“I wanted to become a teacher when I was a child.”
— Mrs. Miji Lee
It was a sunny Saturday afternoon when I sat down with Mrs. Lee at a local coffee shop in the Heights section of Jersey City. Mrs. Lee met me with a warm embrace and treated me to coffee. Kind indeed, Mrs. Lee exhibits such a lovely radiance and I am so thankful that she taught my son for a year. Even with the challenges of remote learning, Mrs. Lee kept her positivity, using creative ways to keep my son engaged. Following is an interview with Mrs. Lee.
Q: What is your mantra? “To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
Q: What made you decide to become a teacher? I wanted to become a teacher when I was a child. Mrs. Barbara Ramsdell, my homeroom teacher from 6th through 9th grade at Fay School in Southborough, MA, had a lasting impression on me. Not only was she an excellent English teacher but her warmth, kindness, composure, and patience constantly inspired me to be a good student.
Q: What were some of the lasting experiences you had in school? I left home to go to a boarding school starting in 6th grade. It was a great experience. I went to Fay School in Southborough, MA, then moved on to Milton Academy in Milton, MA. Imagine growing up with your diverse group of friends, eating three meals a day together, sweating during the afternoon sports practice together, and sharing the hallway bathrooms, shower stalls, and phone booths... as teenage girls! I am very grateful for the lessons I learned there on ethics and compassion, and the relationships I built are absolutely precious.
Q: Tell me something that others would be interested to learn about you. I participated in Habitat Bicycle Challenge 2004 and cycled across the US from New Haven, CT to Seattle, WA to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. The entire trip was 63 days. We started in New Haven, CT and our final destination was Seattle, WA. We cycled for 80 miles a day and had a resting day every 10 days. We got a full rest and also helped with demolition, painting, it was really fun.
Q:What are some of your favorite dishes? I love to cook and some of my favorite dishes are centered around seafood. At home, I love to make baked fish, paella, and linguine with clams. My favorite cuisine, however, is Korean food -- bibimbap is my soul food.
Q:Tell me something fun about you. I sing in the shower!
Q:Who is your favorite singer? Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey are my favorite singers because I can sing their songs only when no one is listening, sort of!
