As I begin my first semester at Capilano University, it is important to reflect on the academic journey that has led me to where I am standing today. Perhaps the influence of these decisions stretches beyond myself: the Chinese-Scottish eldest son in a family of four. Since birth, I have been immersed into a fusion of two very contrasting cultures and family dynamics. There is my mother: a headstrong Scottish-Canadian medical doctor, and my father, a true “renaissance man”, with four degrees and a family that originated from Hong Kong and Macao. Compared to mainstream society, you could say that my family’s social roles are somewhat atypical, and in fact, reversed in several ways from what you may find in North Vancouver, which is where I have spent all of my life. My father was a stay-at-home dad while my mother worked full-time and supported the household financially, pursuing her hard-earned career. Growing up and seeing these social norms being challenged by my life’s greatest role models has made me the open-minded man I am today.
My relationship with education has been long-winded, with the majority of it being very successful; however, it is less our successes and more so our challenges that shape us into the people we are now. In retrospect, a particular year- third grade, impacted my life in ways that myself and others around me would not have expected. The passing of my gung gung (grandfather) at the start of the school year set me into a downwards spiral of anger, frustration, and rebellion. Fortunately, my fourth grade teacher saw through my pain and quickly turned me into the “class pet,” as my competitive and eager nature was restored. With both these examples, my life could have gone two very different ways one I could have gained the attitude of total hate towards education but instead my teacher guided me out of that path and inspired me myself to become a teacher so that I too can give back and try to shape other kids for their better. Fast forward to a trivial and depressing year studying Nursing at the University of Calgary, I was in a really terrible part of my life, feeling suicidal and extremely homesick from lack of purpose. When the school year ended, I was able to return home and received the support of over fifty close friends and family to get me back on track, I began working with friends and children helping me find purpose that made me feel fulfilled; as of right now I know I am right where I belong. This course will be a key step in my journey towards obtaining my degree in Liberal Studies with the hopes of one day becoming a teacher.