With degrees in telecom, psychology, and film, Matthew Waters planned for a career in TV and hoped to one day be a program director. He worked in Bloomington at a couple different TV stations, but when the opportunity to teach at his alma mater presented itself, Waters jumped on it.
His younger brother was attending Chesterton High School at the time and the principal remembered Waters as a former student who was involved in the school’s radio station, WDSO “The Rock.” He was offered a teaching position, completed the transition to teaching program, and has been teaching at Chesterton since 2005.
With a passion for helping people and a dream to find a way to do that in his profession, Waters decided teaching was the perfect opportunity for him.
“I’ve always had a passion for helping people, so whatever career I would have, it had to be something that was strategic and where I could also help people,” Waters said. “Teaching is 100% strategic. That was my connection with television – the strategic planning – and it fulfills that requirement for helping people. I was excited to try something that I hadn’t previously done.”
His classes are film theory, radio/TV 1, radio 2, and TV 2. He also runs the Radio Club which produces the FM radio station 88.3, reaching from La Porte County to Lake County.
“Radio is my favorite, but there’s a reason why. With limited funds and unlimited imagination, you can do whatever you want with radio. With television and film, you are limited to what you can produce by the technology. The technology is very leveled out for radio; anyone can do anything,” said Waters.
Waters especially likes interacting with students and seeing them grow and improve their skills.
“To highlight one particular student, when he came to me he basically couldn’t read, but he was interested in the radio. Everyday he’d show up and read the news on air,” said Waters. “It didn’t sound the best to begin with; however, by the time he was a senior, his reading level went from like a third-grade level to a ninth-grade level, which was really good. There are other stories like that, too that really remind me that what I’m doing is special.”
Education changed a lot for all schools during that pandemic, but having to become an online teacher was unquestionably natural for Waters. He feels he had a very engaging, interactive style of teaching. His experience in TV and his knowledge of technology really helped him through virtual learning.
Waters teaches high school kids, but people of all ages can learn from him. At his core, he is a true believer that if you want to see change, you need to actively push for it. His passion to be a positive and active member of his community led him to do some canvassing for the Duneland School Referendum.
“If I’m upset about schools not getting enough funding, I’ll do some work for it,” said Waters.
Inspiration to continue being active in the community also came from having the experience of working closely with another teacher who was very politically active.
“We didn’t agree politically, but we agreed that you have to work toward change,” said Waters.
Waters also had two outstanding professors who were inspirational to him. Garrard McClendon and Nicky Ali Jackson take action and are each very active voices in their communities, fighting for what they believe in.
Waters noted a daily reminder that he keeps at home, a special quote from John F. Kennedy.“One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” Waters shows he is firmly rooted in that belief. Having inspirational figures in his own life, he proves anyone can take inspiration, do something positive with it, and become an inspiration themselves.