By Landon Williams
Americans build their days around the clock, making every day a little more stressful than the last. For some countries, such as Cambodia, it’s the complete opposite.
Mr. Jon Pawley, better known as student teacher Mr. Pawley, is a student at Taylor University in Upland, Ind. He is learning to adapt to the American lifestyle after he moved from Cambodia, a country in Asia.
“Coming to America, I feel like I always have one more thing to do,” Pawley said. “It’s almost as if breathing is harder here.”
Unlike America, Cambodia doesn’t let the clock dictate their day nor their schedule.
Cambodia has a much slower pace of life, as to America where everyday feels like a struggle.
“In Cambodia, on a Sunday afternoon, I could just grab a coconut and sit in a hammock and think for 4 hours,” Pawley said.
In Cambodia responsibilities aren’t as significant as they are here in America, life can be seen in a much slower and different point of view.
Now in America, Pawley’s life consists of serving as the student teacher with Mrs. Audrey Young, who teaches geometry and Algebra II.
As Mrs. Young’s student teacher, she has developed into one of Pawley’s greatest mentors for his career. Through this relationship they both have been able to benefit from each other’s teaching styles.
“He has brought new ways of thinking from college that me and the students have learned from,” Young said.
In order for Pawley to get to the spot he’s at today, he faced multiple obstacles.
Through these obstacles Pawleys love for education stayed true.
Unlike other kids oftentimes he didn’t have his parents around to help with homework.
Pawley’s parents were missionaries, which means they traveled to spread the Gospel to children or adults who might not have been introduced to it.
Growing up in this lifestyle created a certain soft spot within Pawley for kids with the same type of situation.
That was when Pawley figured out what he wanted to do with his career. He wanted to spend his career teaching kids.
“My main goal with teaching is to support kids who don’t have many opportunities, or whose parents are missionaries that are in different countries spreading the Gospel,” Pawley said.
There was no better place in Pawleys mind to start his teaching career than following in his fathers footsteps by attending Taylor University.
When Pawley and his father would come from Cambodia to visit the United States they would visit Taylor University and the area his dad stayed in.
Now as an adult he stays in the room directly across from where his father stayed years ago.
This year will be Pawley’s final year attending Taylor University before graduating. Although Pawley has come a long way, there were some obstacles he faced.
Throughout all the stress and hardships Pawley is finally ready to pursue his passion.
After his student teaching stint, he plans to attain a teaching position in Honduras where he intends to build a future with his girlfriend.
As he takes this giant leap in his life, he’s learned something he wants to take with him no matter where he ends up.
“My motto is to show up, ask questions and to never quit that’s my key to success in life,” Pawley said.
