- 8
- Episodes
- 2023
- First episode
About From Last to First
What is the measure of a man? What is a life well lived? I have often thought about those questions and with John Aceti’s help, I had the opportunity to explore them through John’s amazing life. Spry and vibrant at 93, I met john after he had published his 7th book at 92. As I got to know him and his life’s story, I wanted him to share his amazing and inspiring journey beginning in Niagara Falls in the 1930s to his current life in the Hill Country of Texas. Overcoming a humiliating incident at age 8, John was the first in his family to go to college, served in the Air Force, became a teacher, the principal and retired from his first career. In his second career, he and his wife traveled internationally and ended up in Kerrville Texas where John began yet another career as an author. Join me on this most fascinated journey From Last to First with John Aceti.
- Publisher
- Thomas Fox
- Category
- business · education · society & culture
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 21 Apr 2023
- Latest episode
- 23 May 2023
Latest episodes
8 episodes in the feed.
23 May 2023
The John Aceti Story - Episode 8: International Global Exchanges
What is the measure of a man? What is a life well lived? I have often thought about those questions, and with John Aceti’s help, I had the opportunity to explore them through John’s amazing life. Spry and vibrant at 93, I met john after he had published his 7th book at 92. As I got to know him and his life story, I wanted him to share his amazing and inspiring journey from Niagara Falls in the 1930s to his current life in the Hill Country of Texas. Overcoming a humiliating incident at age 8, John was the first in his family to go to college, served in the Air Force, became a teacher and the principal, and retired from his first career. In his second career, he and his wife traveled internationally and ended up in Kerrville, Texas, where John began another career as an author. Join me on this fascinating journey From Last to First with John Aceti. Get ready to be inspired by the incredible journey of John Aceti on ‘From Last to First.’ Hosted by the enthusiastic and insightful Tom Fox, this podcast episode explores Aceti’s early struggles with learning disabilities and how he overcame them to become a top-achieving student. In one section, Aceti discusses his experience participating in an early-start exchange program in Sweden, where he had the opportunity to learn and share his experiences with Swedish students and teachers. Accompanied by his teacher and funded by the Rotary Club and PTA, Aceti and his team had an eye-opening experience, staying with Swedish families and attending classes. The section ends with Aceti and Fox emphasizing the importance of international experiences for students. Tune in to this exciting episode to hear invaluable insights from John Aceti and Tom Fox! Key Highlights: · Travel Travel Travel · Trip to Sweden · Trips to Argentina · The Importance of Global Exchange Programs Notable Quotes: “But it was a spectacular experience, primarily because people opened up and were willing to share, talk, and accommodate us. And I thought that was just awesome, by the way.” “And we can talk about this with our Swedish friends that we brought a Swedish person with us who has relatives here. Talk about connections. My god. It’s just wow.” “But that was my thinking, international, international, international. And why shouldn’t we do that?” Resources John Aceti's author’s page on Amazon
23 May 2023
The John Aceti Story – Episode 5: Transforming Education
What is the measure of a man? What is a life well lived? I have often thought about those questions, and with John Aceti’s help, I had the opportunity to explore them through John’s amazing life. Spry and vibrant at 93, I met John after he had published his 7th book in 92. As I got to know him and his life story, I wanted him to share his amazing and inspiring journey beginning in Niagara Falls in the 1930s to his current life in the Hill Country of Texas. Overcoming a humiliating incident at age 8, John was the first in his family to go to college, served in the Air Force, became a teacher and the principal, and retired from his first career. In his second career, he and his wife traveled internationally and ended up in Kerrville, Texas, where John began another career as an author. Join me on this fascinating journey From Last to First with John Aceti. Join host Tom Fox in this exciting podcast episode as he chats with guest John Aceti, a former principal with a wealth of educational experience. John talks about the challenges he faced as a principal in Oley, New York, and how he managed to improve the education system in the school despite the need for more structure and continuity. He also discusses his experience evaluating teachers and walking the halls of schools, sharing his belief that most teachers do a great job, but some shouldn’t be teaching. John also highlights the importance of good teaching and classroom management and his involvement in an international program to Argentina organized through the Rotary Club. Don’t miss this episode, where John shares his insights on the joys and struggles of being an educator. Tune in to From Last to First-The John Aceti Story, hosted by Tom Fox! Key Highlights: John’s Experience as a Principal at North Hill School Revamping Education in Outdated School Districts Challenges with Open School Concept Unprofessional Conduct and Evaluation of a Handicapped Child Reflections on Teaching and international program Notable Quotes: “They were about 20 or 30 years behind. Very lackadaisical about education. There was no continuity, no structure.” I had to come up with programs that would entice them. I came up with a few programs that included local and international programs that I brought into that school to excite the teachers.” “She taught several things, language, compared to Japanese and English. She taught art. She taught music. She taught dressage, dressing, different kinds of clothes, and she would go to different classrooms.” “Our job is to educate kids, not torture them.” Resources John Aceti's author’s page on Amazon
