For a man who loves the order and structure of institutions, Shaun “Fush” Fuchs is hard to pigeonhole. A school rugby star, a soldier, a provincial powerlifter, a renowned water-polo coach, a lifelong entrepreneur, a dynamic teacher, a beloved headmaster… and a gay man who came of age when society was a lot more close-minded than it is today.

In Fush, Shaun tells the story of a life dedicated to changing the lives of others. From his school days at Jeppe High School to his time as an army infantry officer and his memorable teaching career, Shaun has always had an irrepressible instinct to succeed and to lead no matter what happens, no matter the challenges. And as a result of the hurdles he has had to leap along the way, whether life-affecting homophobia or other adversities, Shaun has sought to leave the institutions he has been a part of as better, more diverse, more inclusive environments, where children feel safe and everyone has space to be themselves.

This is a memoir that will make you laugh, cry and reconsider what it truly means to educate and lead by example.