Some of the students who learned from Mr. Oh (center) received interviews with Harvard, Columbia, Dartmouth, and Brown.
Recent college graduates often find themselves searching for fulfilling work. Those who subscribe to the Christian faith are no different, but beg the question of how to glorify God through their work. Jonathan Oh, a recent graduate of the University of California San Diego, found himself in such a place.
Oh is currently a math teacher at Gompers Preparatory Academy in San Diego, and a corps member of Teach for America. In an interview, he explained his transition from student to professional, and his faith in the process.
“My junior year of undergraduate school is when the panic started,” said Oh. Studying economics at the time, he realized that life after graduation was no longer a distant reality. In this panic, Oh partook in internships and talked with alumni and older individuals in hopes of guidance. Though he studied economics and business, Oh decided he would pursue other fields.
“In my senior year there was a shift,” he said. “The question changed from ‘how do I glorify God through my work?’ to ‘okay, so what is God doing in the world, and how can I play a role in that?’ I knew that I wanted to pursue a career that was humanitarian in nature, where I could love people. I narrowed my search down to three fields: medicine, law, and education,” he said.
Through a process of elimination and discernment, Oh decided he would pursue a career in education.
“There was a pragmatic aspect of my decision process, such as the fact that medical school and law school were both extremely difficult, long, and expensive. Not to mention the extremely competitive tests like MCAT and LSAT that I had not prepared for,” he said. Oh then expounded upon his faith in the decision-making.
The song “Hosanna” by Hillsong was his favorite praise song when he led worship at his church, he explained.
“The bridge became my prayer: ‘Break my heart for what breaks Yours’,” he said. Oh saw the need and importance of education for the youth, especially for underprivileged youth. Education was stressed in his own childhood since his mother, aunt, and grandmother were all teachers.
“Education was always a big part of my childhood,” said Oh. “Issues such as educational equity and God’s heart for the young, poor, and needy weighed heavily on my own heart. Education can be used to empower them.”
Around that time, a friend asked Oh if he knew anyone who would be interested in joining a Teach for America Corps in San Diego. Oh took the opportunity and began his teaching career in June of 2013.
Oh is responsible for teaching AP Calculus AB and Pre-Calculus to 120 students across four periods. Gompers Preparatory Academy, the school where Oh works, is a relatively new charter school that had a difficult history. The preparatory academy is located in a low-income neighborhood in southeast San Diego. But since its opening, the school has had a “huge upswing”. When the charter first opened, it had a 75 percent turnover rate for staff, which dropped down to 50 percent 4-5 years ago, and was reported as 15 percent last year.
In his second week of teaching, Oh faced some of this turmoil when a student crumpled up his exam during class and threw it, cursing the teacher.
“I could have reacted in a myriad of ways. But I realized that I couldn’t take it personally because they’re kids. I’m here to help them navigate this: the struggle with liking math, the struggle to feel confident, the struggle to be okay with struggling through problem solving,” said Oh.
Jonathan Oh (way left, top row) also directed and produced a show with his students called Homecoming Lip Sync Concert
Love and grace are crucial in teaching, according to Oh. “Love is unconditional. The students are people, so I love them. I practice gentle speech and the fruits of the spirit towards my students in order to be a good witness to them,” he said. He explained his effort to show grace to his students by remembering the debt of sin that Christ afforded to him.
Oh then shared the difficulties he faces as a teacher. “There is always work to be done. Teachers not only work at school, but also have to prepare lesson plans, make copies, grade assignments and tests. Work comes home with teachers. It’s tiring, and constantly worrying about the kids can be emotionally draining,” he said.
One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching, however, is “when the students realize that college is an option,” he said. “For most of the students, they will be the first in their family to attend college. As a teacher I can make a difference in their lives. I did something to teach them, they learned something.”
Eight of Oh’s students received interviews from Harvard and Columbia, a new achievement for the school. The class of 2015 will be the fourth graduating class in the new preparatory academy.
“Everything we do is historic for the school, it’s exciting. We want to make school a fun and safe place.”
Jonathan Oh does not know exactly what the future holds for his professional career. He says he is currently waiting on God for the next steps.
“It may be in the classroom, or not, but I know that it will relate to education. I know that I want to do something that impacts people and challenges myself to grow.”
