John Petrinovich

Biography

I developed a passion for history and philosophy when my sixth grade class did an extensive unit on Greek history. After the unit was completed, I voraciously read all the books on Greek history and the ancient Greek philosophers I could find. The ancient philosophers inspired me to learn about the modern philosophers.

When it came time to go to college, it was a given that my major would be philosophy. After having lived my entire life in the Bay Area, I ventured off to Reed College in Portland, Oregon to obtain my degree and expand my horizons. During the summer between my junior and senior years, I had the unique opportunity to participate in an archaeological dig on the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea. There, my love for history became a tangible reality as I dug through layers of time to unearth artifacts from the Hellenistic period, 323-30 BCE. The most memorable relic I found was a completely intact plate.

For the past four years I have taught at Mission Dolores Academy, a Catholic grammar school in San Francisco. The most gratifying aspect of teaching is helping a student who is struggling either in a particular subject or school in general. Working one-on-one with students gives me the opportunity to find the right connection with that particular child and discover what method of teaching works best for them.

When not teaching or tutoring, I love spending time running and hiking with my two active dogs, gardening, and making crafts. After taking four years of Latin in high school, I am now studying Greek.