Summer Semester 2009: Bei Bei

I remember the first time I realized this beautiful and talented Chinese woman had authentic power. This was my debut as an ESOL teacher. I was soloing while the college administration was undergoing a series of management changes. I had done my homework, went through the courtship and was ready to take my place on the faculty. It had been 25 years since I'd been in a classroom and I was eager to begin after a long hiatus. I really liked and respected the two women who brought me under their wings and encouraged me to fly. Little did I know that the college's financial reorganization plan did not include them. Memories of previous crisis situations put me on alert. "Let's see what happens here", I thought. Academic politics is a brutal sport.

Meanwhile, I had a third level English class waiting for me. Right from the start, I knew I would never have a class like this again. This class of predominantly professionals from the Dominican Republic and Colombia included lawyers, doctors, MBAs and graduates from their home country's most prestigious universities. The class also included this one petite Chinese beauty everyone called Bei Bei. Her smile lit up the room and she was loved by all the men and women alike. She was a bundle of energy and creativity with a direct demeaner that was simultaneously no nonsense but fun.

The power in her presence was alluring. She asked questions, she was engaging, her vocabulary and writing abilities amazed me. However, when she went to the rest room, all this positive energy left the classroom, too!
Whosh, like a vacuum sucking out the air in the room. Where was she going? I wasn't the only one who noticed. Pedro just smiled. He understood because he had been in the same class with Bei Bei the previous two semesters. When she waltzed in from her retreat, all the energy came flowing back into the room. I'd say that was a great demonstration of her power. I knew in an instant we would become great friends.

There is an old saying, "When the teacher is ready the student will come. When the student is ready the teacher will come." In this circumstance, for 3 hours a week for 12 weeks, I played the teacher and Bei Bei played the student. About 2/3 way through the course, Bei Bei hands me a CD and asks me if I'd watch the video she made by herself about her life. "Video? What can't this woman do?" Of course, I said yes.

This was a real video not a Powerpoint presentation. Here is Bei Bei, here are her parents, her baby pictures, as a student, a soldier, a nurse, an actress, a dancer and a singer in China. Here is Bei Bei with her friends in the US, teaching at the local Chinese cultural center, and here she is in our language program. She is also singing the background music and narrating in the video, posing as a vixen, dancing, vamping, and here is her daughter. In other words, her talents, creativity and genius knew no boundaries. I agreed we should show this video at the celebration event when the class received their certificates of completion. It was going to be a surprise for the class and any administrators in attendance.

Given the fact that in this class of adults, most had participated in formal commencement exercises in their home countries. Coupled with the severe financial constraints in the economy, its profound impact on our immigrant community and a directive to keep this a low-key, low-profile event, I understood Bei Bei's video said more about the quality of our students and our program than anyone would ever believe. Her leadership became the highlight of a summer evening topped off with ice cream sundaes for all in attendance.

The response and support of the class to Bei Bei and her video made the hair on my arms stand up. It was electrifying.There were calls, whistles and chants "Bei Bei!! Bei Bei!! Ooo!" She received a standing ovation! The video was replayed.

Even, the aloof new Executive Director was quoted in saying, "I've been in the academic world for a long time and I have never seen anything like that! Amazing!" That is known as showcasing the uniqueness of our ESOL students and our teachers. Bei Bei is my inspiration.

That is how I met and bonded with her. Stay tuned for part two.