Mrs. Lee
Study tips, job opportunities, real-life skills we need to develop. Mrs. Lee, better known as the physics and ninth grade STEM teacher, is considered a science powerhouse. With her invigorating lessons, her methods in teaching are reminiscent of a calculative and rational physicist.
It’s easy to make assumptions about your teacher’s character. But what’s behind the picture? This interview cuts into the emotional side of Mrs. Lee – not just as a canny physics teacher with the “measure twice, cut once” mentality, but as a person who genuinely cares for her students.
Our interviewee gives a testimonial that teachers are more than just educators; they hold personal values and have deeper feelings. There’s more than meets the eye regarding our new addition to Legacy, Mrs. Yoojin Lee.
Interview
With Mrs. Lee
What skill is most important for students to develop in the real world?
“I think we all need to be good citizens first. We need to know how to help each other and stay productive. In terms of application of the skills we learn from school, I wish that my students become good problem solvers. In life, we are going to face all kinds of problems, it doesn’t have to be math or physics problems, but we are going to encounter all kinds of problems. I wish that my students stay resilient, solve problems, and become better human beings.”
What launched your interest in physics and teaching?
“I first started off with my math credential, and when I had my first teaching position, I was a combo teacher specializing in both math and physics. Since then, the schools I worked at needed more physics teachers, so I became a full-time physics teacher. This is my fifth-year teaching physics, and I’ve taught all levels of physics. So far, I have loved teaching physics. I didn’t know I would enjoy teaching it as much as I do. I have multiple teaching credentials, physics, chemistry, biology and math, but among all four, physics is without a doubt my favorite so far.”
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
“A superpower…just for fun, I wish I could swim with beluga whales in the Arctic Ocean. But if I can be more serious, I would like to have a superpower to end wars.”
What are some study tips you would give to students to help them maximize their learning?
“For physics classes specifically, my students often ask me, “what is a formula, and what problem should I constantly practice to excel the test?” But physics requires deep thinking skills. Very likely, no two problems are the same, so I want my students to utilize critical thinking skills to solve problems. Hard thinking, that’s number one. Not just hard practice”.
What’s your favorite movie?
“My favorite movie… I love sci-fi, scientific fiction—particularly Interstellar or Inception by Christopher Nolan. He is an amazing director and I am a huge fan of his work.”
Why did you choose Legacy?
“I love the people here. Of course, it’s a new school, new facility, beautiful buildings, but I like the people. The teachers are amazing. Teachers are not just pretending to be nice to students, but they genuinely care about the student’s wellbeing. The students are very motivated. They are very positive and open-minded. I’m not just saying it, really, I see a clear difference from other schools. They have a positive and polite attitude that makes the school a very happy place, and I can see myself and my students growing together at Legacy Magnet Academy. I’m really happy so far.”
As interviewer protocol, we allowed Mrs. Lee to view the questions ahead of time. There were a few questions that she changed and removed, one of the questions being whether she preferred Drake or Taylor Swift. Now that we’ve gotten further insight on who the authentic Mrs. Lee is, who do you think she would’ve chosen if she kept the question in?
Interview by Karis Kwon and Sophie Shah