Today, I had one of those moments that reminded me why I love what I do. ❤️
I unexpectedly met the mother of one of my former students and assistants, Anulia. She has been one of the best students and assistants I’ve ever had — and although I’ve been lucky to work with many amazing people, she will always be one of the greatest.
I already knew that Anulia had been accepted to Duke University with a full scholarship. But hearing her mother speak about it hit me in a completely different way.
She thanked me for encouraging Anulia to join my classes, for the impact I had on her journey, and for the work experience and opportunities she gained along the way.
Honestly, those are probably some of the best words a teacher can ever hear from a parent.
Sometimes, as teachers, we focus so much on scores, exams, lessons, homework, and results that we forget the bigger picture. We don’t always see how our work affects someone’s life years later.
Today, I was reminded.
I’m incredibly grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to leave a positive imprint on so many young people’s lives. And I truly hope that many more of my students will achieve their biggest dreams — whether that means getting an 8.0 or 7.5 on IELTS, entering their dream university, receiving a scholarship, or simply becoming a better version of themselves.
I love every single one of my students, and moments like this make all the hard work worth it.
Thank you for making days like this so special. ❤️
And Anulia — Duke is only the beginning. I’m incredibly proud of you. 🎓
