Daniel Wolfskehl and Adelene Armenta

00:05 Daniel cell wolfskehl age 41 today's date is February 20th, 2012, Albuquerque, New Mexico and my relationship to Dina is that I was our 9th grade Humanities teacher and architecture and also a friend of the family.

00:26 My name is adelene armenta. I'm 15 years old. Today's date is February 20th when Albuquerque New Mexico and my relationship to wolfskill is the my was my 9th grade Humanities teacher.

00:46 When did you decide to become a teacher?

00:51 Kind of decided a long time ago, but then it took me about 20 years to become a teacher was enrolled in School Visual Arts in New York City and and I was studying sculpture and Fine Arts and I was tired of the kind of Studio life and I wanted to get out into the community and learn more about people and

01:15 Until I have this wonderful education Professor who was Art education and she she had a mural that project that we were doing and that was my first taste of teaching and then after school Visual Arts, I then decided to become an architect and I went to school Pratt four years did a little teaching here and there like Panem programs. And then after that I worked in in architecture for about five years in New York City or longer 7 years and got tired of that and then move to China for three years. And then I really knew that I didn't want to do that anymore. And I moved Albuquerque with my family and decided that architecture was

02:05 Wonderful wonderful thing but that it would be great to teach kids like you about.

02:12 Remember your first day of school what it was like

02:15 As a teacher or teacher wasn't really in the school. Like I said, it was at the

02:23 It was actually a mural project and we were working with kids in the neighborhood with rose viggiano education professor.

02:32 And she had this crazy idea to do a mural on the side of a m. It was a place for like families that had drug problems and stuff. So we did a project with the kids of the of the residence and we did a huge mural called do the dance of life on the side of this brick wall.

02:51 And so we just somehow she convinced somebody to put up scaffolding and just let all these kids young everybody all of us were quite young with you know, just like a little safety helmet and climbing up and down this this the side of the building and we came up with this mirror and we were painting the mural and during the first week of it. There was actually yeah you would you weren't even born but there was a pretty bad riot in this area Crown Heights Brooklyn between the Hasidic community in the Caribbean community. So we were actually within that first week if it was like all this incredible drama of people throwing rocks at each other and Molotov cocktails and and we have to get all the kids from school as yards back to the to the city because Brooklyn is that part of Brooklyn is quite far from from where we were at and weave

03:51 People to let their kids come and work on the mural and meanwhile, there's you know this Urban Riot going on. And so that was pretty much my first week of teaching having to deal with that but it all turned out, okay.

04:07 So yeah, I just felt very

04:12 You know, I really felt like I was within our community and

04:18 In a witnessing what's going on? Not just being a bystander but being a part of it by producing this this painting on the side of somebody else's building and their neighborhood. So it was quite interesting employment for me. So

04:34 And then you went from being an architect in China to being a 9th grade to my teacher how that you kept that transition kind of happened that with the what's going on with architecture in general in the world. And in China where there is a lot of new money people were just trying to they were trying to catch up to the west and having to deal with these kind to

05:06 Other they had some really exciting project. Some of them we're just felt like we were doing stuff and then you know, which people would have done in the 1970s or 80s. It just didn't seem like really Progressive enough for me and the state of the world and everything kind of made me feel like I should switch gears and not be a part of that or maybe I didn't have the strength to to do inner change their minds the clients mine.

05:34 So yes it when we left Shanghai after 3 years and my daughter was born we moved to.

05:43 To Albuquerque, she was about 6 months old and started working with the fabrication lab, which you did the internship for a couple months, right and that was quite exciting using new digital equipment to create products and furniture and stuff.

06:03 That was really exciting and it what I found in Albuquerque yet was a kind of

06:10 There wasn't a lot of access to this kind of thinking right. So when I found out that Tony monfiletto was opening the a school. I saw a billboard for it and I called up and let me interview like three times cuz I didn't have a lot of experience with high school kids and they're worried if I could relate to the email local population or I don't know why but they they took their time and hiring me and and then they did and

06:41 Decided it was a better fit for me then then trying to do Southwestern architecture, which wasn't really my style.

06:52 And then I asked how is your like classroom experience?

06:59 With like people like you or just in general. Yeah, I forgot what it was like to be a ninth grade teenager and

07:09 And it brought me back to certain memories I had and you know of myself and not being a stellar student and but being able to really young.

07:21 Sympathize but empathize with the kids you were struggling, you know, which I definitely did at that age.

