May 1-5, 2023 marks Teacher Appreciation Week. To celebrate, all week members of the Pepper Bough staff will share how their favorite teachers have made an impact on their lives.

Throughout my time at CHS, I haven’t noticed a lot of students or teachers hang on to their cultural aspects or beliefs. It’s a major interest in mine to learn about different cultures and traditions. 

When I first walked into Ms. Yuh-jen Lin’s classroom, my eyes fixated on several of the depictions and writings of Chinese culture and the expressions of the country she had all over her walls. As I learned more Mandarin, I learned more about the nation.

Ms. Lin’s passion for teaching about what her origins, stories, and celebrations offer her students enlighten them in ways that are brighter than her classroom. My time in her class was a truly stunning experience and I highly recommend it.

The activities she plans vary from Chinese art/calligraphy to tasting food from the country. Although she does carry heavy concern about missing assignments and attention towards the lesson, she only does it for the education and well-being of her students. 

The lessons given often remind me how much of a difference there is between English and Mandarin. One time I walked into the class to pick up a project and I heard Ms. Lin speak Mandarin so quickly I could barely make out the pinyin, let alone translate it. I stood in shock, wondering if I could learn to speak that way taking her classes. 

There are many times where Ms. Lin connects with her students, and because of this she learns more about America and the Colton community. There’d be moments when we’d teach her some modern slang, or phrases used by students around the school. The laughter we shared in the class despite our cultural differences is sincere. Because of that Ms. Lin is a unique and valued teacher at Colton High School and my personally appreciated teacher.