I’m currently a math teacher at Germantown Friends School teaching seventh and eighth grade math. Besides that, I coach soccer there, I lead the chess club and help co-lead two groups: an Asian American student affinity group and a children-of-immigrant-parents group. My parents are both immigrants from China, and I was born and raised in the United States.

Students count themselves out too soon, they’ll say they’re “not a math person,” but I try to help them grow their mindset, to show them what is achievable.

In my job, I get to collaborate with a lot of the other middle school teachers, which is awesome. I’ll also often work with students one on one or in small groups, to help them solidify their mathematical knowledge but also get them to be better problem solvers and even have better perception of their own vulnerabilities. Students count themselves out too soon, they’ll say they’re “not a math person,” but I try to help them grow their mindset, to show them what is achievable.

The affinity groups already existed before I got here but when I started, I stepped into the role. The groups are a space for people who share a common identity to come together. Sometimes I try to make it more academic in focus, for example researching inspirational AAPI-identifying members, printing slides, and hanging them in the halls. Other times, we’ll just share stories, share snacks, play games. It varies between a place to be with people who share a common identity and a place to tap into the identity a little deeper, to discover and learn and explore a part of ourselves.

I applied to Penn undecided, not knowing what I wanted to do. Through the Netter Center and some of my courses, I got to volunteer and work in the Philly public schools. That really kickstarted my desire to work in public education—though I actually thought I would work in the corporate world and then come back to teach. My senior year, I applied to one teaching program just to learn more about it. I ended up accepting it because I felt the work was important. It turned out to be a career and the field that I’m most passionate about.

I would encourage Penn students not to be afraid to try new things, whether that’s for your career or for fun. College has so many opportunities and it’s a time to explore. If you try but fail, if you find something that’s not for you, that’s totally ok. Sometimes you have to figure out who you are and what you want to do. — May 10, 2024 • Photo by Brooke Sietinsons