23 May 2023
The John Aceti Story - Episode 7: Retirement, Rotary and Service
What is the measure of a man? What is a life well lived? I have often thought about those questions, and with John Aceti’s help, I had the opportunity to explore them through John’s amazing life. Spry and vibrant at 93, I met John after he had published his 7th book in 92. As I got to know him and his life story, I wanted him to share his amazing and inspiring journey from Niagara Falls in the 1930s to his current life in the Hill Country of Texas. Overcoming a humiliating incident at age 8, John was the first in his family to go to college, served in the Air Force, became a teacher and the principal, and retired from his first career. In his second career, he and his wife traveled internationally and ended up in Kerrville, Texas, where John began another career as an author. Join me on this fascinating journey From Last to First with John Aceti. Join host Tom Fox in an inspiring episode of From Last to First-The John Aceti story as he interviews John Aceti about his journey from being a teacher in New York to becoming a Rotary International member and his involvement in various projects worldwide. Aceti shares his love for Rotary and how it changed his perspective on working with others. He even traveled to Antarctica and Argentina to donate funds for Rotary projects, highlighting the importance of giving back. Aceti also reveals the personal impact Rotary had on his life, like opening up opportunities for growth and providing psychological benefits. You won't want to miss this heart-warming episode that shows the joy of serving others through Rotary. You will want to experience this heart-warming episode that shows the joy of serving others through Rotary. Key Highlights: John’s Retirement & Rotary Inspiration Rotary’s Impact on Volunteer Work Abroad Fundraising for School Greenhouse in Argentina The Importance of Humor in Rotary Meetings Rotary mini-grant program and Taipei teacher visit Rotary’s Impact on International Projects Notable Quotes: “Rotary International was an extremely important aspect of this move for me.” “I became more internationally oriented primarily. And that was an experience of a lifetime which changed my whole life perspective of working with people.” “It’s doing something. And I presented a Paul Harris, the highest award you can receive in Rotary.” “But it has given me what I would say, not only insight but also a purpose. I felt critical in life, how important it was for me to give back.” Resources John Aceti author’s page on Amazon
23 May 2023
The John Aceti Story – Episode 6: A School – Business Partnership
What is the measure of a man? What is a life well lived? I have often thought about those questions, and with John Aceti’s help, I had the opportunity to explore them through John’s amazing life. Spry and vibrant at 93, I met John after he had published his 7th book in 92. As I got to know him and his life story, I wanted him to share his amazing and inspiring journey from Niagara Falls in the 1930s to his current life in the Hill Country of Texas. Overcoming a humiliating incident at age 8, John was the first in his family to go to college, served in the Air Force, became a teacher and principal, and retired from his first career. In his second career, he and his wife traveled internationally and ended up in Kerrville, Texas, where John began another career as an author. Join me on this fascinating journey From Last to First with John Aceti. Do you want to learn about the power of public-private partnerships in education? Tune in to the podcast From Last to First-The John Aceti Story! Host Tom Fox sits down with John Aceti to discuss his experience initiating partnerships between school districts, businesses, and industries. From grabbing the attention of corporate folks during lunch to implementing unique programs for students, John shares his expertise in building successful collaborations. Discover how a 3-hour workshop can align the needs of the school and corporation to benefit both parties. Join Tom and John on their journey to inspire creative thinking and education reform. Don’t miss this exciting and informative podcast episode! Key Highlights: · Creating School-Business Partnership Program · Successful implementation of a school tutoring program and student shadowing · Expanding Job Shadowing Program in Schools · Implementing a Science Program in Schools with Industrial Site Visits · Dealing with unexpected scenarios during meetings · Lessons from a Successful Program Notable Quotes: “And what a lesson it was for me to sit down with 3 corporate people and 1 educator at lunchtime.” “I said, how the heck do I get their attention? Is that right now I’m not getting any attention?” “I said minimum 10000 dollars, and they all went what? Are you kidding me? I said yes but got your attention, didn’t I?” “What are your needs, folks? I came up with a partnership agreement.” Resources John Aceti's author’s page on Amazon
