Colin Devine, Staff Writer


I eagerly stepped onto the scale at the beginning of Christmas Break, hoping that I had finally defeated my fast metabolism. Surely if anything would enable me to gain weight, it would be the infamous “Freshman Fifteen.” Alas, metabolism – one, weight gain – zero. I quickly realized, however, there could be more reason for this than my metabolism–perhaps my physical education classes were doing more than I ever thought.

I was shocked and a little frustrated when I heard that Notre Dame required all freshmen to take six units of Physical Education (PE). After all, as a college student, isn’t it my prerogative to determine how (if) I stay in shape? I soon understood that Notre Dame maintains this policy because they truly care about educating, in the fullest sense of the word, every student that dwells beneath the golden dome.

This feeling was completely corroborated after interviewing two of Notre Dame’s PE teachers, Michele Gelfman and Diane Scherzer. They both vehemently insisted that they see their work as a vocation. Hearing their stories was quite inspiring as I came to appreciate just how many people at Notre Dame care about me as a person, not merely as a number. I asked Diane and Michelle how they ended up at Notre Dame, and was struck by the similarities in their stories.

Diane knew, at a young age, that she wanted to be a teacher. During her freshmen year of high school, she had to write a paper about what she wanted to be when she grew up. She wrote the paper about becoming a teacher. That dream was realized, and Diane is now in her twenty-second year of college teaching. However, she might have never ended up at Notre Dame were it not for a phone call she received from an old friend.

Michele has been involved with college education for thirty-six years, many of which were spent at Notre Dame. She has served as the head tennis coach at Notre Dame, Western Illinois University, Beloit College and Valparaiso University, and was also the director of tennis for the international Special Olympics. Given that track record, it wasn’t surprising to hear that she is a USPTA certified tennis pro.

Around forty years ago, Diane and Michele met through a mutual friend and immediately connected over their love of coaching. Around twenty years ago, the Notre Dame physical education department began looking for a versatile person to fill a vacancy. Michele knew exactly who to call. Diane moved from North Carolina and has been enjoying the South Bend winters for twenty years now.

It is clear both Diane and Michele believe in the importance of physical education, but I wonder where their passion originated. It is definitely important that students stay healthy and take care of themselves, but there are other reasons that physical education is so crucial. Diane observed that PE teaches students that “it’s okay to fail. You can learn from [failures] and from successes.”

Broadly speaking, Notre Dame students have been incredibly successful before arriving on campus.  There is something humbling and helpful about participating in a new activity. Anyone who was in my ice-skating (or as I call it, coordinated-falling) class knows I am speaking from experience. Michele also observed that she sees real improvement on the students’ part by the end of her PE sections. Michele specifically mentioned she had novice students in her beginning fencing classes who went on to make the Notre Dame team. Having a whole host of eclectic experiences is an integral part of a well-rounded freshmen year, and both Diane and Michele realize this.

Since both Diane and Michele have been here longer than any students, I was curious what they thought about the typical Notre Dame student. Diane reflected that they are “really incredible kids. It’s amazing how much they’ve accomplished.” She also observed that during her time here, she has seen the students become “more accepting of others’ differences.”

One of the most extraordinary things about Notre Dame is how much everyone loves it here. Diane reflected how great it is to “go to work and enjoy your colleagues.” Michele shared with me that students still contact her ten and even twenty years after they graduate. She went on to say that the “students make my day.” She corrected herself and said, “No, they make my week.” Finally she realized, “They make my life. It’s because of them I do what I do.”

What a statement. It is people like Diane and Michele that truly embody the words of our alma mater, “And our hearts forever, love thee Notre Dame.”

Oh, and avoiding the freshman fifteen is nice too.

If anyone wants to help Colin put on some of the freshman 15, they can feel free to buy him a Reckers milkshake anytime. Contact him at cdevine1@nd.edu.