I Found Gratitude & Happiness

Did your global experience influence your perceptions of the United States?

Photo provided by Iyanna

I do not believe that my perception of America has completely shifted, but it has developed a lot. Prior to leaving the States, I had recently graduated Mount Holyoke College, I had spent my summer in Philadelphia, PA, and I had been feeling like I wanted to get out, get away, I was not completely happy with my temporary living conditions and location in the States and I was anxious to leave. Leaving from a predominantly Black city influenced the way that I felt about the escape I was going to embark in and the feeling that I wanted to move away from people who looked like me. Four months after I arrived in South Korea, however, I felt extremely homesick. I wanted my friends, my family, my music, my people. The very same things that I was happy to get away from several months before. Upon my return to the States my entire conscious was way more lighthearted. I find myself happier as a person. I am happy to be alive, I am happy to connect with others, I am happy to find communities of people from the African Diaspora who make me feel connected, loved, supported, and validated. It has helped me appreciate my home country because of the beauty, the boldness, the trendsetting, the brilliance, and the pride in the Black community. Something I oversaw before; something I took for granted and didn’t appreciate. It can be uncomfortable and scary to step into a world where no one looks like you or will every fully understand where you come from but at times it takes that experience to make you feel better about your own community at home.
 

Teaching Abroad

Did teaching in South Korea influence your academic or career interests at all?

Photo provided by Iyanna

Prior to teaching in South Korea I was not sure I wanted to teach at all. I had done a few things here and there, such as volunteer to teach swimming and doing a bit of homework help but I had never been in a classroom as a formal instructor. After a year abroad, I know that teaching is something that I have to do. It comes in different waves, different modes, and different capacities. I can have a class, I can have a summer series, I can motivationally speak, I can influence people I see and talk to on a daily basis, but I must spread a message that is important to hear. South Korea taught me that. I will forever be and identify as a teacher because of this experience.

Post-Grad Plans Led Me Abroad

How did you decide to teach abroad in South Korea? 

Photo provided by Iyanna

When figuring out post-graduation plans, I tried to take every opportunity that came to me. One of which happened to be recruiting for Teach For America, an education organization that trained college graduates to work and teach in underprivileged schools around the United States. Although I went through the interview process for this job, I was unsure that I wanted to teach. I did not put much effort into trying to land the job, and although I was denied that opportunity, I opted in to have my information sent to other teaching organizations and recruiting agencies. The only one I emailed back mentioned an opportunity to teach English overseas in either China or South Korea. Having no prior experience with either country, no background knowledge, and no formal studying of either, I said that I did not have a preference. I was randomly sent to Korea, and what an amazing random journey it was.