Business teacher Daniel Ruiz

Q: What do you enjoy doing most every school year?

A: The beginning of the year is the most fun. I’m learning to have better games to play with the students. We had a slight delay in getting our textbooks from CTE, which actually helped a lot because it gave us extra time to get to know the students and play more games. So this year was more fun in that way.

Q: What type of icebreaker games did you play?

A: If you’ve known me from when I taught Principles of Business a couple of years ago, you’d remember a game called the Negotiation Game. The students seem to love that one the most. They have a hidden goal that they’re not supposed to reveal to the other team until the end. When they finally reveal their goals, the reactions are wild. Some students take it very seriously, while others just enjoy the experience.

Q: What do you think was your biggest motivation during your transition from law to teaching?

A: I’m still a lawyer, mainly doing court appointments, but various factors led me to teaching. I realized that teaching is my calling, though it hasn’t always been. This realization came from my experiences, like when I was in the military. Looking back, the most fun I had was teaching teenagers—kids around 17 or 18 years old. Whether I was teaching them military or non-military stuff, just about life, it felt very satisfying. The energy that young people bring carries over to me and gives me a lot of purpose. There were also personal factors, like when our home flooded, COVID, and office shutdowns, that expedited my journey into teaching. But ultimately, I chose teaching because I knew it was the most fun I ever had. And I’m all about having fun.

Q: You have four children and how COVID happened. How do you think taking that step into becoming a teacher, alongside COVID and having four children, affected you?

A: My children are great; they’re very self-sufficient. Sometimes, they’re so self-sufficient that I forget to do some of the little things with them. A day or two might pass, and I realize I should have done more with my kids. I always feel guilty when I’m working too much, so I try to work hard during the day so that when I’m home, they can have my full attention. They’re independent because I’ve helped them become that way, but I also try to treasure every moment I can by spending as much time with them as possible.

Q: From the journey you’ve experienced—from the military, to law, to teaching—what do you think is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?

A: It’s hard to pinpoint a single lesson because I’m always focused on what I can offer others, whether my students or my family. But if I had to choose, I think the lesson I repeat the most to everyone, and even to myself, is to find something that makes you happy. I see a lot of students doing things because their parents told them to, or because they feel like everyone else is doing it. But the biggest lesson I’ve learned is the importance of finding what truly makes you happy.

Q: What lesson do you want every Clements student to know?

A: I say many things that you’ve probably heard if you’ve had me for a couple of years. I always say, “Work hard, play hard.” I also tell students to follow the money if they can’t figure out the reason for something. But beyond that, when people ask seniors what they’re going to do after graduation, the common answer is to get rich and make money. While it’s important to be comfortable and successful, you should also pick something that makes you happy. That’s the advice I still give: pick something that makes you happy. Not just because your friend is doing it, or because your parents expect it, but because it genuinely makes you happy. Of course, you also need to consider where that career is going in the future, and yes, money is important, but your happiness should come first.