Reflecting on my journey through various schools, it’s amusing to look back at my ID cards and see where I’ve been. At Santiago High School, I was a student-teacher, still learning the ropes and more of a friend to my students than their teacher. However, my master teacher gave me invaluable tips that I still use to this day.
During my time at Fairmont Private Schools, I worked summers for their programs and also provided student services during the school year, mainly supporting the activities director. It was a fun and rewarding experience.
At Cram Middle School in the Clark County School District, I was an optimistic but naive first-year teacher who soon learned that “being nice” wasn’t always the best approach. In fact, halfway through the year, my flash drive was stolen, which led to me doing bookwork for the first time ever!
My tenure at Rise Kohyang Middle School was a turning point for me as my classroom management improved under the guidance of my mentor teacher. My teaching persona also became more cynical, which somehow resonated with my students. This was also where I wrote letters to students for the first time and started a Builder’s Club to undertake service projects around Los Angeles.
During the pandemic, I had the opportunity to teach special education for the first time at Hosler Middle School. Although it was virtual, it went pretty well, and I relished the chance to do IEP meetings and teach 8th-grade science and math. However, I found the paperwork and potential legal ramifications of messing up IEPS to be daunting.
All roads led me to Dale Junior High, where I hope to continue to stay for many years to come. It’s funny to think that looking at my ID cards gives me a glimpse into my past and how far I’ve come.
