WE SPEND over a decade in school, and our teachers are with us along for the ride through the thick and thin. Some remain in our hearts forever as beloved mentor figures that shaped us into who we are today. In celebration of Teachers’ Day, the Yonsei Annals asked Yonseians about their favorite teachers.

Lee Hyeon-jin (Sr., Dept. of Philosophy and Dept. of Political Science & Int. Studies)

   “I remember my high school Ethics teacher, Lee Sun-young. I even changed my CSAT[1] electives to Life and Ethics and Ethics and Ideology because I admired her so much. I looked up to her because I felt that she understood me on a deeper level compared to other teachers. In high school, I was known as a bright student with high self-esteem due to my outwardly cheerful behavior. However, she saw through my bright facade and told me I did not have to push myself so hard. She was also very caring. When I was scolded by my homeroom teacher in the teachers’ lounge, she went out of her way to comfort me. Even after graduation, she looked out for me. When I was having a difficult time in freshman year, I wrote her an earnest email about my struggles. She responded with a long, thoughtful letter and even recommended books she thought could help me. Her comforting words were encouraging.”

Choi Dong-ha (Fresh., UIC, Life Science & Biotech.)

   “My favorite teacher was my middle school art teacher named Ms. Gerri. Although she did not teach me in high school, she remained my favorite teacher because she made my hellish high school years so much more fun. The boys and I would always eat lunch in her classroom. Every day at lunch, she allowed us to choose our favorite music, amp it up through her computer speakers, and dance maniacally to it as if we were on the disco floor. She really loved engaging with us and seeing our carefree nature. She was such a nice person; she remembered each of our birthdays and brought cakes and homemade chocolate chip cookies to celebrate, which tasted so good. In high school, all of us would be stressed out about college applications, grades, and exams, but spending time with Ms. Gerri made all of us forget about them and have fun. Moreover, she would let me sleep on her couch in the mornings whenever I was tired. Hopefully, I get to see her again when I go back to the Philippines!”

Kim Hong-gyu (Jr., Dept. of Clothing & Textiles)

   “My favorite teacher is Professor Kim Hyun-jin, who taught Engineering Mathematics(2).  He was an excellent teacher; I did not realize it while I was taking his course in Songdo, but looking back on it now, I have come to appreciate his teaching prowess. He was one of the kindest and most skilled professors. When I was a freshman, I stayed after class to ask for his help with a difficult math problem. At the time, I was taking classes in the College of Engineering so I could change my major to Dept. of Chemical & Biomole. Engin. When this topic came up during our meeting, the professor listened to my struggles and encouraged me to pursue my goals. He was neither in my department nor the Dept. of Chemical & Biomole. Engin, and at the time I was not the most enthusiastic student, so his words were all the more touching. When I visited him to check my finals grade at the end of the semester, he had even remembered our conversation and gave words of support once more, which was especially memorable. The Engineering Mathematics course was a big class, so I did not expect him to talk to me first.”

Yoo Seoyoung (Sr., UIC, International Studies)

   “My favorite teacher of all time is my tutor who taught me how to write essays from middle school to high school. I liked her so much because she respected me as who I was. I felt comfortable sharing my deepest thoughts with her. Looking back, she was one of the few adults who sincerely listened to my younger self’s ideas. I especially got closer to her through our shared faith. When I was struggling with my religious beliefs in high school, I had the chance to talk and bond with the teacher about a book I read about faith and God. In the process, I found out that she was a Christian as well, and I could share more of my personal struggles and doubts with her. I relied on her a lot during that difficult time, and even now I think of her in both hard times and good times.”

Park Joo-hyun (Soph., Dept. of Biochem.)

   “One of my favorite teachers is Mrs. Nelly Bateman, my high school geometry and pre-calculus teacher. I remember walking into her class on my first day of high school. While pointing at a picture of an angry eagle, she said, ‘That’s me when I am smiling.’ As an incoming freshman, I was terrified at first. Not only was she strict, but she also made it clear that the class would be challenging, and it really was. However, everything changed when I had her class again two years later. During one of the lessons, we had an emotional discussion about her story as a mathematician. She revealed her genuine love for teaching and admitted that she was hard on us because she believed in us. After a while, my classmates and I also opened up to her; in that same dimly lit classroom from years ago, we had found a mentor and a small family. Although I am not the best at math to this day, I can say that my memories with her continue to inspire me to embrace challenges. I still remember her through the quirky math bookmarks and pins that she gave us; most of them contained math equations that drew hearts or spelled ‘love.’ Nelly, which is how her students called her affectionately, remains in my memory because I owe a part of who I am today to her.”

Chung Hee-won (Soph., UIC, Economics)

   “My homeroom teacher in my senior year of high school, who also taught Korean Geography, is my favorite teacher. Senior year is the most stressful time for students, so he tried his best to relieve our stress with small liberties, such as allowing us to bring treats or study in comfortable clothes. I appreciated his lax attitude. He was very soft at heart; he wasn’t outwardly warm but adored us in his gruff way. We once held a surprise party for him on Teachers’ Day. He scolded us for wasting our time preparing for the party instead of studying as seniors. However, when I visited him two years after graduation, he had still kept the letter and present we gave him that day on his desk. He also got teary-eyed on graduation day while giving us an encouraging speech for the final time. Because he had never expressed his feelings explicitly like that for the whole year, that moment was surprising and touching. I can still recall that moment vividly.”

[1]CSAT: College Scholastic Ability Test; An exam often necessary for college admission