It’s
always exciting to learn how the lives of our graduates unfold after leaving
LVC and the community of Annville. Last
year, Amanda Myers ’11 came to talk with me about her career goals and to
explore options for teaching abroad. As
I recall, she was eager and hesitant all at the same time. Teaching
English abroad for a few years was appealing, but was it a wise move? Could she
trust the agencies she would need to work through to secure a placement?
Many
years ago I remember having to face my own set of fears related to career
options. A wise mentor, identifying my
plight, offered me something to think about. “Sharon,” he said, “in aiming for security you
will find mediocrity.” That thought has
stuck with me and has helped me through the years to honestly look at the fears
and concerns that sometimes keep me from moving forward confidently. Perhaps this is why I so enjoy hearing the
thrill that comes from another who takes a risk and finds the world opening to
them.
I
thought you might enjoy hearing it too. Here’s Amanda in her own words….
Deciding to teach
in Taiwan was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever made. I knew it
would mean missing home for a year and it would require me to put my long-term
goals on hold. But I had studied abroad while at LVC, and I knew that I needed
to do more traveling before I would be ready to settle down. I was willing to
go anywhere I had never been before. I also wanted to go as far out of my
comfort zone as possible, so Taiwan seemed like a great opportunity.
I applied to the
Reach to Teach program, and they found me a position teaching all levels of
English to kids ages 3-13. Teaching within a different culture has been
challenging. Students in Taiwan are expected to memorize a lot and to be
extremely obedient. Teachers are expected to be authoritative and to push kids
hard to learn. It has been difficult to find a balance between what is
acceptable within the culture and still comfortable for me, but I believe it
has made me a better teacher overall. As an English Secondary Ed major, I never
imagined I would be working with toddlers, but I love my job and my adorable
students.
Living in Taiwan
has allowed me to have countless new experiences – shopping at night markets,
visiting gorgeous temples, hiking on exotic islands, and participating in
traditional festivals. I’ve eaten food I never expected to try, including pig
intestines, stinky tofu, and chicken feet. One of the most memorable things
I’ve seen so far was the Sky Lantern Festival, where hundreds of people write
their wishes for the New Year on paper lanterns, which they set aflame and send
into the sky.
Teaching abroad has
been one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. Simple tasks, such as buying
groceries or asking for directions, are a struggle without knowing the
language. But I learned that given no other choice, I could rely on myself to
get by. I still look forward to coming home, seeing my family, and pursuing my
goals of working with at-risk youth, but for now I plan to stay in Taiwan one
more year. Teaching abroad has made me realize that there are endless
opportunities for the future, and there is a lot left for me to do before I go
back to America!
~Amanda Myers
2011 - English Secondary Education