A Legacy of Teaching: How My Grandfather’s Path Has Shaped My Own
Lighter week as I head into another guest lecture on Thursday. I wanted to reflect on why I get excited about the opportunity every time to share some of what I know about sports - whether it be AFLW data or business analytics, experiences from the military, or other potentially useful learnings.
Growing up, I was always in awe of my grandfather. He wasn’t just a man of wisdom; he was a born educator. His love of teaching wasn’t limited to classrooms or formal settings—it was part of his DNA. Whether it was explaining the intricacies of a complex idea at the kitchen table or simply telling stories that wove lessons into everyday life, my grandfather had a way of making learning feel like a gift rather than a task. His passion for education wasn’t something he turned on and off; it was who he was, and that passion shaped much of who I am today.
After he passed away in the summer of 2021, I remember finding a comment on his legacy page from one of his students at Montgomery College, a community college in Maryland:
Mr. Rowe was my professor many years ago at MC. He used to make us read the newspaper before class and discuss the article with our classmates. He used to say that the newspaper would disappear one day. He gave me the greatest advice...”If you start something, finish it. It does not look good if you don't. It does not matter how long it takes you. You can say you finished it".
He had an uncanny ability to make people believe in their potential, to make learning something accessible and fun. What I found remarkable wasn’t just how he taught, but how he listened. He genuinely cared about his students, their questions, their struggles, and their successes. As early as I can remember, he’d have their essays annotated with notes and feedback sitting on the side table, ready to be returned and offer inspiration. To him, teaching was a conversation, not a lecture. It was a way to connect, to inspire, and to help others find their path.
Watching my grandfather, I didn’t realize it at the time, but the seed of my own love for education was planted early. As I grew older and entered my own professional life, that connection to teaching surfaced in new ways. While I didn’t follow a traditional path to the classroom, I found myself drawn to opportunities to mentor, to speak, and to share knowledge. Working with students, whether in formal lectures or informal settings, has become one of the most fulfilling parts of my career.
Guest lecturing has been a particularly rewarding extension of this. Every time I stand in front of a classroom, I’m reminded of my grandfather’s approach to teaching—engaging, listening, and offering something of value to those eager to learn. There’s something special about connecting with students, watching their eyes light up as they grasp a new concept, or hearing their questions that push me to think in new ways. It’s a reminder that teaching isn’t just about sharing what you know; it’s about sparking curiosity, encouraging exploration, and fostering growth.
What I’ve come to realize is that the joy of teaching isn’t just in the transfer of knowledge. It’s in the moments of discovery, both for the students and for myself. Each time I work with a student, whether mentoring one-on-one or presenting to a class, I find myself learning something new, too. It’s a shared journey, much like the ones my grandfather took his students on.
His love of teaching wasn’t about being the expert or holding all the answers—it was about guiding others on their own paths of learning. That’s something I strive to carry forward in my own work with students. I want to honor the legacy he created by inspiring others, just as he inspired me.
In a way, every time I step into a classroom, whether physically or virtually, I feel like I’m continuing a tradition. A tradition that began with my grandfather’s passion for education, one that shaped my own path, and one that I hope will spark a love of learning in those I work with today. In the end, teaching is more than just sharing knowledge. It’s about opening doors, creating connections, and passing down a legacy of curiosity, growth, and the belief that we can always learn something new. For that, I have my grandfather to thank.