MISSION STORY
MY STORY: 1999-2022
I grew up in British Columbia and I am a proud Taiwanese Canadian citizen. I was exposed to Western culture which was then merged with Taiwanese culture as I got older. I was diagnosed with a medical condition which made it difficult for me to understand and retain information at a capacity that was deemed "normal." With this, I adapted to several types of disciplinary ways of studying. It took a long time but my parents found several tutors to help me learn and understand the concepts taught in every subject at school. It took me years to figure out what methods worked for me and what didn't.
As a child, I attended Early French Immersion, a full week of extra-curricular activities after school and spent over 60 hours a week with tutors who kept me on track and understood what my weaknesses were and how to strengthen them. High school was a little harder as I understood that I needed to do my very best and push through so I could get accepted into the universities that I applied for. The last couple years of high school was daunting and at times, I felt like the world was ending and whatever outcome came was the best I could ever get. I graduated high school and enjoyed the last summer before a new chapter began: university.
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University was a rollercoaster. I moved to Victoria and studied music. I spent hours burying myself in a practice room and the other half in aesthetic cafes, grinding away on my laptop with my friends. It started off easy and manageable, then I was forced to take a break and seek medical treatment for an injury. After a couple of years of rest, I gained the motivation to take on full-time studies again. It wasn't an easy ride. ​Shortly after returning to a full course load, the pandemic began and the whole world shut down. I was so close to graduating but in January 2020, my mental and physical health declined. There were nights where I regretted my decision about taking on a heavy course load as I waited to be seen by a doctor in the emergency room.
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By the end of the summer, I had moved back to the Lower Mainland since my upcoming semesters were confirmed to be virtual. I spent a year attending school online and taking on several classes per semester. Since it was out of the comfort of my own home, the stress was manageable but even then, I had moments where I was frustrated and ready to give up on my studies. My instructors noticed that I was struggling to understand the material and would offer me help during office hours as well as connecting me with past graduates who did well in their classes to help me succeed.
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​​When restrictions were lifted, university protocols were preparing for in-person lectures. For me, school became hybrid: a mix of in-person and virtual. I was in the final stretch of my university career. Lots of obstacles fell into my lap but I found ways to overcome them. Even though I only had a few courses left to complete, I still relied on help from my profs, resources from home, and any help I could get from past instructors.
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There were many struggles that I endured but it was all for the best. Along the way, I met some forgiving and dedicated professors who took extra time and energy just to see me through. They gave me multiple chances so I could pass. From my education, I learned to persevere through the hard times, have courage, and to communicate what wasn't working.
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Gino Cassino & Tutoring
In high school, I met a French teacher named Gino Cassino who encouraged me to use the skills I’d already possessed in potential career paths. This included teaching English, French, and piano. At the time, I was not convinced that teaching would be something I would enjoy. I was fifteen when my teacher introduced me to one of his students. ​​I hadn't thought about tutoring at the time since I was the one always getting tutored. My French teacher had a student who needed a tutor to help strengthen their French skills. Mr. Cassino said to give it a try but he emphasized that I would be an excellent mentor and teacher should I decided to choose a career path in education.
Over the past few years, I began working for a tutoring agency where I was matched with a client based on weakness and subject. There have been situations where I began to feel for the parent(s) and on their behalf, worry. I feel as though the teachers I had the privilege of meeting and working with were actually kind-hearted people who REALLY cared for their students. I have had a few clients where despite the efforts of getting them the help they need, I've had to resort to my own resources or think of other methods to help my clients succeed in their studies. In the past decade, I have tutored many children in French and English as well as shared my knowledge of music with the world. I have met so many families with unique and gifted children. Some of my students possessed specific challenges and learning disabilities such as ADHD, ADD, dyslexia, anxiety, depression, and epilepsy.
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Dedication ​
As you can already tell, the proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” has held a great worth of significance in my life. From growing up in a multicultural city to moving to an unknown place to call my new home to moving back to the initial city that helped establish a calling from a past life to the masterpiece it is today.
Through my experiences, I learned to advocate for those who cannot speak up or are scared to. I know that feeling because in another life, I was in their shoes. Even though I was in uncharted territory for some of my experiences, I still did my best to seek outside help instead of just giving up. I learned that living with an uncontrollable permanent condition and receiving support from a village of tutors and dedicated teachers, has helped shape me into the person I am today. I appreciate the abundance of support I received in high school.
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I hope to continue my education and pursue a second degree in teaching. Gino Cassino was a very dedicated teacher who touched many of his students' lives. To say the least, if it wasn't for that little push from him, I would not have gained over a decade of experience as a tutor and meeting all these wonderful families. I will forever be grateful for the drive and passion Mr. Cassino instilled in me.
In March 2020, I learned of his passing and was devastated that I never got the chance to say goodbye and thank him for his continued support even after I graduated high school. I want to carry on his legacy in hopes that I will also touch and help future students strive for the highest and fullest potential in their education and career.
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Mission Statement
Sunflower Learning was founded as a safe haven for families who needed the extra support for their children. The sunflower symbolizes many things -- one of those is the global recognition for non-visible disabilities or "hidden" and "invisible" disabilities. In school, we are taught to never judge a book by its cover. This is why. You never know what will surprise you until you read the pages. To this day, many people have pointed out that I "look" like any other ordinary person and that there isn't anything wrong with me. I am a person but no one is the same and no one is perfect. Perfection used to be something I aimed for but over the last few years, I learned that it's unhealthy to aim that high. At Sunflower Learning, I don't want my students to strive for perfection but to do their best. I offer a variety of educational services including private music lessons, English and French tutoring, and musical entertainment for special events. My current services are based in Delta, Surrey, Richmond, and Burnaby. Virtual options are also available but are only offered to mature adults and specific subjects.
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Salt and Whistle is a writer, podcast host, and mindset coach. When I felt like I was at rock bottom during my undergrad, I read several mental health books. Some of them changed my way of thinking and some of them sparked a memory from the past. Salt and Whistle wrote one about climbing mountains. When I think about what I've had to go through, there are times where I felt as though I wasn't supposed to go through them. But when I think about them again, I think, well, maybe I wasn't supposed to go through them now but I was able to pick myself back up and take the necessary baby steps to get myself to where I am today. What does that mean? It means I was built for it. The photo on this page is from my trip to Alberta when I visited one of my best friends. These mountains were a beautiful sight for sore eyes even though I had to wake up long before the sun rose. When I took this picture, I thought about all the mountains I had to climb and although the process to get to the destination was sometimes harsh, the outcome, and in this case, the destination became a beautiful reward.
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"One day, you're going to be so glad that you didn't quit. That you met every "I can't" with an "I can", took one more step when you'd had enough, tried again tomorrow even though you fell down today.
One day, you're going to thank the you that stands here now. The one who continued to show up even though things felt hard. The one who dusted themselves off and found a new way of looking at things.
One day, you're going to thank the you that was wise enough to remind you that you can do hard things.
The evidence is in all the mountains you've climbed, hardships you've overcome, and the fact that you are here now - still standing."
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-SALT AND WHISTLE​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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