CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — From serving in the Navy to conducting experiments in the classroom, one veteran explains what it’s like to continue his service in a different way. 

On a Wednesday afternoon in November, students filed into John Fedorowicz’s classroom at Indian River High School.   

He teaches chemistry now, but he retired as a commander after spending more than two decades in the Navy. 

“My first job was aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt,” Fedorowicz said. “We got ready when it went into Desert Storm. And to me, it was so interesting that when you’re shipboard, there’s just so much going on all the time.”

After wrapping up his service, he explained he didn’t know what was next — at first. Then he found out about the “Troops to Teachers” program and decided to dive in with his chemistry degree and prior teaching knowledge in the military.   

“When I was done, I just kind of went out, put my name in the ring for different cities and said, ‘I want to be a teacher now,'” Fedorowicz said. 

He’s been in Chesapeake for the last 10 years to teach kids his favorite subject.   

“It’s amazing the flood of information and the trust they have in you once they do,” Fedorowicz said, “and it’s those little things, not necessarily having them memorize polyatomics or balance equations, but knowing that here’s somebody that cares about my success, and I don’t think you can replicate that in either profession, but this one.”

He said he wouldn’t change a thing and wants to encourage others they can go down this career path too.   

“Every veteran can do this job,” Fedorowicz said. “I mean, it’s not easy, but the tools the military gives you — discipline, organization, communication, written and verbal — you have all the tools you need right now to be successful.”