Hope Mallawong
; Math, k
My name is Hope Mallawong and I am currently attending Steinhardt’s School of Culture,
Education and Human Development at New York University. I am working to obtain a bachelor’s
degree in Childhood/Special Education and eventually earn a master’s degree in this field of
profession. My passion to educate young children has always resided within me. When I was
ten years old, my family and I moved to Thailand for humanitarian work. One of the
organizations that we worked alongside with was called “Baan Mai Sawan” located in Chiang
Mai, Thailand. Through this program I was given the opportunity to assist in educating young
girls from the ages of five to eighteen. As my time in this program progressed, I slowly
assimilated to the culture and discovered the extent of how much these young girls were willing
to sacrifice for the opportunities of a better education. The numerous stories I heard consisted of
many young girls leaving their villages and their families. Although the love for their families
were strong, they knew that the success of their future lied in education. It was this concept of
knowledge not just as a requirement, but as a privilege that impacted my heart. Moving back to
southern California at the age of fifteen, I was determined to bring the same passion for
education that I saw overseas to the children in the States. I volunteered teaching four year olds
at a Sunday school, counseling at children’s camps as well as assisting in a fourth grade
classroom. My goal is to encourage students to develop a love for learning and an appreciation
for its benefits. I am excited to learn alongside my students and create a fun and accepting
environment for every child that steps foot in the classroom.