Alyssa Yao
A bit about me:
I am a senior at Cupertino High School. I co-founded YAPA Kids around April 2020 and have led many initiatives to establish and sustain our place in youth education and the global community for learning and mental stimulation. Especially as the world is gradually returning to in-person activities, my job is to carry on the success we have had and the lessons that I learned over that past year, but also search for the future of YAPA Kids in helping the youth pursue additional education and interests.
What do you enjoy about teaching here at YAPA Kids?
At YAPA Kids, teachers can work as a team to create engaging curriculum to teach and get to know the students over weeks or months. I admire my high school peers for the effort and hard work spent on maintaining this nonprofit, all while knowing that parents and students all over the US (and other countries) appreciate what we've done for the youth of our generation!
What have you learned from teaching kids/at YAPA Kids?
Since the formation of YAPA Kids, I've worn several "hats" ranging from interviewing and onboarding new teachers, resolving issues and questions from parents via email, teaching young children (in writing), overseeing the many wonderful programs that YAPA Kids offers, and more. Throughout all of the roles I've played to contribute to YAPAK, clear and constant communication is extremely important to a smoothly running organization. However, from more of a teaching position, I've learned that being a "teacher" figure isn't just about transferring academic knowledge to the students; my students and I have gained so much and formed a strong bond by interacting more casually and getting to know each other. I usually leave my zoom room open before and after class time so that my students and I can talk about whatever they'd like: I've heard clever jokes/puns/riddles, stories they've written about a monkey they made out of eraser tops, their extensive knowledge about a certain species of lemurs, their fascination with onions (HAHA), and countless other priceless conversations. All of these experiences I've had with children from various locations are memories that I will never forget.
Any other comments you want to share?
I am so grateful for my amazing executive team that has contributed to YAPA Kids in unthinkable ways! My vision for YAPAK is to expand and continue its success for years to come.