26 Apr 2023
The John Aceti Story-Episode 4, from a Master’s Degree to Teacher
What is the measure of a man? What is a life well lived? I have often thought about those questions and with John Aceti’s help, I had the opportunity to explore them through John’s amazing life. Spry and vibrant at 93, I met john after he had published his 7th book at 92. As I got to know him and his life’s story, I wanted him to share his amazing and inspiring journey beginning in Niagara Falls in the 1930s to his current life in the Hill Country of Texas. Overcoming a humiliating incident at age 8, John was the first in his family to go to college, served in the Air Force, became a teacher, the principal and retired from his first career. In his second career, he and his wife traveled internationally and ended up in Kerrville Texas where John began yet another career as an author. Join me on this most fascinated journey From Last to First with John Aceti. In this episode of From Last to First hosted by Tom Fox, John Aceti talks about his transformative college experience. During his time in college, John realized his strong desire to get a degree and start his career, leading him to become a good listener and an excellent student. After graduation, John became a teacher and overcame his negative experience from elementary school. He then developed a program about Italian history with his class, giving him the confidence to continue creating opportunities for fun and creative learning. John's teaching philosophy focused on small groups of students working on projects around a subject, such as studying a country. His dedication to teaching over a span of 10 years ultimately led him to apply to teach at a laboratory school at a state university. Tune in to this episode filled with personal stories, reflections, and inspiring words from John Aceti to learn more about his journey from veteran to teacher. Don't miss out on this captivating and thought-provoking episode of "From Last to First"! Key Highlights · Military Veteran's Experience Returning to College · Leadership in College Club · From Ulcer to Teacher: A Personal Transformation · Teachers' Role in Students' Personal Needs · Effective Program for Teaching Italian History · Teaching Evolution: A 10-Year Journey Notable Quotes “I don't want kids to hate you as teachers. Teachers are professional people and they should be intelligent enough to know how to handle students not only academically but health-wise, personally. That's so important to me.” “I hope that you never deny a child to go to the bathroom because I can guarantee you they will hate you the rest of their lives.” “Adversity brings out the challenge in you to get something done.” “We're going to make a plan that if you have to go to the bathroom, you don't have to ask me permission. You can just go. I trust you.” Resources John Aceti author’s page on Amazon
26 Apr 2023
The John Aceti Story-Episode 3, the Air Force and College
What is the measure of a man? What is a life well lived? I have often thought about those questions and with John Aceti’s help, I had the opportunity to explore them through John’s amazing life. Spry and vibrant at 93, I met john after he had published his 7th book at 92. As I got to know him and his life’s story, I wanted him to share his amazing and inspiring journey beginning in Niagara Falls in the 1930s to his current life in the Hill Country of Texas. Overcoming a humiliating incident at age 8, John was the first in his family to go to college, served in the Air Force, became a teacher, the principal and retired from his first career. In his second career, he and his wife traveled internationally and ended up in Kerrville Texas where John began yet another career as an author. Join me on this most fascinated journey From Last to First with John Aceti. Join host Tom Fox and guest John Aceti on their journey from last to first in this inspiring podcast. In this episode, John recounts his experiences working at the International Paper Company after high school and struggling academically during his first year of college. He shares his journey of switching from pursuing music to education and enlisting in the Air Force during the Korean War. Listen as John recounts his adventures flying over the Alps in Germany and learning valuable life lessons. Discover how he obtained his bachelor’s degree in education, master’s degree in counseling, and his inspiring journey that led him to his position as principal. Don't miss out on the next episode, where John and Tom will continue their fascinating conversation. Tune in now and be inspired! Key Highlights · From Paper Testing to Music: A Reality Check · The Draft Number System · Air Force Basic Training and Placement · Military service and personal growth · First to Graduate · From Education to Counseling Notable Quotes “But I remember thinking to myself, is this what I want to do the rest of my life? It's just testing paper. And he says, I don't think so.” “It was probably the most challenging and exciting thing I ever did in my life.” “I got my master's degree in counseling, guidance and counseling. And that was the best thing I could have ever done.” Resources John Aceti author’s page on Amazon
