
The third floor of the main building belongs to the famous science department, home to many of the classrooms inhabited by our beloved teachers. Among these halls lies three close friends— Dr. Kobaissi, Mr. De Leon, and Ms. Malec. This trio has turned their love of teaching, as well as a little bit of chaos, into a lifelong bond.
Of course, this trio didn’t become inseparable overnight. Long before Ms. Malec began teaching at ERHS, Dr. Kobaissi and Mr. De Leon first became friends due to sharing a classroom, forming a close friendship over shared experiences and jokes. Their bond, already strong, had further solidified when an unforgettable circumstance brought them closer together. In 2008, when Dr. Kobaissi faced a medical emergency, Mr. DeLeon thankfully came in and saved the day, administering first aid and CPR. Dr. Kobaissi was incredibly thankful for Mr. DeLeon’s help, and although his “terrible CPR skills” would certainly never win him any awards, his genuine care for Dr. Kobaissi won him a friend for life.
“Sometimes adversity makes you get closer.” - Dr. Kobaissi
Ms. Malec, having been a former student during the time when Mr. De Leon was also a teacher at ERHS, had only joined the trio later on when she also became a teacher herself. Her kindness, humor, and knack for putting up with Dr. Kobaissi and Mr. De Leon’s antics made her the important missing puzzle piece that made the friends the trio that they are today.
Speaking about their bond, they describe themselves as their own little “family”, staying together despite adversities not only at work, but also in their own lives as well. In this family dynamic, Ms. Malec is the “little sister”, whilst Dr. Kobaissi and Mr. De Leon are her “big brothers”. As Mr. De Leon wisely put it, this trio isn’t solely about teaching— it’s about finding your people, your work family, the people who will always have your back.

“It feels like family, for sure.” - Ms. Malec
Whilst there may be endless teasing embedded into their dynamic, all three of them have an admiration for each other that runs as deep as their shared bond. Mr. DeLeon fondly calls Ms. Malec and Dr. Kobaissi “true teachers”, not only because they can teach well, although that is a factor— it’s that they truly enjoy their job and care deeply about the students that they teach. Mr. De Leon is also described by the two as being an incredible teacher, impacting the lives of many of his current and former students. The three of them have become “role models” for one another, relying on each other for many things.
“We’ll get on each other, but, if it ever gets serious, we are a family.” - Mr. De Leon
Their friendship extends beyond the classroom, as they often meet up over breaks to relax and have fun with each other. A memory that they fondly recall is when the three of them decided to go out for dinner, deciding on Hikari sushi, an AYCE (All-You-Can-Eat) restaurant to eat at. They began to order, and, let's just say, when sushi is involved, Mr. Kobaissi will order more than enough for the group. Unable to finish what Dr. Kobaissi had ordered, they began “pawning” on each other to eat, hiding sushi rolls in soy sauce in order to prevent paying extra for the leftover food.
“It’s really bad, but it’s a scary memory that I love. Traumatic, but also very memorable.” - Ms. Malec
The three of them also have many inside jokes, ranging from tame jokes such as Ms. Malec “visiting” Dr. Kobaissi to put random things inside of his desk, to Mr. De Leon gifting Dr. Kobaissi a mug from Temu that suspiciously resembled a wired bomb. Thankfully, the mug remains a harmless (and cherished) keepsake, despite its suspicious appearance. Let us just hope that it doesn’t end up being real, because that would result in an explosion of problems!

As for their plans for the future, the three wish to continue building new memories with each other. Together, they’ve created a bond that’s built on respect, constant support, and plenty of laughter to go around. Through every joke, challenge, and memorable moment that they share with each other, they’ve proven that sometimes, the most important thing to find in life is the people who will always be by your side— no matter the circumstance.
“I feel blessed that I have a chance to come to work and have a family.” - Dr. Kobaissi
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