Jaeteuk Member Profile

Acceptance into a Teaching Program

Student Support / by Jaeteuk

July 8th

...See more I received a letter of acceptance Monday morning, into a teaching program at the College where I started my secondary career as a Clinical Instructor to one of their Continuing Education Certificate program. The course I applied for supposed to start yesterday. In the email where they sent me the acceptance letter, it did say that it may take up two 24 hours before the course will appear through the online portal. As of this moment, it's past the 24 hours, and it's still not seen on my dashboard. So, I've emailed my instructor to see what my next steps are. In the meantime, I'm waiting for the textbook to be delivered to me. I've received a tracking number from the College's bookstore, so, maybe I'll either receive it later today, or sometime tomorrow. This course is good timing, as it's from July 6th to September 13th, 2026. I start teaching my second cohort October 5th. I've also signed up for mandatory workshops that should provide more skills to become a better Clinical Instructor. With two workshops this month and the third one in August. I hope this course will not be too difficult, the instructor sent out an email to the students, that there will be group projects. Since it's an online course, I wonder how that would work out. Do we choose our own groups, or will be assigned? Would I need to meet up with them in-person? I work 4 days a week, so I hope using 3 days to study and do the course is enough time for me. It's been a few years since I've taken a course. I do want to learn more skills to help me become a better Clinical Instructor, especially when this is something I wish that I can continue to do for the long-term, alongside with my regular part-time career. Two careers, that have become a dream come true for me. Teaching is definitely something I would love to continue to be doing. So upgrading my skills is the best way for me to improve.

Trust issues in friendships

Women's Issues / by Jaeteuk

May 13th

...See more Starting off with a bit of history in my past friendships. The longest friendship I had with another girl was 15 years. I called off our friendship when we were 27, because I was always the one initiating and contacting her with plans to meet up. I moved out of the city we met in, an hour drive apart. So, I always contacted her to ask when she's free to have a meal together, and we met half-way (distance-wise). In those 15 years, there had been many times where she'd cancel last minute; last minute, as in, I had already arrived at our meeting place, and she sends a text message saying something came up and couldn't make it. This happened so many times, I've lost count. As someone who likes to plan and have a routine, to have her break that plan, was very disheartening. The thing is, when we sat down one day, and I told her that I'm tired of our one-way friendship, she didn't say anything about wanting to keep it going. The only things she told me then was, "you've known I was like this from day one." I guess for her, she doesn't grow, or want to change her habits for the better of us. In those 15 years, there were other short-lived friendships. I remember there was this one, it was with a male classmate. I thought we'd end up to be good friends, but once I felt comfortable with him, and started sharing about my history (with depression), he avoided me like the plague. At the University, walking by each other, he avoided eye contact. There was a coworker at one point, of whom I thought we could've been good friends. Another male, but he saw through me. The first person in my life that could see through me. But after a couple of years of working with him, his parents sent him back home to get married, and I lost contact with him. I recently taught a cohort of six students in my current career. One of the girls, although I'm 9 years older, I felt we have a different connection. Now that class has ended, and we're now coworkers, as she's one of the five students who passed, is hired into my department. Now that we're no longer Instructor-Student relationship, and coworkers, I feel that we could become friends. She understands me the most, but at the same time, I'm starting to feel it as a one-sided friendship again. As I'm always the one messaging her to ask how her day went. And yes, she'd ask me back. But I'm the one initiating the conversation. Why is so hard to develop a friendship that is more two-sided? I have a habit with friendships, I tend to let the other person know about me, my past, almost right at the beginning. It's almost like, I want them to know the worst of me, and if they still decide to stay, then, they will be someone worth my time to try and develop a friendship with. But I've noticed, this way, many do choose to turn their backs on me. It's saddening to know that those I've met, that no one is willing to face mental health with empathy and understanding. I'm past the stage where depression is a large part of my life, at least, in the present, only triggers will make me feel depressed. I feel with depression, since I have lived with it for two-thirds of my life so far (I'm 39 now), that even when I've moved forward, became a better person, depression will always be a part of my life. As there will always be some kind of trigger that would upset me, that would give me flashbacks, that would put me in a depressed state for a couple of days, for a week, for a couple of weeks, for a month. Am I trusting the other person too easily, too quickly, and revealing my life story scares them away? I want a real, deep, understanding, emotionally bonded type of friendship. So, I had always believed that I need tell the other person all of me, including my past, right at the beginning. But I find, pouring my heart out, almost always end up having the other person turn their backs on me. Why is it so hard to find someone who can reciprocate this same type of friendship. I just feel that it's better to show them the bad part of me, and if they accept it, then, it's all good. Rather than waiting for our friendship to develop, and then revealing that part my history later; then, find out that they cannot accept that part of me. If they turn their back on me then, it would hurt even more than right from the beginning. So, there are times, where I'm almost afraid to show them my true self, as there had been too many incidents where the other person choose to turn away, than to stay by my side. So, when will I ever find that someone who is willing to stay? Does that person even exist? I just need one person, as either a friend, or a life-long partner.

