Mr. Bernardo Pedro, one of our Upper School P.E. teachers, is the guest interviewed for our 1st edition this year. He coaches the girls' Basketball team, which won a bronze medal last year at NR’s Little 8 tournament! This is his 1st year at EARJ Barra, after working in Gavea for 15 years. Mr. Bernardo is Carioca, he has 1 daughter in Pre-school, and 2 step-daughters.
PP: What was your dream as a kid?
BP: My dream was to be a sports player and a singer.
PP: Why did you want to become a PE teacher?
BP: It took me some time to decide. I even thought about being a lawyer when I was preparing for college. It was a last minute decision but I was very close to a coach, who was also very good at physiology. So, I understood that I could impact kids lives through sports in a way I haven’t seen before and then I started studying it and I fell in love.
PP: What is the worst part of being a teacher?
BP: I think you get frustrated as a teacher when you simply cannot help a student. When you feel powerless, I think it's the worst part of being a teacher.
PP: Have you ever thought of becoming a professional athlete?
BP: Yes, I had my shoot like a professional. I had for a little while when I was at Juvenile, I was 19. I was playing for Grajau Country Club, then don’t have a basketball team anymore, but I played for both the juvenile team and the adult's team.
PP: Who is your current favorite professional athlete that is playing right now?
BP: Tom Brady. He is a good player. Yeah, he is a big overall player.
PP: Who is an inspiration to you?
BP: Wow, what a big question! Let me see… You know what, Nelson Mandela. He was an activist and he fought so hard for what he believed in, in a peaceful way. I have many people who inspire me but Nelson Mandela was big blood.
PP: What is your favorite NBA team?
BP: San Antonio Spurs by the way they are playing.
PP: Do you prefer individual sports or team sports?
BP: Team sports definitely.
PP: What is your weakness when playing sports?
BP: My left side. It has always been. I’m terrible kicking with my left foot, terrible playing with my left hand in basketball and everything!
PP: Do you work after school?
BP: Yes, you might not believe it, but I’m also a musician. Some Fridays for example, after school I go home, and then I go play with my band.
PP: Where you a good student? Have you ever failed?
BP: I wasn’t so good up to 6th grade. In 6th grade, my friends made a lot of difference because I moved from Rio to Sao Paulo countryside and the players over there, they were great students and I didn’t want to fall behind, so I became a better student. But I could have been even better.
PP: What message would you like to share your EARJ students?
BP: Never stop believing in yourself whatever happens to you, keep believing in yourself.
Photo Source: Mr.Bernardo, Lucia Ruiz & Gabriela Darrieux
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