Alumni Spotlight: 
Q&A with Junia Kim

Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, Bay Area Campus
California School of Education at Alliant International University

Professional Information 

Executive Director at Seen52 in Alameda County, CA

Q: How did your Alliant experience contribute to your career growth? 

A: I honestly would never recommend attending school full-time and teaching, but that is what I did. I lucked out with some great instructors – some whom I’ve kept in touch with today. I really appreciated how during my credentialing program, my instructors still had one foot in the work, so they truly understood my day-to-day experiences as a young teacher. It was a helpful jumping off point for me.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your work? 

A: I really enjoy being able to engage with youth who truly need it most. Being able to meet physical, emotional, and educational needs without some of the constraints of a school system has been a gift.

Q: What inspires you to make a positive difference in the world? 

A: I’m inspired by the youth, honestly. As someone who loves community and relationships and keeping in touch, I ended up teaching in Oakland much longer than I thought I would. The desire to truly make a difference where it counts is what ended up inspiring me to make a shift into starting my nonprofit.

Q: Share your advice for current students.

A: Take time to pause and find reasons to be grateful for every child you are currently responsible for. Seriously – pause and spend 15 minutes and jot down a reason to be grateful for every child on your classroom roster or client list. You might not get through all of them, but if you do this once a month, I promise it will give you what you need to keep going. You’re so important.

Learn more about Junia Kim’s work:
https://www.seen52.org/

If you would like to share your reflections in an Alliant alumni spotlight, please click here or email alumni@alliant.edu.