A former athletic trainer swapped his climate-controlled training room to begin his first year in a sweltering high school classroom.

Science teacher Garvin Tsuji worked as the school’s athletic trainer for the past 17 years. Now, he combines his love for sports with his new career by taking on his first year of students teaching Physics and Sports Medicine.

“I am still able to enjoy the interaction with students and share my passion of sports medicine.”

In addition to Tsuji’s new classroom role, he is a father of young sons. Tsuji said the motivation behind switching careers was “to spend more time with my family.”

Tsuji averaged 50 hours a week or more as an athletic trainer, a schedule incompatible with quality family time.

“My two sons are getting to an age group where they are starting to participate in sports and other activities and I didn’t want to miss any games or practices,” he said. “My wife is also a teacher and having similar breaks is something that we wanted as a family.”

He does admit a marked difference in his new job, which is his exposure to more people.

“Now I know a lot more teachers on campus and I meet more kids,” he said.

With Tsuji’s new work schedule he has more flexibility when it comes to family and even his own hobbies. Outside of work, his hobbies are limited mainly to golf and coaching his sons in sports.

“[I’m] trying to give them as many opportunities as possible,” he said.