Why I became a coach

I recently had the chance to catch up with my “kkoma emo” in Korea, whom I hadn’t spoken to for years. “Kkoma emo” literally means “little aunt” in Korean and is a term of endearment for my aunt who holds the distinction of being the youngest of seven daughters (right after my mom). With me being the youngest of three daughters and the youngest among all my cousins, she always felt a certain kinship with me. Reconnecting with her brought back memories of the time when she walked in on my 7-year-old self, standing before a blank chalkboard, passionately talking to my “students”. To this day, I have no clue what I was “teaching” at the time; all I remember is how happy I was to be in front of that chalkboard with my imaginary audience, just sharing and teaching everything that a child of my age could possibly know.

I had to leave the chalkboard behind when we immigrated to the United States, but my love for teaching never left me. In elementary school, I volunteered to read to the kindergarteners each morning and, at the behest of Mrs. Crawford, my dear sixth-grade teacher, I taught math brain teasers to my classmates. During high school and college, I became that go-to person my friends would ask for help with various subjects - be it calculus, astronomy, essay writing, etc. Because I never considered myself an expert in any of these subjects, it baffled me that they would come to me for help instead of TAs or other “smarter” students. Regardless, I always responded with a wholehearted “yes!” - even when it meant I had to pull an all-nighter to revise a paper while my friend fell asleep or spend an entire week prepping my friend for the finals while trying to keep up with my own studies. None of these “sessions” ever felt like I was doing anyone a favor - rather, I was just genuinely happy that I could help someone else by sharing what I already knew. Looking back, I think my friends saw that willingness and open-heartedness on my part and that’s precisely why they could ask me for my help without embarrassment or shame.

I contemplated becoming a teacher, but ultimately, I ended up choosing a different career path. I followed what some may consider the stereotypical Asian American route – I studied hard, went to law school and eventually became a corporate securities attorney. However, even then, I never lost my passion for teaching. I continued to have my “sessions” with my peers, junior associates, staff and at times, even my clients. Sometimes, they were about substantive legal matters, and other times, they revolved around work management, people relationships, career development and just figuring out how to be happier at work and in life. During these sessions, some cried, some vented and some found relief and confidence, but above all, we always shared a sense of connection.

Now, fast forward 25 years, and I find myself at a time in my life and position where I can finally pursue my genuine and never-forgotten passion for teaching. I have opportunities to connect with people on a personal level and to channel my experiences, insights and perspectives to bring value to their lives. As a coach, I get to be the guide, the supporter and the cheerleader for those striving to create positive change in their lives, especially those who may be on similar paths as I was or grappling with the questions that I had asked for decades. With coaching, I find myself once again standing in front of that blank chalkboard, experiencing the joy of teaching and sharing.

#teachingpassion #sharingknowledge #journeytocoaching