While students tend to only see their instructors in an academic light, teachers still indulge in guilty pleasures from time to time. Many of these are childhood delights that they have rediscovered and are embracing in order to add a little bit of sweetness and wonder to their lives.
“I don’t think that people should feel guilty or embarrassed by their guilty pleasures, especially because the fact that we think of them as guilty pleasures is because they give us this special joy when we get to experience them,” APES teacher Annie Nguyen shared.
Nguyen enjoys chips, ’90s anime like “Sailor Moon” and a nice bowl of cereal at 3 a.m.
“I love anime and late night cereal because it’s comforting and reminds me of simpler times during my childhood,” Nguyen expressed. “I love salty and crunchy snacks so I love chips. If I’m having a hard day, chips are a good treat.”
Nguyen remembers appreciating anime’s unique aesthetic before it was cool.
“When I was a kid growing up, like, in the early ’90s, anime wasn’t that big in the area where I was living yet, so I was probably one of the only kids who was into anime at the time,” she added.
Nguyen later mentioned how people didn’t really understand anime back then as they viewed it as childish. However, as an adult, she continues to rewatch beloved anime classics and enjoys new anime-inspired releases like “K-Pop Demon Hunters.” She frequently blasts out the acclaimed “Golden” song from the movie soundtrack whenever she gets the chance.
DVHS art teacher Kelsey Wengel identified her guilty pleasures as “ice cream, whole milk lattes, naps with a really cuddly blanket with my favorite show on in the background, self-care and a warm oatmeal cookie.” Wengel described that a warm cookie and taking a nap reminds her of being comforted and taken care of by her mom as a little girl.
“I love embracing a ‘treat yourself’ pleasure every once in a while!” Wengel summarized, stressing the importance of carving out a moment every day to do something you enjoy.
Brad Zenoni, a history teacher and the women’s water polo coach, has a big sweet tooth and enjoys Crumbl Cookies, Sour Patch Kids and most of all Reese’s – which is easily seen by the comedically large Reese’s mug that sits on his desk. He also indulges in comfort-watching his favorite TV shows and movies, along with Disneyland which always bring him a rush of nostalgia.
He expresses how a love of Disneyland and sugar was deeply rooted in his childhood, sharing “My father loved Disneyland too, and we would always have ice cream for dinner.”
Zenoni still enjoys going to Disneyland, and makes a trip every year with his wife. As a self-described “Disney adult,” he proudly stands in line to take a picture with his favorite costumed characters whenever he visits the park.
“Everybody else is standing there with their little kid and stuff, and here come a couple of 36-year-olds together to take a picture with a cartoon character,” Zenoni recalled. “Sounds a little embarrassing, but I’ve gotten over it.”
Nguyen refuses to shame anyone for their guilty pleasures no matter how quirky or strange they may seem to others.
“It’s just joy, right? We shouldn’t be limiting our joy, especially when there’s so much in the world that can make you unhappy and upset,” she concluded. Let’s try not to rain on anyone’s parade, yuck anybody’s yums or take away from what joy we are able to get out of our lives in big ways and in small ways.”
