My Lived Experience
I am a proud mother of two Cunningham students. My family has lived in Milton since 2015. I have a unique background and perspective, having been born in Toisan, in Southern China, and moving to the US at the age of 14. I went through Boston Public Schools, and later earned two Bachelor's Degrees and a Masters Degree from University of Massachusetts Amherst. I am a product of America’s public education.
After immigrating to the US, I went through one year of bilingual education at Boston Public Schools. I then took an entrance exam and was accepted into Boston Latin Academy, where I completed my high school education. I have been fortunate to have teachers in my life who supported me in overcoming linguistic obstacles and boosted my self-confidence.
I recall the difficulties I faced in my new high school, where no more bilingual education was available. At the time, my English was weak, making it hard for me to socialize and fit in with either the American born Chinese students or the Asian students in the school. I still recall the fear I felt during lunchtime, entering the large, noisy cafeteria and not knowing where to sit. However, my situation improved after I received informal English language art interventions from the head of the English department, Ms. Haley. During Study Hall, she invited me to her office where she helped me improve my listening and speaking skills through our discussions of Disney movie books like Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. She also recommended books for me to read at my grade level and proofread my essays. As a result of my meetings with Ms. Haley, my English improved significantly and I grew more confident in my language abilities.
Ms. Haley made me feel valued and gave me a sense that at least one teacher cared about me and wanted me to succeed. I recall a traumatic incident where a boy who had a locker next to mine used a racist slur against me. I was upset and didn't know how to handle the situation, so I confided in Ms. Haley. She helped me address this incident appropriately and gave me emotional support to overcome the trauma.
Another teacher who impacted my life was Homman Sensei, my high school Japanese teacher. I discovered that Japanese was much easier for me to learn because of my knowledge of the Chinese language. I developed a strong interest in the Japanese language and culture, and gained confidence in speaking up in class. Homman Sensei encouraged me to participate in the annual Japanese language competition held at the Children's Museum, which was my first visit there due to my parents not having the time or resources to take me there. This experience helped me to become more confident in public speaking and to develop a love for learning languages, which ultimately led to my decision to study Linguistics and Japanese in college.
As I approached graduation from college, I faced a dilemma about what was more important: pursuing a career in finance for financial stability or following my passion for teaching. Despite the fact that a career in education would not bring me financial wealth, I chose to pursue it because I recognized the misunderstandings between the United States and China and wanted to bridge the gap by teaching American students about China. I am the first in my family to both graduate from college and earn a Master's degree, and I am proud of what I have accomplished so far. My name, which means "a hill of sparkling treasure," was chosen with high hopes for my future by my parents, and I believe I am fulfilling those hopes. But I would not have been able to make it through high school and college without the support and guidance of amazing teachers like Ms. Haley and Homman Sensei.
My personal journey highlights the crucial role of creating a safe and nurturing educational environment for students, the benefits of incorporating curriculum that connects to students' personal experiences, the impact of teachers who show concern and provide support to overcome educational obstacles, and the significance of providing resources to families.