My first experience as an Educator began when I was 17 years old. I was introduced to the founder of a small education group in Dalian and began teaching primary level English grammar, pronunciation, reading comprehension and vocabulary. I would occasionally use TOEFL teaching materials from my mother’s classroom to enhance the learning experience for my students.   

As it was my first experience as an Educator, I sought advice from my parents who have both been in teaching since they were at university. Through them, I was able to utilize tried and true strategies and methods of teaching. The most important to me was the emphasis on student needs. Rather than rigidly planning a course, I based my teaching on the needs of the students as unique learners.   

My philosophy for teaching centres around the importance for objectively and neutrally passing on knowledge and skills I have learned in order to give students as much space for reflection, creativity and development of ideas and questions. 

I am a second-generation Japanese American from Virginia. I moved to Dalian, China with my mother in 2013, where she started her first international teaching position and I continued my high school education. This was when I undertook my first job as an Educator in English. I moved from China to the UK to pursue higher education in 2016, receiving my bachelor’s in politics and international relations (IR) and master's in IR and management. Of all my experiences, living in different countries and cultures has been by far the most invaluable of them. IR and politics open the doors to understanding the world, the people in it and the systems they rely on. Understanding people has always been at the centre of my interest. Growing up with two cultures exposed me to the various interpretations of life different people from different places can have. I see IR and politics as a means through which to explore culture, law, religion, philosophy, society and education from various contexts to gain valuable insights about human interaction, but to also learn about oneself.  

I believe that introducing people to diverse topics within the context of IR and politics helps them to become active. What I mean by this is, whether socially, culturally, or politically, learning about how different systems governing our world interact, function and change provide young people with the knowledge they require to advocate for their needs and beliefs. I believe in empowering others to recognize the importance of agency through the provision of knowledge. Humanizing, normalizing and demystifying IR and politics are steps towards removing barriers to participating productively in government and society. 

Cooking, for me, is of equal interest. In my opinion, the process of cooking is very subtly complex. On the surface, cooking is about gaining confidence in the kitchen, learning about new cultures and traditions of cooking and eating and becoming self-sufficient. Though subtly hidden, there is a meditative and cathartic quality in kneading, chopping, mixing and stretching. I find that the process also helps people of all ages interact with others easily. In an environment where people must be there, it becomes easier for a person to come out of their shell, make connections and improve their mood and outlook on life. There are many lessons to be learned through cooking and most of them have nothing to do with cooking itself.  

Having been a boy scout when I lived in America, I also enjoy hiking, camping and fishing. Physical fitness is very important to me as well, especially teaching and showing others how to pursue fitness responsibly, safely and healthily.