Yulin Deng: President’s Educator Fellowship

Yulin Deng has been awarded the President’s Educator Fellowship during the UCI School of Education 2018-2019 Scholarship Award Ceremony. Yulin is pursuing his Single Subject Master of Arts in Teaching in Mathematics. Below, he shares his thoughts about his academic journey.

November 2018

I majored in Mathematics with a concentration for teaching, at San Francisco State University. I also minored in both education and special education in my undergraduate studies. 

I immigrated to the United States when I was eight years old, and English was a foreign language for me. Through elementary school and middle school, I have been identified as an English learner. I have to say that it wasn’t the easiest process to go through as learning a second language is almost like reading a blank piece of paper to a class full of students. I have been raised in a low to lower middle class household, and I can understand how difficult it is for a student to learn in situations like that. Going through those experiences myself, I want to be able to enlighten students that grew up in the same situation I did.

Growing up, I had one teacher who did her best to make sure that I was learning the materials; and through her I was able to see how empowering teachers can be. Ever since, I have always wanted to be a teacher, specifically a math teacher for low income students. Through mathematics, I hope to teach students how math can relate to things happening in the real world. I want to be able to provide them with the tools and skills to see the real world for themselves. 

Lastly, I just want to express my gratitude on being able to be one of the recipients of this award. With this opportunity, I can focus on how to better my craft on teaching and supporting the future generation of students.

Yulin Deng and Single Subject Coordinator Acacia Warren