Hello, I'm Kim. For the past 16 years, I've had the privilege of teaching eighth-grade English Language Arts in an urban school district. My journey into education has been a remarkable adventure, marked by unexpected twists and turns.

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Looking back to my own eighth-grade days, I recall struggling to find my place in school and not finding the experience particularly enjoyable. I experienced a range of emotions—loneliness, confusion, pressure, and ambivalence. With my mom busy caring for my younger siblings and my dad working tirelessly to support our family, I felt frustrated and confined by their rules and expectations. Consequently, at the age of 18, I took a brave step towards independence, quickly learning the ropes of self-sufficiency. After overcoming various challenges, I secured a position at an insurance company, working full time while pursuing evening Business Administration college courses three nights a week.

 

After five years of dedicating myself to working at the insurance company and helping people through accidents, injury, and loss, I realized my heart yearned for something even more fulfilling. A profound calling to become a teacher emerged, fueled by my past struggles serving as inspiration. I felt a strong desire to guide students facing challenges similar to those I once confronted.

 

Leaving my insurance career and business degree behind, I immersed myself full-time in education courses and took up part-time bartending. The journey involved taking on student loans and accumulating debt, but I pressed on, driven by the vision of becoming an educator.

 

Beyond my daily classroom experiences, I find immense joy in creating fun and engaging lessons for my eighth-grade students. Witnessing their enjoyment and collaborative learning is truly rewarding. I am particularly gratified by the success of these lessons with the diverse range of learners in my class. Through sharing these ideas, lessons, and reflections, my hope is that they kindle a spark of passion for teaching in others, illuminating their classrooms as well.

 

I am confident that my decision to become a teacher is a form of giving back and paying it forward—an opportunity to create positive ripples in the lives of young minds for years to come. I am humbled by the privilege of serving my karma through the noble profession of teaching.