Faith Yokoyama

• College Attended: University of Hawaii / University of Washington
• Favorite Quote: “Everything will be alright in the end. If it’s not alright, it’s not the end.”
• Subject Areas Teaching: Japanese
• Country You’d Love to Visit Next: Japan
• Languages Spoken or Learning: Japanese

He was dark gray. Definitely ‘pudgy’ from lack of any exercise.  He sat quietly, five to seven rows back, behind all the others who clamored in the front for attention.  When taken out for a trial run, we sat, and without asking, or even making eye contact, he had the audacity to make himself at home.  He sat in our lap for over two hours, never moving, never once looking at us.

Without permission, without foresight into the future, we decided to take Mr. Pudge home.  The only problem was, now we might both be homeless.  Was it worth it?   Yes.

Like all our students we come across, the most unexpected ones make a lasting impact on our hearts.  The quiet ones, the funny ones, the ones who can never stop talking.  The ones who love to draw, or run, or just dream.  Like Mr. Pudge, who shaped our life, it’s our students who make us into the teachers we are.