07:31 So and then there were other students that you know, that made my life a little bit easier like you or Hannah or you know a few other kids you were but typical ninth-graders fight. So experience has been very very young.

07:54 Emotional and

07:56 Fandom

07:59 A reassuring that I'm doing the right thing. Always. I hope I'm doing something right talking back and I'll kind of thing. So it was in your opinion so far like the funniest thing that's happened in class.

08:20 If you're referring to the one student who got into the habit of putting me in headlocks everyday, yeah. Yeah. Sometimes I act a little bit 9th grader to bottom I would say this kind of like slapstick Charlie Chaplin moment, sir.

08:44 But I think I must funny.

08:48 And then like what did you how would you teach during class? Would you tell stories? I mean texting you but

08:58 Yeah, I usually try and relate it to the people are now or I'm talking to or in a way to my own life and what I've seen.

09:12 And then trying to eject what I've seen to them in a way that makes it their own two.

09:18 Is that I pretty much was educated in the good high school and everything, but most that I've learned was really through my father telling me stories.

09:30 And then what was like one of your most proud moments as a teacher at?

09:35 Ace or any other school

09:40 Proud moments. I think that same student who used to get me in headlocks. I think he's actually secretly like an pretty brilliant abstract expressionist and I'm seeing him give his exhibition which was something out of like like the 60's pop architecture. That's like so you know out of this world that nobody can make sense of it. But then when we invited all these UNM remember we had you know, this UNM architecture grad students come in Ben Ortega a few other people Jacob door.

10:22 And then being so amazed by this kids like drawings. Remember those there was like way more than what this particular student.

10:40 Alejandro lobato knew he didn't know what he was doing. But what he was doing was quite brilliant, right and everybody got you so high like the room get really excited by it and the the other teachers, but the people were visiting from the architecture.

10:57 So that's kind of my goal is to take those things that you guys, you know have it neatly in you right expose you to the few new things and then you find your own way. And then that's where you like you dig in the scratch and and inside of yourself and and you related to the rest of the world. And so that that was kind of my

11:20 Moment last year and then how would your students describe you teaching Style?

11:26 I don't.

11:29 I don't know, but I think I'm

11:32 Predictable really, you know I kind of

11:37 I take some Chances with what I say, right? Yeah, really realistic about what's out there and what you knew.

11:50 How you can relate to without there in the world?

11:54 I trying not.

11:56 Sugarcoat anything right? Yeah. And then with that how do you help your students realize their potential like without hondro?

12:09 Just keep nagging them and pushing them to to keep looking inside themselves and pull out the things that they naturally feel a beautiful and not only are their talents and then how did further develop those towns?

12:30 And then it was like the best teacher you have and what did you learn from? Am I her

12:39 I don't remember too many of my teacher is actually a member Mr. Missile neck who I think I just had a crush on.

12:46 Because she looks very Middle Eastern.

12:49 But

12:52 I would say Rose viggiano, but that's a my college-level and she taught me so much in terms.

13:02 Just being a person and sinner accepting certain things. She's actually there.

13:13 She just told me, you know how to be there for people in the teaching or a pedagogical way.

13:24 And then what's the most important lesson you feel you should pass on to your students or anyone you've met.

13:33 It would come more from the words of my father. I think but I'm I can't really say cuz it's a curse but don't like

13:44 Don't kid yourself in terms of what you can do and what you can accomplish and

13:55 Be you know.

13:57 You know share that that beauty inside of you with your family and your friends and

14:04 Don't underestimate that how how much of a positive effect you can have another people just by being the best you can.

14:12 I think that's that's pretty much it. I mean other than that architecture is great.

14:19 Can learn a lot from the built environment around you like success in a person or in the project.

14:31 In a person if you're capable of

14:37 You know smiling and you no matter what the situation is.

14:43 And sharing your love with other people. That's how I personally define success on a human scale.

14:56 You know in a career way, I think pushing yourself to learn new things all the time and never stop learning and

15:07 Don't be afraid of not being afraid of failing. That's a huge thing in developing your career as an architect or a filmmaker or whatever you make of your life in terms of how you earn you money and what you study but yeah just not being afraid to fail and just keep cuz if you keep going then you eventually went. All right. Do something that succeeds?

15:36 And then how would you like what's been the most challenging thing till I keep you from not failing or have motivation?

15:47 All right. Now we having a family I don't I have to be motivated bathing when I was younger. I was very afraid of a failing so it took me that's why I was until I was much older that I went back to I was 25 when I went to architecture school, but the four years of Fine Art School, really?

