Share a favorite moment or experience from your time volunteering with 826 Valencia.
There are lots of memorable experiences, but I like those moments when the students feel proud of their work. It can be when a shy student volunteers to read their work or while helping a student stay on task (and connect the dots between effort and result). It can be while helping to brainstorm a scary ending (that doesn’t include blood and gore!). Sometimes, in an unexpected turn of phrase, you will feel that they were able to write something that they didn’t know they had in them, and that’s pretty special to witness.
What inspired you to join our community?
I used to drop in on Sundays with my daughter to tutor together. The work felt tangible. There was always something to talk about afterwardânot only about the tutoring but also about ourselves. I found 826 to be a very caring and respectful place. I like that it teaches skills but the true emphasis is on voice.
What hobbies do you enjoy when youâre not volunteering at 826 Valencia?
These days, I find myself interested in history and works of the Asian-American diaspora (books, films, plays). It’s a latent expression on my part; born in Korea, raised in rural Pennsylvania, now living in the Bay Area, walking distance from where Asian-American studies emergedâlife is funny in a way. I also enjoy working in gardens and getting outdoors.
Any advice for new 826 Valencia volunteers?
826 has many opportunities to volunteerâdifferent sites, days/times, ages, and types of experiences. If you are curious, one thing I’d say is to poke around until you find a good fitâbecause there are A LOT of offerings!
I like the creative challenge of tutoring. There is the individual student and the curriculum and the task, but motivation for each student can be quite different. I would say listening and being responsive is an important skill. Somewhere in that space, we try to find a voice, engage with the lesson, do the assignment, and create something that the student is proud of. To be honest, sometimes it feels like a lot in 50 minutes! I learn from the 826 team at Starr-King quite a bit.
If you could transform into any creature for a day, what would it be and why?
Have I told you my hummingbird story? I was trimming a bush in the backyard and found myself literally attacked by this beast of a bird. So of course, I stopped. Later, I discovered that she had built a nest and laid an egg in it, and after a few days, it became quite clear that she had abandoned it. I felt just awful. I found myself on hummingbird blogs to learn that this can happen, but then the most amazing thing happened. I started to see nests aplentyâthree on my block alone! I wonder which one was hers? I would like to be like that hummingbirdâfierce and resilient.