"The struggle of an educator is global, and as long as there is a conversation taking place amongst teachers, we will be okay."

Hometown

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Department

School of Teacher Education - Elementary

Related Degrees

• BEd, Elementary Education

Current Position
I have been a 1st–3rd grade music teacher, a 3rd grade English teacher, and am currently a K–5 substitute teacher at the International School of Kuala Lumpur.

How did you become interested in the field of education?
I come from three generations of educators. It’s in my blood!

How is the college’s Supporting Our New Graduates (SONG) program helping you along the way?
Despite time zone challenges, I have been able to Skype with Ronnie Tiffany-Kinder, a SONG mentor teacher. We have spent hours discussing all aspects of teacher life – cultural, political, economical, emotional, and instructional. Together, we figured out how I can rise above the circumstances of a first-year teacher. We revisited strategies I learned at the COE and talked about how to apply them in my new school with my Malaysian students. We also discussed how to balance non-teacher life, and I hung up feeling relieved and supported.

SONG is a great initiative and a much needed avenue for teachers to seek help. The struggle of an educator is not just confined to one particular geographical location. The struggle of an educator is global, and as long as there is a conversation taking place amongst teachers, we will be okay.

What are your future plans?
After I gain more experience teaching, I would like to go to graduate school and continue to make a difference in children’s lives.