16:08 You know, I got beat up enough and also had enough successes that I am I built my confidence, but I didn't have a huge amount of confidence in high school have to go at all. Actually. I was quite afraid to speak up a nap at all teachers weren't always so kind with their words, so

16:30 And then based on your experience in school or like you are afraid to speak out and then you know in your classroom where you have Twinkie and all the other students saying random stories us like the difference in like what did why is it different to teach at Ace?

16:48 But I just I find majority of people they're just fascinating. You know, I don't I don't come from here ready to come from New York and New Jersey and other places. So the stories are really interesting to me and the trick now is like how do you incorporate the stories into the future successes of all those people?

17:11 And I'm

17:15 Yeah, it's it's an incredible experience for me. You know, it's

17:20 Really humbling and

17:25 And I kind of feel like

17:28 You know, I found my place in the Stars, you know what I mean? Like I have a a reason to do this.

17:42 Send that questions for you.

17:47 Where did they go?

17:59 So

18:01 Being you're such a great student anyway.

18:05 What do you think makes a great teacher and tell me a story that shows why you think that I think what makes a great teacher is not like what they teach you but how they teach you like a knife in your class. You know, I can talk with you I can tell you what's wrong and everything or like when I was in math like a couple years ago. I was in the class. I didn't think I really should have been in that guy and rested my myself and then I thought it was going to be too hard for me. And then the teacher what he did was like he believes in me more than I did so that can really help me. Mow the baby.

18:45 So he believed in you.

18:49 And what was how did that make you?

18:52 Me was that like a huge shift in your Consciousness or was it like?

18:57 Geico yeah, of course, I can do this in a me realize like if I really try hard I can do it.

19:04 So it's about effort what was inside of you already?

19:13 Do you want to mention that teacher's name? The teacher was my seventh grade math teacher mrs. Sosa and he taught me Algebra 1.

19:24 So they pushed you today. They did you feel like an a kind of push from them that was natural or was it kind of like?

19:35 Just like hinting at the fact that you could do. It was more like handing out the fact like in class like if he could sell like the students in the classroom getting Kiko off on like a random story of him in college where it was coming late in class and you would drive his motorcycle in and like how we was just like a big ole Miss fit and how he would miss behave so, you know, the class will get a good laugh and be like, okay, let's go back to learning about qualities and all this.

20:05 And an awesome meet you feel like if you don't understand something it was okay.

20:11 That so is okay, right?

20:14 So what would you want to?

20:17 Tell your

20:19 Past teachers and future teachers about yourself that they don't know probably. I'm actually lazier than I appear cuz you know in class I'll do my work and everything but you know how my mom would like to hook it up and do the dishes or stuff like that. So one thing I also do is I procrastinated so I'll probably do things to the last minute and I'm like, yeah, I did it this morning on the bus.

20:47 So being that your your uniform our conversations and

20:54 You know what we've worked on like in the last year-and-a-half, you know, whether it was, you know, trying to foresee the future for you in terms of college or

21:07 You know just further education grad school stuff like that like

21:12 What?

21:15 What would you need to keep you motivated in order to say you want to go to architecture school? How are you want to go then go for an engineering degree and master's degree. Like what would be the things you need in your life? That would make you confident enough to go out and and do all of this but I think would help me with the confidence so I can make me believe I could do all this is probably motivation like for me to find a reason why I want to do this also would be like resources because being in Mexico, you don't have like a lot of resources that kids in New York or Washington Ave.

21:55 So or like our school since we are a new school, we don't have like the math levels and everything that I need. So probably challenging stuff that's going to help me believe I'm challenging myself and stepping up. So with that with it being that you're currently a student at Ace leadership High School like

22:16 What do you think the school is kind of exposed you to you know, whether it was like the short internship that you and Hannah did at the Fab Lab with Kenji more team the different the variety of professionals. They came in from all of them the construction engineering architecture schools.

22:40 What do you think that?

22:43 You've Loreena like you learn from by seeing all these people and being able to have easy access to talkin to use people and

22:53 You know, and I guess to using project-based learning, you know, actually applying it.

