So Here's To Passion!

Who says all teachers must love apples? I prefer mangoes.

[mangoesoverapples]

education empowers 

[mangoesoverapples]

renew

it’s been over a year since i’ve written in this blog - i finished my second year of teaching with my beloved BA kiddos, and then due to personal reasons - aka #kyungjee - i had to pack my bags and move to the land of San Antonio to start my third year. 

any transition to a new school and new system is tiring - especially when the school before that took out all your energy. thinking that my passion could never die and my 12 hour daily time commitment would remain was naive? or i guess just unthought out. when you move to a new place and start fresh there’s so much more to learn. 

anyways, i feel burnt out. and i wonder if i will stay in teaching. instead of complaining everyday...i decided to go back to my blog and just write about the struggles and joys of teaching for one last year. who knows if i’ll stay after this, or if i’ll leave, or if i’ll return in several years...but for now why stress about the far future when we have the present to live in and be thankful for. 

so cheers to #teacherlife one last time? 

[mangoesoverapples]

End of the 1st Chapter!

1. How to love unconditionally - because whenever I want to break down and cry, somehow God gave me more of His unconditional and overwhelming love for these beautiful children 

2. How to forgive and show mercy - because I've been pushed around, lied to, stolen from, cussed at, and stomped on but somehow He shows me the meaning of grace and the power of His gospel 

3. How to love through discipline - because if I were just to let them do whatever they wanted just because I loved them so much, I would actually be doing them a disservice. Discipline, like discipleship, is also love when used intentionally (and something I have to be better at for next year)

4. How to dream bigger - because if it weren't for the dreams of my students hanging on the top of our classroom ceiling all year long, I wouldn't have been convicted to chase after my own dreams and have the opportunity to do some acting showcases this summer. Their dreams challenged me to be a teacher who not only believes in them, but also believes in myself despite all odds. 

5. How to speak life everyday - because in DISD you never know when one of your students will walk in with a withdrawal form making it the last time you'll ever see them again. More than my candies or gifts, sometimes what my kids need to hear more every day are, "I love you. You are worth it. I believe in you. You are beautiful just the way you are. I am always here for you." Because you never know when you'll ever get another chance to see him or her again.  These are just a few of the life lessons these students have put upon me. I cannot even begin to describe the crazy love I have for them, and how much I will miss them. The tears, the laughs, and the countless memories will always remain for my #firstloveforever  Thank you God, for teaching me how to love Your children and for loving me through it all. I couldn't have survived this year without You. You love me, so I love them - and I love them like a LOT it's crazy.

I guess this is the end of Bryan Adams Fall 2013 - 2014.  But Praise the LORD, vacation begins Tuesday 8)

[mangoesoverapples]

We Hip, Young, and Fresh

During 6th period we were waiting on a girl to come back from the restroom so we could start our mini in-class award ceremony, so I told a student to text her to hurry up.  I saw the student write on her phone, "Girl, Miss Chi says you better hurry TF up!" In shock I told her not to put that I said "TF" since I assumed it stood for "the eff" Then all my students exclaim at once, "DANG MISS, how do you know what TF stands for? Me: ...Uhm because I wasn't born yesterday Student A: Oh okay alright. So then do you know what "BRB" stands for? Student B: Alright alright how about "FML" Student C: Hold up whatchu know about "...WTF" After I correctly answer all three they go crazy: "Alright Miss. You hip. You fresh. You young. Last one....TTYL?!" ...#smh (#shakemyhead) I'm glad on the second to last day of school, I've finally convinced my students of me "fresh-ness" Good News For You All: If you guessed all 4 of these acronyms correctly - you are officially consider hip, fresh, and young. Congratulations.  If you guessed incorrectly - news flash you are getting old. Answers (be right back, eff my life, what the eff, talk to you later)#datAOLlifeFTW — feeling cool.