26 Apr 2023
The John Aceti Story – Episode 2, Into Jr. High and High School
What is the measure of a man? What is a life well lived? I have often thought about those questions, and with John Aceti’s help, I had the opportunity to explore them through John’s amazing life. Spry and vibrant at 93, I met John after he had published his 7th book in 92. As I got to know him and his life story, I wanted him to share his amazing and inspiring journey beginning in Niagara Falls in the 1930s to his current life in the Hill Country of Texas. Overcoming a humiliating incident at age 8, John was the first in his family to go to college, served in the Air Force, became a teacher and the principal, and retired from his first career. In his second career, he and his wife traveled internationally and ended up in Kerrville, Texas, where John began another career as an author. Join me on this fascinating journey From Last to First with John Aceti. From Last to First is an inspiring podcast that shares how difficult events in childhood can shape one’s professional career. Host Tom Fox visits with guest John Aceti, who talks about growing up in Niagara Falls, New York. In this episode, John shares his middle school experience, where an embarrassing third-grade incident led to years of harassment. Despite struggling academically and repeating the eighth grade, John found hope in the departure of the students who knew about the incident, allowing him to focus on his studies and eventually turn his grades around. John takes us on a journey into his high school experience, where basketball and music were his passions. He opens up about his struggles with a lack of confidence in basketball and how being recognized as a star in his music group helped him realize his potential. John feels grateful for his supportive parents and the mindset he developed in college, which helped him succeed academically. With a hopeful ending, Tom thanks John for sharing his story and promises to continue the conversation in the next episode. Take advantage of this inspiration-filled episode! Key Highlights: · Overcoming Bullying in Junior High · High school experience with basketball and music · Father’s advice on education and visualization impact · Music performance and audience engagement Notable Quote: “I found myself spending more time listening to my teachers, studying, writing, and making sure that all my work was done to the best of my ability, even though in the back of my mind, I remember.” Resources John Aceti's author’s page on Amazon
21 Apr 2023
The John Aceti Story-Episode 1, An Early Childhood Trauma
What is the measure of a man? What is a life well lived? I have often thought about those questions, and with John Aceti’s help, I had the opportunity to explore them through John’s amazing life. Spry and vibrant at 93, I met John after he had published his 7th book in 92. As I got to know him and his life story, I wanted him to share his amazing and inspiring journey beginning in Niagara Falls in the 1930s to his current life in the Hill Country of Texas. Overcoming a humiliating incident at age 8, John was the first in his family to go to college, served in the Air Force, became a teacher and the principal, and retired from his first career. In his second career, he and his wife traveled internationally and ended up in Kerrville, Texas, where John began another career as an author. Join me on this fascinating journey From Last to First with John Aceti. From Last to First is an inspiring podcast that shares how difficult events in childhood can shape one's professional career. Host Tom Fox visits with guest John Aceti, who talks about growing up in Niagara Falls, New York, working as a shoe shiner for tourists, and his family values of education. In a heartfelt conversation, John opens up about a third-grade traumatic experience that impacted him for years. He also shares how he overcame it and became a teacher, using his experiences to help his students. Listeners will be captivated by the engaging dialogue and inspirational story that reminds us of the importance of perseverance and resilience. Join Tom and John for their next conversation in this must-listen podcast. Key Highlights: · Childhood and hometown: Niagara Falls · Overcoming Childhood Humiliation · Supplanting hardships and becoming a better teacher Notable Quotes: “Niagara Falls has had quite an interesting history and we've had nearly millions of people that would come to visit throughout the year.” “Now I think the best time to see the falls is in the wintertime because that's when you have a lot of snow on the ground a lot of mist in that water that's up in the sky and there's a lot of ice on the branches of the tree and as you walk by you hear the noise of them of the limbs, tree limbs breaking.” “Education was important because my father used to always encourage me, John, to go to school, go to school, get an education. Otherwise, you will end up like me.” “But I did a lot of thinking during that process and I began to analyze. I became a professional analyzer I begin to analyze what's going on here?” Resources John Aceti's author’s page on Amazon
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