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I have always had a strong desire for novelty. Over the years, this has driven me to pursue many new challenges and experiences. When I become interested in a subject, I conduct some brief Internet research, quickly dive in, and begin learning through hands-on experience. Then, as I run into problems I cannot solve through trial and error, I turn to books, videos, online courses, and other tools for self-directed learning. As my interest and curiosity grow, I eventually enroll in structured classes and hyperfocus on the subject for weeks or even months. Reflecting on my journey, I see how these learning experiences have taught me valuable lessons and contributed significantly to my personal and intellectual growth.
One such experience was my decision to move to Taiwan and become an English teacher at 19. This was a bold move, and it pushed me out of my comfort zone. I thought I was a brave adventurer, eager to explore the world. Later I realized how impulsive and naïve I was. I had to adapt to a new culture, profession, and language, which was exciting but challenging. I went through the typical stages of adjustment: initial rose-colored glasses, thinking differences were terrific, like how convenient living in a densely packed city was, a surplus of stores, open late, and much cheaper than in Canada. Look, it's a foreigner! This gave way to slowly rising culture shock around seven months, thinking differences were isolating, like how suffocating living in a densely packed city was, never alone, less nature, homesickness, fewer relationships felt lonely, and an inability to communicate. After about a year, I made more friends and started learning Chinese. I realized that the more Chinese I learned, the better my life quality.
Over time, my knowledge and understanding of teaching gradually increased with each class I taught. At first, I just followed the lesson plan. But as I taught more classes, I felt like I lacked knowledge and felt like an imposter. I started bringing the teacher’s guides home to study, which led to Googling behavior and grammar questions, and researching lesson plans, activities, and games to improve my classes. I was curious to find out more. I learned from everyone around me by seeking guidance from experienced coworkers, Taiwanese co-teachers, and many other foreigners in Taiwan doing the same thing.
I took a few Coursera courses that helped deepen my understanding of teaching. Learning How to Learn helped me with my journey and inspired me to teach my students the same strategies, such as the Pomodoro method. How to Be a Together Teacher introduced me to overhauling my organization system and the importance of reconciling to-dos in one place – which finally ended my chaotic mess of post-it notes. Exploring Teachers Pay Teachers was beneficial as I supported and learned from experienced teachers using their teaching products in my class. I learned about STEM bins, digital teaching slides and games, literacy kits, decodables, teacher planners, and more. More recently, I focused on the Science of Reading by taking a professional development class and exploring resources posted by the Facebook group Science of Reading – What I Should Have Learned in College. Throughout my years teaching ESL, I have been determined to educate myself and absorb all I can to overcome my lack of formal education. I continue to seek educational opportunities to serve my students better.
Traveling around Taiwan and Asia changed my worldview, especially in Thailand; I just completed my 20th trip there, and the longest lasted four months when I was 21. I used to be the kind of person that would complain about a hair in my food, thinking I was entitled to a free meal and how awful the restaurant was. The poverty in Asia struck a chord in my heart, readjusted my attitude, and humbled me. I thought I had grown up poor, but I always had a bed, a toilet, and food. I saw many people, especially children, who did not have any of those essentials. What surprised me was the joyousness. Despite all this hardship, there were smiles, fun, sharing, and kindness. I was so concerned about getting ripped off. My husband said paying extra, getting the “foreign” price, was charity wrapped up in dignity. I could afford to pay extra; it could help feed someone's family. Shouldn’t I want to help? I learned to overcome minor imperfections, be grateful, treasure what I had, and value the arduous work others did for my benefit, especially as a visitor to their country. I learned to stop complaining. Kindness is free.
I internalized a philosophy from living in Taiwan: “wuwei,” which I interpreted to mean flow like water. This idea starkly contrasted my old confrontational habit of standing up for what I thought was right. Initially, I learned this philosophy as a survival strategy when learning to drive a scooter, as right-of-way seemed a foreign concept and was not enforced or obeyed. The lesson was to take the path of least resistance, like a river does as it flows to the ocean, and drive around obstacles to avoid accidents. This philosophy taught me to be flexible and adaptable, which applies to driving, but it also has taught me to study more effectively and navigate obstacles in life too. Reducing friction reduces stress.
Learning to trust others was another life lesson I learned while living in Taiwan. Growing up exposed to abuse and crime in Canada made me hyperaware of my surroundings and distrustful of strangers. It took me over a decade to recognize that my anxiety and fear of becoming a victim was a trauma response. Experiencing the honesty and integrity of Taiwanese people and low crime levels helped me unlearn my maladaptive behaviors and believe most people are inherently good and trustworthy. I learned to relax and be open to kindness. I feel so grateful to live where I genuinely feel safe to be by myself anytime.
My journey of learning to exercise and pushing myself through physical challenges compelled me to grow and connect with my inner strength. It started when my husband introduced me to a workout program called You Are Your Own Gym, and I researched video tutorials to learn the exercises. I gradually built up my muscle and stamina and realized that having power over my body also required control over my mind. This realization fueled my decision to quit smoking, ultimately improving my quality of life. As I explored the exercise world, I completed programs like the 6-Week Six Pack and a three-month MMA/boxing boot camp. I signed up for competitions, starting with 5K races, and challenged myself with a Spartan 5K Sprint and a Spartan 13K Super. I trained alone using free training programs, incorporating HIIT exercises, burpees, hill sprints, and weights to develop the balance of running stamina and obstacle strength. Through it all, I learned the value of forgiving myself for inconsistent training and measured progress less frequently to avoid disappointment. My peak performance was finishing the most challenging Spartan race, the 21K Beast, at seven weeks pregnant (7.1 Spartan Beast Finish Line Photo + Results). Competing the Beast while pregnant taught me that I could overcome physical and mental obstacles to accomplish my goals. I learned the importance of assessing risks and making decisions, as I had to weigh the potential health risks of each obstacle against my desire to attempt all. Additionally, it taught me the power of perseverance and determination, as I finished 5th in my age group, despite racing through nausea. The Beast taught me that I can do hard things if I am willing to work hard and refuse to quit. I set an example for my daughter that day: she is strong enough to do hard things too.
A final lesson that has been central to my intellectual growth is resilience. When I got pregnant, my employer tried to coerce me to quit to avoid paying me maternity leave. Rather than giving in, I demanded my severance. While it was in my rights to sue for wrongful dismissal, I remembered the lesson of wuwei and reduced my stress by severing ties with the company. I counteracted the painful loss of employment and friendship by taking a Hypnobirthing course, which focused on daily positive affirmations, meditation, and hypnosis. The coursework taught me to be present and grateful for all the blessings I continued to have and completely changed my attitude. When my daughter was born, I realized I needed to get my GED, which I accomplished while breastfeeding and sleep deprived. Getting my GED helped heal my deep shame for not finishing high school earlier. Having a child taught me the importance of maturity and taking responsibility for my actions, as I now commit to my daughter and our future. I realized that it was not too late to pursue a degree and that I should, not only for my benefit but also for my family. After starting at TRU, I was diagnosed with ADHD, which explained so much: my impulsivity, inconsistency, and hyperfocus. I learned all I could about ADHD, reading books, watching hours of YouTube videos, attending therapy and group coaching, taking medication, and synthesizing it all to develop my scaffolding to succeed. My resilience has allowed me to overcome these obstacles and pursue my goals, no matter how difficult or far off they may seem. A close friend I met during my first year in Taiwan who remained close over the years can share his perspective (7.2 Letter of Reference – Marcus Aurelius Maurice). I know that my journey of learning and growth is far from over, and I am committed to my continued development.
Evidence Supporting Independent Learning and Intellectual Maturity
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