My name is Hanseung Choi, but I also go by Sara Choi. I am from South Korea. I was born in Daejeon, but my family moved to Canada in 2012 when I was just starting Grade 8. Moving to a new country was not easy for me because I had to learn a new language, adapt to a new culture, and make my way through a different education system. Through my personal experience, I fully understand that it can take time for students to feel comfortable in a new environment. That is why I hope I can be a teacher who is understanding and supportive of students who may be going through similar experiences.
I did my Bachelor of Commerce at UNBC, with a double major in Accounting and Finance. I did a summer internship at an accounting firm, and then after graduating, I worked as a financial auditor for a few years. I did not originally think that my accounting experience would connect much to teaching, but I learned a lot of skills that I can use as a teacher. During my time as an auditor, I always paid close attention to detail, solved a wide array of problems, kept a great deal of files and documents organized, and kept in steady communication with a number of different people. I consistently had to explain things to clients when they had questions or did not understand the financial reports. These types of skills will likely translate well into the field of teaching, such as being detailed in my lesson plans, organizing assignments, communicating with parents/principals, and explaining complex topics in a way that is easier to understand.
Furthermore, before I started working in accounting, I was tutoring high school students in math while doing my university degree. I really enjoyed helping students with math and helping them understand something they could not understand before the tutoring session. Later in life, I had the opportunity to volunteer at an elementary school where I worked with a variety of students, which was a big joy. These experiences made me realize that I enjoy working with children and that I want to help them with their learning.
Art has also been a big part of my life. Ever since I was little, I spent a lot of my free time drawing and doing other works of art. My goal after I graduated high school was to go to art school, I even went as far as designing an art portfolio and got accepted. In the end, I chose a different path and wound up in accounting and finance, that said, I never lost my interest in art. I hope one day that I can be an art teacher because I think art gives students a chance to express themselves in ways they cannot in other classes.
Lastly, becoming a mom has also changed the way I view teaching. It made me see how much patience, encouragement, and care a child needs. I hope that I can give the same warmth to each of my future students as I am able to give my child. Ultimately, I want my classroom to be a place where students feel comfortable being themselves and never being afraid to learn as they grow.