Photo credit: Akasha Teel

Creating a fun-filled environment with a laid-back classroom vibe is English teacher Paul Golm’s forte. Upon entering his freshman year of college, Golm spent his spare time practicing the guitar and the ukulele. Today, students in his class enjoy the Golm Zone and the different songs he plays. 

Discovering his passion for the guitar felt natural as Golm’s childhood babysitter introduced him to the guitar at a young age. He recalls feeling more connected to the guitar as his childhood was filled with pleasant memories of it. 

“I’d always wanted to learn how t0 play guitar, since I was a little kid, because I had a babysitter who was always playing guitar so I always thought it was really cool and I actually had a guitar in my bedroom since about 8th grade,” Golm said.

Fate occurred when a previous student of Golm’s left a guitar in his classroom and never returned to retrieve it. After the guitar sat stagnant in his room for a while, he decided to put it to good use and play during school.  

“The guitar that I have in my classroom was left in my class by a student at a different school, different year and I just kind of always left it in my classroom,” Golm said. “I can remember, in my student teaching probably 15 years ago, really feeling like I had to play some songs for my students because it was just something I really enjoyed doing, so I always tried to bring my guitar in.” 

Serving as a source of comfort to help relieve any tensions he might have, playing the guitar reflects Golm’s mood at any moment.

“I love playing guitar so much, I think it’s an extension of my thinking and my feelings,” Golm said. “If I have had a particularly stressful day I may sit down with a guitar and just bash out some songs, and just kind of mess around. If I’m really listening to myself, the way I play guitar will often reflect how I’m feeling.”