After almost a year of reporting for the Journal, it saddens me to announce my departure from the paper and this beautiful island I have had the privilege to call home. At the same time, I am excited for the adventure that lies ahead, as I make my return to South Korea next month to teach my own class of second graders at an alternative international school near Seoul.
Growing up, I never would have imagined that teaching international students while living abroad would be something I was so drawn to, but after my experience of working with preschool-aged children in Korea in 2022, I realized I had a passion for teaching, particularly in ESL as I saw my students blossom with confidence in their English acquisition. Each day, I always had a reason to laugh or smile from something one of my students said, and since returning to the US and moving to the island in April 2023, I have consistently reconsidered the idea of moving back abroad to teach again.
Around the same time I started working for the Journal in October 2023, I became a substitute teacher for the San Juan Island School District, and it was the perfect way to gain valuable experience and insight on teaching in the US as well as interact with students again, both in the classroom and out in the community as they greeted me at the grocery store, the library, ect. It was largely thanks to my substituting experience on the island that I was offered the opportunity to teach at a primary institution in Korea that uses American standards and curriculum, as they were drawn to instructors with teaching experience in the US. I am extremely grateful to all of the staff at SJISD, especially the many elementary school teachers who let me shadow their classes to gain even more experience in instructing core subjects.
Over the last several months, I have had the privilege of being part of this community, learning about the inspiring people and causes on this island, and receiving the honor of sharing their stories. From sea to forest, young to old, I have had the joy of meeting so many incredible people on this island; students who sailed to Alaska and who will be launching their own projects into the atmosphere with NASA; volunteers who have spent thousands of hours paving trails and planting acorns; organizations who have celebrated 25th anniversaries, from pet stores to non-profit theater; this island has had no shortage of memorable moments. I am incredibly grateful to this island and to the Journal for being able to take part in these moments, big and small, and to share them with our readers.
Goodbyes are never easy, but I know that the Journal will proceed to operate in good hands under the direction of Heather, Colleen and Diane. I am confident that the Journal will continue to provide quality reporting and content to the islands, and I look forward to keeping track of the different happenings on my forever island home, even as I settle across the world. I will always look back on this period of my life with warmth and gratitude. Thank you to all who I have had the privilege to meet and who will continue to make this island the special place that it is.