23:01 Well, one of these things is Goa has exposed me to is like opening my mind's a little bit cuz you know before I thought engineering was just sitting at a desk and figuring out problems, but after actually going through at the school, I'm like we have to do the material. That's how we put it together and all this other stuff then also it's helped like clear the stereotypes of by construction. That is not you just spilled something you get blueprints. There's also different levels like project management and everything then also it has helped me meet like a lot of people like I've been Tria guy, which is probably someone I wouldn't have met if I went to a normal AC wish it had if I had a contest leadership, you know, I sit and talk with her and then I have Margot and she's like my friend.

23:47 And then it just help me be able to do presentations better. Like before I would do a presentation. I would be nervous I'd stumble.

23:56 And you know coming to age we do presentations all the time. So it's helped me really build my Converse compliments and presentation skills.

24:11 Sarah

24:16 So with that like that, you know like after a few years or like 10 years from now when you're on with your life and you're succeeding and doing all these great things. How would you want us all to Remember You

24:31 I think I want to be remembered as someone who tried their hardest.

24:36 I did put my best foot forward and I really tried for the things I wanted and I change them.

24:52 So

25:01 Do you know where you want to after a taste, you know or where you would you want to do in college after Ace? I think I want to go to college. I've already have a couple colleges. I want to apply to I want to go to MIT which is a big school Stanford and other big school and then California University. I want to be an engineer but you know, I'm a kid, so I also believe I'm going to be an Olympic swimmer and all these things. So I would like to think I have me to Dara Torres my Olympic hero do those things.

25:38 And then what were you when you first had Daniels a teacher? What were your first impressions? What did you think about them? And how did they change when I first thought I thought you was just really goofy funny teacher cuz you know first day of school. I'm sitting in class. Yes Italian and then, you know all of a sudden he starts tucking in and do it shirt. So, you know, I'm wondering what's he thinking tie in your shirt. So it doesn't rub on the drawing and get all dirt. And I know mr. He has his accent. Sometimes that comes out during class then you're like

26:20 It just is from New York or Brooklyn. So after why everyone's back trying to figure out where will scales from and then you have been joking around in class. So it's really funny to see like what's go go for like these different personalities in class.

26:36 Open up them schizophrenic or something. Now, it's funny. So why do you think I'll so like we correct or like you Hannah me? You know, I like

26:48 I mean other than the internship thing which I get to spend more time with you guys on Saturdays where you saw the different digital fabrication was was used. Other than that, I mean, what do you think? I mean, why would you invite me to the dances on Christmas first thing you like laugh with and you could really kind of like because he's just funny.

27:18 Another reason I think is crazy. Now, we're both open to different things. Like I'm pretty open. I think so like learning about different things and we'll still he's like when you give him something movies like get really excited. So it's kind of funny at the same time as I'm not you know,

27:45 You don't like your mother is interested in Judaism. Right? And she wants to know about laco's or whatever and ask him about everybody that he speak Arabic be enough and I'm like, I don't know Mom, say no first day of class. I'm like just like how so

28:24 Yeah, and I'm just you know.

28:27 The welcome Nest that you know, your your mother and your family like when we moved into the new house you guys all insisted on coming over and helping us paint, which where I come from. Even your best friends don't need no help you paint their move this a higher a you know a mover. It's not my problem. Where is you guys were insulted that I didn't ask you to come paint that still cracked me up at cycle weird culture difference, you know family movies you like. Okay, we're going to go paint now kind of like a fun thing now cuz you have like five different people in one room painting.

29:05 And now it's my turn to go see the dance is right at the Isleta Pueblo.

29:19 Okay famous I get to eat. That'll be good.

29:30 Because you're not teacher-student anymore. So how would you describe it a relationship now is kind of like more friends close family friends cuz you know, like what scale says me and my family will go over and help in this house or we'll just like during passing. Me and Wasco will talk to each other in Japanese culture, which I can't really answer. It is like now when I go and from American

30:12 So that was pretty funny. It's more like friends we joke around with each other in class will talk about stuff or if I have a problem. I'll come talk to ask you is just to kind of look out for

30:28 What you guys you know, all of you guys can do it, you know because sometimes it's just a matter of knowing without their in life and I've always been fortunate with a lot of friends all over the place. So I get a lot of information, you know about how things can work out which I think definitely keeps me as a positive person, you know, which is what you need to be doing to is always like

31:00 You know as much information that comes through in a being able to like

31:06 Real you got gum filter out the stuff. You don't need and the stuff that can take you someplace. Right? Like how does that how do you have you continue to evolve? Right? You're like at the most exciting time in someone's life. You know, the whole world is open to you and being likes a smart, you know positive person as you are that just means that you're going to need to take off right and you have a you know, a wonderful mother and family to like support you and and just want they just want to see you do better. You know, I thought you doing better to get what you want out of life because

31:47 Certain cultures you only live once right?

