Sometimes You Have to Leave to Appreciate What You Had

When I first joined Twinkle in 2022, I was only there for six months as a substitute teacher. Although my time was relatively short, it left a lasting impression on me. Every day brought a different classroom, new students, and new personalities to get to know. Even if I only taught a class for a few lessons, I always enjoyed building a rapport with the students and seeing their confidence grow. At the time, however, I saw it as just one chapter in a much bigger journey.

Later that year, I left Korea to pursue a career change in New York, while also focusing on some personal priorities outside of teaching. I was excited to try something different, and I genuinely believed my time in Korean classrooms had come to an end.

Life, however, has a funny way of surprising you.

As my time in New York drew to a close, I found myself thinking less about the career I had left teaching for and more about the classroom itself. I missed the energy of the students, the relationships you build over time, and the feeling that every day was a chance to make a small difference in someone's life. Looking back, I realised I hadn't missed Korea as much as I had missed teaching. 

When I decided I wanted to return to teaching in Korea, reaching out to Twinkle felt like the natural first step. I was incredibly grateful when they welcomed me back, this time as a full-time teacher at a different branch. While the school, colleagues, and students are new, the values that made me enjoy my first experience with Twinkle are exactly the same.

Sometimes you have to leave somewhere before you truly appreciate what it gave you. My six months as a substitute teacher taught me more than I realised at the time, and returning has reminded me why I loved teaching in the first place. Looking back, I don't think I came back because I was searching for something new. I came back because I finally understood what I'd found the first time.