My name is Mylee Lam and I recently graduated from UC Davis studying Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior. I’m probably one of those people who decided at a young age that becoming a teacher would be the most ideal dream job. Honestly, I did not know why. I had no experience teaching in a classroom then or now. I did, however, know that the classroom was a place that gave me the feeling of security and a sense of excitement to learn. And that is the wonderful thing about being a teacher; I get to learn, everyday. I do not have a style or a technique, but I learn quickly by observation. I know that my ideal classroom is full of kids. Having some books, classroom decorations, and a fish tank would be nice.

I learned early on that having an education is so valuable. Growing up in an immigrant family, I learned about the struggles that my parents had to endure when they left their home country Cambodia at the onset of the Khmer Rouge genocide. My father always reminded me that having an education in Cambodia meant trouble. You were a threat to the Khmer Regime. They always emphasized that I will not get this kind of education anywhere else on this planet. And so education became my first priority in life. I remember pressuring my siblings to play school with me. I, of course, was the teacher. I viewed education as my family’s number one priority. However, my view of having an academically perfect family background changed after my younger brother dropped out of high school.

During my third year in high school, I filled out my college applications worrying that my brother might not even graduate. I tried my best to help him get back into school, signing him up for after school tutoring and working on his progress report with his counselors and teachers. Eventually, I began tutoring him on my own. He struggled for two years and finally got back into a public school after attending an alternative school.  It seemed to me that my brother had motivational issues. His struggles in school sparked a personal interest in teaching as a future profession. I was interested in working with students that might be facing the same struggles as my brother. 

My brother inspired me to become a teacher. He currently attends City College of San Francisco. Retrospectively, my brother experienced this bumpy road, but encountered many people that helped him to be where he is at today. I notice the changes that he went through because he had people who cared about his education. These people were his motivation and purpose to go back to school. This is something I want to instill in my future classroom so that they can experience success even through difficult times. Teaching is a rewarding experience for many of us and I look forward to all the ways that it will humble me as I learn something new about myself and others everyday.