June 5, 2014

[mangoesoverapples]

The Anointing Flows from the Top Down

Words cannot describe how blessed I felt today as I watched my parents speak life and wisdom into my students. Today was a humble reminder of where my passion to serve and love came from. I am so thankful for these two and the life God has given us.#anointingflowsfromthetopdown #intheoverflow

May 23, 2014

[mangoesoverapples]

Oblivion to the Max

Student: Miss, why can't we have Sunday School too?? Me: I have church on Sundays  Student: Chinese people go to church?? Me: I'm Korean... Student: Okay but where is Korea. In China? Me: No it's in Korea... Student: OH so it's its own country? Do them Asians eat sushi over there too?!  Other student: Did you not hear her?! She's not Asian. She's Korean! Smh. #dailyconversations #teacherlife

[mangoesoverapples]

kids will be kids

Sigh, my phone was stolen during 5th period. I could care less about the phone, but I'm not gonna lie. I'm pretty hurt that a student would take it, but I learned a lot from this experience...more on that in a later post. Plus there were 3,000 + pictures of all my memories these past 2 years on that phone. Yowza the candid moments gone 

May 9, 2014

[mangoesoverapples]

Dirk is Bae

Student 1: Miss, are you going to watch your boyfriend play tonight? ! Me: Guys, lets get this straight...Dirk isn't my boyfriend anymore. He's married now! Student 2: So what, Miss? You could just be his side chick. Me: smh... Student 3: Nah Miss Chi ain't no side chick kinda girl. She a main chick, wassup.  Lol, I got my kids rooting for the mavs tonight. #LETSGO #MFFLSTRONG#onechickperguyplease #teacherlife

April 30, 2014

[mangoesoverapples]

Two of my students are playing against each other tonight. I don't know how to control my emotions. Lol I am happy when they both play well, I am sad cuz the team I watch more is losing, but I'm happy the other team is winning. I'm confused how to cheer for both and I am once again reminded at why I suck at fantasy sports....too much emotional confusion and division lolol. One of the boys gave me his practice shirt so that I would cheer for him more than the othee team. I feel like a supporter and a traitor heh heh. That is the end of my story. #lessgoboys #mejas #jaguars #teacherlife

April 22, 2014

[mangoesoverapples]

Accountability in Friendship

Today after school I scheduled an extra tutoring session though I secretly hoped that no one would show up so I could rest before ecoaching training tonight. However, I heard intense screaming, yelling, and obnoxious laughing coming from the stairs – yup those would definitely be my kiddos. As a group of four came rushing into my room, they were carrying one of my students inside who was aggressively wrestling to get free. I was about to tell them that I was not going to deal with this behavior today when they abruptly said. “MISS. We brought “Melanie* here to FORCE her to do some tutoring. She told us her grade in your class, and we refuse to let her fail. We are willing to do whatever it takes. We can even teach her ourselves!” (One of the boys were panting because he had to carry that feisty girl the most) This took me by surprise since they usually come to my room to chill and not d anything, but I eagerly gave them a bunch of past assignments we had done in class in which they attempted to teach her – hesitant yet willing. This is the vision teachers like to see. The work you put into one, can definitely be multiplied to others. Everyone is blessed to be a blessing to someone else. I know I am being overly sentimental but you see, this group is my “we da sh*t” group who think they are all that and act that way every day. Recently, a few of them have been getting their act together and stepping up to earn the grade they know they can get. But what really blessed me today was that they knew one of their friends was still stuck in a ditch and they made sure they “wouldn’t let nobody in their fam” fall through the cracks. Though she has a long way to go, she is blessed with good friends and I am reminded of what it looks like to be someone that is committed to being accountable to a friend who may be going through a tough time, even if it’s not what they may want at the moment. I am excited to see how the rest of this week unfolds, and the Lord constantly humbles me with these daily life lessons through my immature yet passionate freshman. I commit to being a good friend!#accountability #strivetobethebestyou

April 15, 2014

[mangoesoverapples]

self portrait

The red one makes me half wanna cry though lolol - #thedepictionsofmisschi#teacherlife

[mangoesoverapples]

