How I Spent Teacher's Day

Teacher's Day in Korea is a big deal at my school. I would suspect given the importance of education in Korea that other schools place it in high regard as well but, its important enough in my school to warrant students leaving in the afternoon and teachers to have a special lunch of delicious food and lots of alcohol. Like Christmas and Chuseok, its not just an appreciation day, its a holiday.

Like the name suggests, Teacher's Day is a celebration of the teachers who teach the students. A day of giving thanks to the educators of Korea. It's a day where students have to be extra nice to their teachers and a day in which teachers can usually expect a selection of small gifts from their students like handwritten letters, small snacks or flowers.

My school had a entire morning dedicated to the celebration of its teachers. This included students lining up to greet their teachers as they entered the school, a special ceremony hosted by the principal of the school and the complete lack of classes for the entire day. Students were able to leave the school early to take a small break while the teachers were left to dine on a special lunch.

This has been the second teacher's day that I have participated in, but the first one where I truly felt like I was an active participant and worthy of being a part of. Last year was my first year teaching, a year full of rookie mistakes and time spent still attempting to gain the trust and confidence of teachers and students. It felt like an awkward first year of learning and at that point, I had not felt the full appreciation or confidence that a teacher should have.

This year has been different, my confidence in teaching has greatly increased and my relationship with staff and students has also improved. Finally, I feel the confidence and pride to call myself an educator, someone who takes the responsibility of turning young teens into young adults. While I may not always succeed, I have gotten better, and plan on continuing to do so.

I received a had written letter from a student along with a carnation. Throughout the morning students would come up to me to shake my hand and tell me that they enjoyed both my teaching style and kindness towards them. The kind gestures of the students surely cannot be used as some litmus measuring test of teaching efficiency, but it was impossible to deny the small swells of pride and happiness each student brought with them.

The rest of the afternoon was spent eating a special lunch of sashimi and beer with two of my co teachers. It was a great thing to sit down and engage in casual conversation with them, something that I very rarely have the time to do due to our different schedules during the school day. While the day was meant to celebrate teachers, at that table we were just normal people, talking about out jobs and lives, our pasts and possible futures. It was a delightful conversation that left our stomachs full and our heads a little fuzzy from the beer and soju. At this point I have completely gotten over the fact that it is apparently perfectly acceptable to drink alcoholic beverages within a school building without being persecuted by the law.

After the lunch, I went home early. Taking the few hours of free time to let my mind wander and my body rest before starting the whole teaching thing again tomorrow. When I got home I checked my phone to see a text message sent to me from a student.

"Congratulations for Teacher's Day! lol :D"

The perfect ending to a great day.


As long as I'm here, even if they don't always appreciate it and even if they don't always agree, I have to keep trying my hardest. I have to try and make each of these student's futures as bright and full of opportunity as I can within my ability. Even if its one student, in one class, I have to keep on trying.

I have to keep on trying for them, for good students who keep me going and remind me that they are the leaders of the future and that the future may be in good hands after all.