BY ETHAN GARCIA, JRN 111 STUDENT
Many people work their entire lives to find their passion. From a young age, students are encouraged to figure out what they want to do for the rest of their lives, despite the weight and uncertainty of such a decision. Sometimes, people find their passion through pure luck.
That’s what happened to Matthew King, professor of philosophy, world religions and critical thinking at Moraine Valley Community College. King, who also teaches at other colleges, did not always envision himself in academics.
Raised in a devoutly religious family, his path initially seemed destined to be similar to his that of his brother, a pastor in Florida. However, his relationship with religion was more logistical than spiritual. While he regularly attended church with his family, he recalls feeling disconnected from its teachings.
“It was always the work that kept me going,” King said. “Not necessarily the events or the church itself, but setting things up and getting things ready.”
A pivotal moment came when he found a class that unlocked an entire branch of knowledge and curiosity for him. This class turned out to be the start of something that would define his life.
He had enrolled in a special education program only to be told it wasn’t intellectually challenging enough for him.
“My teacher told me I needed intellectual stimulation. He said, ‘You see this philosophy class down here? They’re talking about Immanuel Kant, very hard and difficult stuff. I think you’ll find it stimulating.’”
Although he lacked the prerequisites for the course, King found a way to attend the lectures informally for a semester. Sneaking into those classes helped him find his true passion. “After attending, I knew I belonged,” he said.
From that point on, King pursued philosophy seriously, eventually choosing to teach at the community college level. “You can only do so much with a philosophy degree,” he said. “So it was either do a lot of research and teach a little or vice versa. I discovered I liked teaching more, and I was very gifted at it.”
For King, teaching is not just a career but a calling. He views it as a moral responsibility and something he feels fortunate to do and obligated to share.
He thinks he’s lucked out in life by finding a good job and doing what he loves everyday: “People think sometimes they don’t luck out, and it’s true some people don’t, but because I am lucky it’s my obligation to help them out.”
His teaching style reflects this philosophy. King is known for combining depth with humor in his classes, creating an engaging and non-intimidating learning environment.
“I use humor to bring myself down to my students’ level,” he said. “I don’t want them to be afraid to ask questions or talk to me. I want them to know I’m just a human, too.”
He shows students that whatever he’s teaching has a deeper meaning, and he makes them wonder, “Why is he so passionate about what he’s teaching?” He explains, “I’m passionate not only because I find it fun, but because I find that there’s something worthwhile for them in it.”
Former student Jeries Araj speaks highly of King’s teaching style and character. “He was one of the nicest and funniest teachers I’ve ever had,” Araj said. “He explained everything thoroughly and clearly cared deeply about his students.”
King’s ultimate goal as an educator is to help students cultivate critical thinking skills, something he believes is deeply needed in the world today.
“Philosophy teaches, at its most fundamental level, how to think well,” he said. “And if there’s anything the world needs more of, it’s good critical thinking.”
For Professor Matthew King, the classroom is more than a workplace. It is a space for connection, transformation and discovery. Through humor, honesty and deep intellectual engagement, he continues to help students not only learn about the world but see it in a new light.
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