After 12 years of experiments, equations, and the occasional chemistry pun, Ms. Antonette Lualhati graduates. This year, the veteran secondary science teacher reaches the pinnacle of her 33-year career and retires.
Ms. Lualhati landed her first teaching job in the Philippines but later moved to America with her husband and youngest daughter in pursuit of the “American Dream.” “I was so happy while I was in the Philippines because I was very comfortable. I had my family with me, and I was happy with my teaching job. But then my husband went to America, so I followed him. I believed that if I became an American citizen, then I could have all my family in America. I believed that going there would mean stability,” she said.
However, the reality of life in the States did not fulfill her expectations. “I was not happy [in America] because my daughter didn’t want to join me anymore. She wanted to be in the Philippines, which meant I was by myself the second year that I was there. And at the high school I went to, education was taken for granted. So I wasn’t happy. It was my happiness against a green card. And I chose my happiness. That’s why I came to DIS,” Ms. Lualhati said.
Luckily, unlike her gig in America, Ms. Lualhati believes DIS was the right move. “DIS is so tailored for me. Korea is close to the Philippines. I can go home any time I want to. It’s just a four-hour flight by plane. I really love it,” she said. After a dozen years at DIS, she found a sense of belonging that had been absent elsewhere.
Unfortunately, a satisfactory life in Korea came with a cost – Ms. Lualhati missed many irreplaceable moments with her loved ones. “I wasn’t able to spend many holidays with them. For 16 years, I wasn’t able to celebrate my birthday with them. I remember for one birthday, I had my cake on my desk and my family was celebrating with me on the screen, watching me blow the cake,” Ms. Lualhati said.
The veteran teacher plans to make up for lost moments after her retirement. “My heart is where my family is. And my children are in the Philippines. I feel like I really have to be with them. My children need my guidance more than anybody else. My family is more important,” she said.
After three decades with high schoolers, she plans to return to her teenage years and reconnect with her former classmates. “I can finally attend reunions with old friends that I always missed. My high school friends have always done reunions, but I’m always not there. I always wanted to attend because I miss them so much. I am especially excited to be joining the 50th-year reunion with my high school friends next year,” she said.
While she wishes to relax, she leaves the doors open for re-entering the educational field. “I am looking into resting for a year. During that period, I’ll spend more time with my kids and our grandchildren. I’m very excited. If I get tired of resting, I might consider looking into a business venture. But if I miss teaching, I might look into teaching in universities or colleges,” she said.
As she experiences each of her “lasts” at DIS, she treasures her memories from over the years. “I had so many good memories. Those memories and relationships are really what I am going to cherish. Every year there are special students that I am really attached to. It’s sad to say goodbye to all the students who have been really, really close to me. And of course, I’m going to miss a lot of teachers who I have been close to,” Ms. Lualhati said.
Despite the bittersweet farewell, Ms. Lualhati expressed deep gratitude for the community. “Thank you, everyone, for being a part of my life. I really cherish, and I will cherish, every moment that I spent here at the DIS. I will always be looking back to these memories.”