31:58 Like I know you'll come to me like in the middle on morning be like hey you guys want to do this with me Saturday hippie convention kind of project and they were telling us like lyrics community and everything. I'm ever going to that on Saturday cuz me and Hannah took a bunch of chocolate. That was at the 516 Arts.

32:27 They were never really happy is any more than that kind of like distinguish.

32:33 Older women who give than interesting rice and K and everything and then they're all talk about. Yeah. I remember that one time during the community is going too late.

33:01 I know with my third favorite teachers, there are also challenges or hard times where I was like how you make me so angry or make me so upset. Is there a time where?

33:12 You were challenged.

33:15 Not really a wolf skills class because you know what's going if he likes these are kind of getting frustrated with a project. He'll just like joke around with you or he'll just like you need help.

33:26 And then he'll just like talking and he'll start bringing up all kinds of ideas and like okay with scale. I got it at

33:34 But what about your frustration sometimes with other students right people who don't take learning is in?

33:41 Is it important to you? Well, that just frustrates me one like in the building class. I have to wait for them to be quiet for the lessons start, but that's like depending on the teachers like you know what the students can figure out which teachers they can mess with and what teachers they can't.

33:59 Teachers like they'll have to do push-ups for like in science. If you're late for every minute you're late. You do like 10 push-ups, you know one time there was like a person 10 minutes late. So 10 minutes.

34:12 I know your man that class knows you don't mess with. Mr. Travis. You can joke around with him, but you can't mess with him and then you know, it just depends. Usually on the teachers.

34:23 But with the frustration I usually just sit there and wait till everything happens.

34:31 There's about 5 minutes left. I guess unless I happen then you guys can what do you hope for each other in the future or like where do you see that person in 10 20 30 years?

34:48 I'm not sure where will scale will be in 10 20 30 years, but you know, I hope we still teaching at Ace cuz I can tell other students like going to his class there be like most girls, but that's mostly cuz have like a big project there an expedition, but I can tell all the kids like going to his class.

35:09 I hope for you that.

35:13 You get the travel about right and you make use of like when you go.

35:19 To school try and get into his many programs where you can study other places. I think you would be so amazing for you to go to Asia or Europe or any place, you know of the China Japan Europe Italy get out of New Mexico. It's small town here. There's not really much to do here.

35:47 They all said Teenager that sways.

35:58 Oh, yeah, I mean, I guess that would be 10 years down the road right is that you be

36:04 You actually be doing your graduate degree working by then.

36:12 You're just going to go by fast.

36:21 Brazil when Jose asked me before about like teachers right? Well that was like a real teacher was Rose vigiana, but then here for sure. I mean Tori shawger cheese, you know taught me so much, you know about how to be a teacher have to really mention her because I like Tori she was our mama and she was our advisor for a while parental off a Martinez. He's one of my friend cuz me and him will like do fish like little boxing Jabs playing around with each other.

37:05 So it's my way Tory. She's my mama and I know mr. Martinez is kind of like a weird brother.

37:15 And then you know, it's just a tease everyone feels like you found me everybody agrees. I mr. Sanchez is like the baby though.

37:23 Kind of funny though. He's like almost 6 ft tall and everybody thinks he's like a little kid.

37:33 Well, yeah, there are fields for me. This school is totally you know.

37:39 I feel like I've been brought into the fold and with really amazing colleagues that really really care about what's how people are being educated and willing to do whatever it takes to get people to believe in themselves.

37:59 So I feel like I have found my place here.

38:02 I'd like to have you take a break and go to somewhere like $70 or something for a couple years, but otherwise, I think we'll stay here.

38:13 Not sure if I'll stay might travel a bit enough for math gold medal.

38:31 So anyway

38:35 Yeah, it's now it's people like you that really make it feel.

38:41 Totally worthwhile, you know to give up architecture as a profession and and try and you know, and bestow it to you guys, you know and still a sense of wonder and and compassion for the environment that you live in and have your intellect will make it a better place.

39:05 Yeah, that really has helped because before it was just like going to go to school now. It's like okay going to go to school. I want to go to this class, but I'm going to go.

39:17 Can't talk about pitching in me.

39:26 Can't see screen.

39:36 Wrap it up. What are you do you have anything else to say or you?