Christian May is a part time instructor at De Anza College and San Jose State University that teaches a variety of classes, including swimming, yoga, and indoor cycling.
“I’m starting my 23rd year at De Anza; June 1996 is when I first started working here,” said May.
When he entered college, he said he did not initially plan on being involved with physical education.
“I was actually a business major and then, about sophomore year, I switched over to physical education,” said May. “It was something I liked to do and I was interested in learning about it.”
May is a former student at De Anza, the University of Utah, and San Jose State.
“I got my bachelor of science degree from the University of Utah and then I got my Master’s in Physical Education from San Jose State University,” said May.
He said he is a former javelin player for De Anza, which led to him becoming a teacher.
“I threw the javelin for De Anza. I got to know my coaches then became an assistant coach while working on my master’s degree,” said May.
“I got my master’s degree then came back and I substitute taught for some of my head coaches. That eventually turned into one or two classes a quarter then it built its way up from there.”
He says his favorite thing about De Anza is student diversity.
“You get all different kinds of races, ethnicities, ages,” said May. “Sometimes in my Saturday swim class, I’ll have people that are older than myself.”
I just tell them “they’re training for the senior Olympics now,” May joked.
He said teaching the beginner’s swim classes for the summer session at De Anza are always memorable.
“The student development and student achievement in those classes makes it all kind of worthwhile. Some of them are not really swimmers at all but then in a couple of weeks, they’re swimming across the pool.”
Outside of the classroom, May said he is an avid mountain biker and hiker.
“In the summer, I go four or five times a week at Fremont Older Preserve up in the Saratoga foothills.”
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