Hot Cheetos

I have eaten three bags of hot cheetos and four airheads everyday this week. I need help, le sigh. #teacherlife

[mangoesoverapples]

April Fool's backfires

So for April Fool's I told my students that Teach for America had relocated me to another school that was in need of teachers and that this would be my final week with them. They kept saying it was probably a joke, but due to my stellar crying skills they suddenly "realized" it was very true. I decided to keep the joke going throughout the whole day so it wouldn't leak out that I was kidding to later class periods. After some sad emotions, they started excitedly talking about throwing me a huge party on Friday with cakes and presents and....uh oh.  So the plan was to immediately tell them the next day so that students wouldn't spend money - which was too late for some  But apparently in that span of time the students also went to other teachers and also the principal to complain about why I had to leave the school. They then told me that he was furious to hear I was leaving because there had already been a lot of teachers actually quitting lately. Suddenly filled with anxiety I had to email him and clarify the whole thing was a simple joke. He responded, "You almost gave me a 'real' heart attack. Very good joke, very bad timing."  Looks like the joke ended up being on me #whoopsies #iplaytoomuchShould have just stuck with Andrew Jiwon Park's cheating idea...

April 2, 2014

[mangoesoverapples]

Reminder of His Love for Humanity

One of my students cussed at me during class and walked out the door. Ouch. The thing is though, he is my secret favorite who I love so dearly. I actually teared up in front of my students cuz I was so hurt. I get spit on daily by many students, but it hurts in a very particular way when it's one that you worked so hard to develop a solid relationship with. I am thankful that the Lord constantly gives me deeper revelation of His heart for humanity through these lessons. He loves me even when my daily actions spit on the gospel and the most beautiful sacrifice He committed through the cross.  So I am thankful and I love my students even when they spit on me.#PraiseGod

March 28, 2014

[mangoesoverapples]

Growing Pains

A yellow jacket wasp appeared out of nowhere during 7th period. Next thing I knew, I was halfway out the room. Student yells from inside: Miss, you better get back in here! You are the teacher. You are supposed to take care of us! So shamefully, I go back and "bravely" kill it (with the help of one of my boys). I am not very scared of bugs, but bees/wasps are a totally different case.  Today for the first time I actually realized that I am responsible for 100+ kids regardless of my petty fears. #scarybutexciting #growingup#thewaspwasHUGEdoe #stillshakingfrombeingababy

March 27, 2014

[mangoesoverapples]

Yikes

Student: Miss, do you know what famous person you remind me of? Me: Who!  (Half flattered) Student: this dude Skrillex Me: (look it up during spare time......smh)

[mangoesoverapples]

Let the children come to me

This morning I was spending time with the Lord at a McDonald’s when He convicted me to to buy some breakfast biscuits to give to the homeless on the road. FORTUNATELY, I didn’t see anyone (hoping they were warm inside) but I knew God wanted me to bless someone special! So as I drove around, I saw 4 young children walking by themselves on the other side of the road. I decided to go park in the apartment complex and approach them (as uncreepily as possible) I asked them where they were going in this freezing weather and they responded, “WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO CHURCH! WE LOVE JESUS SO MUCH!”  With so much love and passion for these children, I asked if I could bless them with some breakfast simply because God had clearly sent me to give it just for them. They eagerly received with full hearts. As I prayed for them, man they were just AMENING left and right with authority and full agreement with the Lord as their Provider and Shepherd. As I said my goodbyes…and also advised them to be careful not to talk to every stranger that approaches them…I walked back to my car with full joy knowing His heart for the children is so incredibly huge.  The youngest boy, Joseph, yelled from across the street, “Ma’am we appreciate this so very much! God bless you and we hope God brings us together again sometime!”  Today I was very humbled. When was the last time I woke up asking the Lord HOW He will use me to be a blessing for His glory. When was the last time I walked through the freezing cold to go to church and worship the Lord. When was the last time I freely received a gift from a friend with no pride or burden. Man… Mark 10: 14-16  “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”