Ready for the next phase

35 & Over Community / by Jaeteuk

April 30th

...See more For those who know my story, and those who are new. I'm in my late 30s, and it wasn't until May 2025 when I finally returned to a career where I carry deep passion and have a higher purpose that contributes to the passion. It was one of my dream careers, one that I had put aside for the past five years. During my first few months, I was appointed as a Clinical Instructor; I've just finished teaching my first Cohort of students. With great news, all five who passed, have been hired! Teaching had been a second dream career of mine, as I also hold a TEFL Certificate. Ever since both of my dream careers have come true, I felt a shift in myself. In a good way, earlier this year, I went out for lunch, with a couple, friends of my parents. My parents and brother were away for vacation, left alone, I arranged a lunch with that couple. They have known me for several years, and even they saw the shift/change in me. They commented I was more open, had more things to talk about, and looked happy. I agree, in public spaces, like transit, I'm talking to strangers. I even have a train-buddy, which, I said my good-byes with, as I won't be taking the train until my next cohort in the Fall. She said she'll still be there. So, hopefully we will meet again in October. I once spoke with a bus driver, to let him know that there was a strip of ad overhead that was about the fall. My thinking was, I'd better let the driver know, in case it falls on a passenger, as it is the hard type of poster material, I didn't want it to fall on someone, and cut their face or something. Whether or not the driver ended up fixing it, I felt good after telling him, as it was hanging down. Since last year, my confidence has definitely increased, and I'm ready for the next phase of life. Meaning, meeting/finding a potential husband.

Attending a Conference

Work & Career / by Jaeteuk

March 8th

Providing Grief Support for my Students

Grief & Loss / by Jaeteuk

March 15th

Additional Role in my Career

Work & Career / by Jaeteuk

January 6th

...See more I get to start teaching for the February term. Hired by the College last September, to become a Clinical Instructor for the education program required for my current profession. One month countdown, as first day is February 2nd. 2026 will start off well, and it's all thanks to my decision to change work locations in May 2025. The Management Team at the current hospital I work at, is very supportive. They even appointed me to the College to become a Clinical Instructor. With a career that I have passion for, with full support from the Team. Now, I get to teach, which is a secondary dream of mine. To teach in the career that I love doing, it's a bonus for sure. I might sound crazy to some of you, but it is only when I am working, or even the moment I'm changed into my scrubs, I feel the most energetic and alive. Even when I didn't sleep well the night before, I still feel energized while I'm in uniform and working. I remember back when I was a student myself, during my Clinical practice, every day, I felt like I was functioning on adrenaline. I was excited and ready to learn. I finally have my list of students. At first, I was told there would be six of them, but the list only shows five. Even better, as it's my first term, lesser students would be easier to manage and teach. From the list, it looks like they are all female, with one name that looks familiar. I'll know when I see her if it's the same person I have in mind. Before I started working in my profession in 2018, I worked a retail job for 5 years. During that time, at one point, there was a girl with a unique name that worked in the shop nearby. Although she wasn't there for long, but with that unique name, it's difficult to forget. So, the moment I saw the name, she came to mind. I'll also take my first paid vacation 10 days before I start teaching. So, I'll only be working up until Jan. 22nd, then, go on my vacation Jan. 23rd to Feb. 1st. Going on a cruise with my parents. I actually return on the 31st, but don't feel like working on the 1st, so took it off as well. Mainly because my Sunday shift is an evening shift, which means, I get home around 12:30am. I hope I do well and get good feedback from my students. Would love to continue being a Clinical Instructor. Living and working my two dream careers, is the best life.

