end up at H Farm?
"Well, I worked for the International School of Treviso, which six years ago,
H-Farm bought and now I'm here."
Have you always been a PE teacher?
"Yes, as in my teaching career, yes. I've taught PHE for 19 years, and I've,
I was also a geography teacher in middle school for 10 years."
Have you always taught?
No, no, actually I was a professional athlete for a long time.
Oh, and what did you use to play?
I was a baseball player. I'm from the United States and baseball It's pretty popular there. It was, my main sport, I received a university scholarship, to play, and then I was selected by a professional team: "The Minnesota Twins" and I started my career. I played for a few years with them. Then I moved around as a baseball player in some independent leagues.
I played in Mexico, I played in Nicaragua. And then I had a chance to come to play here in Italy, in Serie A. I played in Milan, Roma, and Grosetto.
Later in the years I also started coaching.
One fun fact about you, that might surprise your student?
I have 2 cats Gino and Ralph, and a dog Alba, they are my loves. With my wife <laugh>
Mr Moll, what do you like to do in your free time? Do you have any hobbies?
Yeah of course, I used to play basketball but it's a hard sport since I'm a bit older and I've got various injuries, now I'm just focusing on playing golf. I'm a pretty good golfer. In fact this coming weekend I'll be in a final in Bologna, the race to Marakesh. It's the national final, and if I can win that, I'll get to go to Morocco.
That's great, good luck!
Thank you, Appreciate it.
When have you felt most alive in your life?
Wow. Well, being a sportsman and being a baseball player gives you a lot of satisfaction, I was the pitcher (lanciatore) and in baseball, all the actions start with you. You're the pitcher, you have the ball in your hand, and when you are dominant and can throw really fast and are dominating a game and all eyes are on you, it's pretty nice, I have to say…It's special!
Who is the person that inspires you the most in your life?
I'd say my brother Alan. He's super. He's about 12 years older than me, and he's just a wonderful and generous guy. Very successful. He's always been super successful at everything he's done. I've learned a lot from him.
You told me that you moved to Italy to play baseball, what did you miss the most from your country when you came here?
Well, when I first came to Italy there was no internet. There were no cell phones and no English television or film. So I felt quite isolated.
I remember listening late at night trying to hear anything on the radio, on the transistor radio that maybe was in English, but I couldn't find that much you know, other than reading and being able to see the sports pages and watch sports on television.
But now it's all different, you can contact your family by Text or call home whenever you want.
If you could live in one film for a week, what would it be?
Well, I'm a big cinema fan.
But mostly of old films from the 1940s and gangster films and thrillers from way back then. My favorite is called: The Maltese Falcon with Humphrey Bogart.
Yeah. I don't know if it was actually that good, but for sure I would have fun there. the way that this period was presented in Hollywood always has always fascinated me.
If you could choose one, superpower, what it will be and why?
Wow, If I could find the formula for anti-aging and go back and do it all over again, I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, and I think everybody says: "If I knew then what I know now, probably my life would've been quite different," that's for sure.
I had an opportunity to be a professional baseball player, and I don't think that I gave it my best effort. I had lots of other things on my mind, parties, girls, and having fun,
I wasn't as dedicated to my sport as I should have been.
So I don't think that's a real superpower, sorry.
But going back in time would be helpful.
Well, it's quite interesting what you were saying about your baseball career.
Do you have any regrets about it?
Well, it wasn't really my choice. I mean I've been selected because they saw talent in me and I had abilities, but I don't think I took advantage of it. I wasn't that serious about it.
And yeah, I think I missed the train. I could've done more having played against,
I played through the minor leagues with some guys who became very famous and very rich players, and I was right there with them. Now here I am today teaching PE <laugh>.
It's not that bad. <laughs>
Do you enjoy teaching here?
I do, and I've been here for a long time... I don't wanna make it sound that I'm, yeah. You know, but was passion of my life was sports and baseball. And to finally get that opportunity that very, very, very few do to sign that professional contract and say, okay,
this is your path. And then to not give it everything I had is a bit of a regret, you know?
Yeah.
So, you know every single story about this school, everything?
All the dirt. I know everything…<laughs>
Last one, Tell us your best joke.
Let me think about it… I got it:
Well, I went to my doctor for my annual checkup and I said:" So, doc, what do you think?"
He says:" You're fat."
And I said:" well, geez, doc, I'd like a second opinion"
he said: "All right, you're ugly too."
<Laugh>...
Great we are at the end of this interview. My best regards sir and good luck with the tournament
Thanks, Bye!