J Kim is in his first year teaching math at South and his second year teaching overall. Although he is enjoying his new career, being an educator was not his first plan.

He originally planned to study business, which he did at Missouri State for two years.

However, “I had no passion for business,” he said, “so I decided to transfer to Mizzou to study education.”

A friend in the education program convinced him to switch.

“I really wasn’t interested in business anyway, and I’ve always really liked math,” he said.

Mr. Kim has always considered himself academic. He even did Speech and Debate in his junior and senior years of high school.

“A lot of my friends were in it and I heard only good things about it,” he said. “So I decided to try it and I liked it.”

Before Mr. Kim taught at South, he taught at Battle Creek High School in Columbia, Missouri, but ultimately decided to come to South after he heard great things about the school.

“I also just really wanted to move to the Kansas City area,” he said.

Mr. Kim said he likes how “straightforward” math is. He had always found it easy.

“I mean, it usually only has one correct answer,” he said.“I don’t like to read a lot of papers, which math doesn’t require me to do, so that factored into why I chose math to teach.”

He said he enjoys the school spirit here. 

“It’s like everyone here is connected somehow, and that’s really cool,” he said.

Sophomore Ryan Young has nothing but praise for the second-year teacher.

He said Mr. Kim is “supportive”, “easygoing”, and “laid back”. 

According to Ryan, a typical day in his class begins with Mr. Kim asking the class a random question, whether that be about their favorite type of ice cream or a ‘would-you-rather’ question. After settling in, he brings up the notes for the day. After notes, Mr. Kim leaves 30-45 minutes of class so that the students can do their work, which usually consists of one page, and Ryan doesn’t find it too overwhelming.

“He is one of my favorite teachers,” he said. 

English Teacher Mr. William Griffin, another young new teacher at the school, said Mr. Kim is a “very open and friendly person”. He noted that Mr. Kim has taken on the responsibility of leading the Asian Student Union here at South.

“He’s doing great and taking on a lot,” Mr. Griffin said