Sharing my insights and positive experiences

Positivity & Gratitude / by Jaeteuk

December 16th, 2025

...See more To those who finds this post, let me start off with a description of myself. I finished a Certificate program in 2018 and have been working at a local hospital for the past 7 years. Last summer, July 2024, my grandma suddenly passed away and I was hit with grief. Which impacted my every-day-life. I was off work for 8 months, attended grief counselling, grief support group, and I felt my life came to a stop. I could not function, my mind had shut down and I didn't know what I felt anymore, aside from weight of sadness. During those 8 months, the grief counselling, where I saw a counsellor once a week, and with the grief support group, where we met up once a week for 3 months, really helped. I felt alone in the grief because my family did not react the same way to grandma's passing. This was my mum's mum, my parents flew back home to attend her funeral, while my brother and I stayed here. My brother didn't even need to take any days off from work, and I got the news of her passing, during my shift. Which immediately hit me rock hard, I tried going back to work after the weekend, but I could not function. My mum took me on a 10-day cruise trip in September 2024, get some mother-daughter time alone, talk about grandma, and plan to go visit her at her grave in December. When December came, we got another sudden news, my dad's brother suddenly passed away too. He was found unconscious in bed at home by my Aunt, then, he was in a coma in the hospital for 3 days, before he passed away in his sleep. So last December, my family went back home to attend his funeral, visit my grandma at her grave, and went on a mini vacation to Japan. After returning from the trip, I didn't go back to work until mid-February 2025. Working in a hospital, I went back to work on the Gradual Return to Work program, which for me, lasted for 2 months. Returning to work felt different, as when I first heard the news about my Grandma, the coworkers on my team were not at all supportive or understanding. So, I suddenly that the thought of wanting to leave this hospital I had worked at for the past 7 years, that was also close to home (a 5 minute drive away). So, mid-March, I started looking for work at a different hospital, a different health authority altogether. I sent in my resume to a hospital that's like an hour drive away, got a response in two weeks, and was set-up with an interview the second week of April. From then on, my life changed for the better. The interview was in the morning, although it was an hour long, within the first 30 minutes, the Manager says "You're hired". So I was interviewed by the Manager and the Supervisor that arranged the interview, halfway through, another Supervisor joined us in the office. So after the "you're hired", the second Supervisor was already adding me to their system, requesting a staff ID #, and arranged for my month-long orientation, which started the second week of May. As the position I applied for, the line starts June 5th, so I had to finish my Orientation before that day, June 3rd. Here are the positive experiences, mid-July, the first Supervisor pulled me aside during my shift one day, and said she would like to appoint me to become a Clinical Instructor for the College that offers the Certificate Program, the education that is needed to work as a Tech (what I'm doing now). Of course, I've accepted the opportunity, as teaching was a second dream of mine. So by early August, I had an interview with the College and was hired by them. In September, I was able to assistance in the Theory portion of the class over 2 weekends. I have my first cohort of six students in February 2026. I am super excited. I had felt happier at this hospital, the moment I heard the "you're hired" from the Manager, as she also mentioned, I was the first candidate that she has ever hired on the spot. This shows that the visions I have in regards of my career aligns with the Management Team and I have their full support. Honestly, ever since I started working at this hospital, I do feel a lot more happier and confident. I made a good decision to leave the other hospital and I have rekindled the passion I have for the work that I do, something that I lost for the past 5 years. I am a lot more open, as I've found myself speak up in situations where I wouldn't have said a word years ago. For example, I now take public transit twice a week (I work part-time, 4 days). There was a time where on the bus, one of the ads overhead was dangling, because of the wind from an opened window and the bus driver kept stopping abruptly. When I got off at my stop, I actually spoke up to the driver, telling him about the dangling ad (as it was right above one of the exit doors). My thought was, he'd better fix it before it falls on someone's head. Although it's just like a long rectangular poster board, but it could still cause a paper cut or something if it falls on someone. Looking back to a fews years ago, I probably wouldn't have said anything about it. Looking ahead of me now, I feel that my life is finally getting back on track, as I turn 39 next month, and I get to achieve that second dream of mine, teaching. I can see things are changing in a positive direction for me. This is really like a new chapter of my life. I just wanted to share my experience with you. It's never too late to make career changes, and I find that it's important to keep moving forward, despite it being small steps. We might feel stuck at times, but know that it is okay. We all hit a wall multiple times in our lives, but it doesn't mean it's permanently in our way. That wall will break down, if not, you will find ways to climb over it. Don't give up or lose hope, even if you're just hanging on by the thread. Cheers~

Anyone a fan of Jackson Wang here?

Around the World / by Jaeteuk

December 14th, 2025

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