In Room J105, colorful photographs of students from both the present and the past paint history onto its walls; a collection of the eight-years Christine Bak-Boychuk has taught at San Juan Hills. This coming June, a final bell will ring on her 31 years of teaching and she will turn the page to a new chapter of her life – retirement. Hear about her story.
Initially, a teaching career did not come into mind when Bak-Boychuk envisioned her future as a teenager yet her passion for literature was already rooted. In high school, she dreamed of moving to New York City and writing for Vogue magazine, in hopes to emulate her literary role model, Joan Didion.
After an unfulfilling experience working in advertising post-college, Bak-Boychuk’s mom encouraged her to try for a teaching job which she eventually landed in Los Angeles.
“I didn’t even really know what I was getting into…I picked English because I was an English minor. I worked in a downtown Los Angeles school and I was totally not prepared for that world, but it was the most amazing thing in the world. I was addicted,” said Bak-Boychuk.
Her early education days in Los Angeles is where Bak-Boychuk fell in love with teaching but her genuine passion to be a helping hand to her students presented itself at San Juan Capistrano’s Union High School – one of her most memorable experiences.
“I met all these kids that really, they needed people in their lives. Their lives had fallen apart. And so one student, she actually came and lived with me for a while because her dad died suddenly. Her mom left town,” said Bak-Boychuk, who keeps in touch with this former student.
To Bak-Boychuk, teaching is all about the students. You have to love kids, she emphasizes.
Her teaching philosophy is centered around being there for other human beings and inspiring them. She describes herself as a “natural hostess”, putting her best foot forward to exhibit compassion, open-mindedness, and a desire to get to know the Stallions.
“My favorite thing about her is how lively she is in the class, she’s always ready to talk to everybody and is so energetic,” said Isabella Basset (12), one of her AP Literature students.
The small-talk discussions she has with students about books and films, as well as their extracurricular activities and hobbies, makes all the difference.
Over the course of her career, she has been exposed to the different stories and cultures carried by students that enter her classroom each year – a rewarding component of teaching that allows teachers to grow as individuals.
“I think I’ve grown as a person, just being open and understanding to people. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, like thinking something about someone and realizing ‘Oh that wasn’t them at all!’ I’m always checking myself…You are all such beautiful young people and you take everything to heart so I have to remember that,” said Bak-Boychuk.
She also credits her colleague, Janey Gidion, whose empathetic and sensitive approach to teaching has influenced her methods too.
One way Bak-Boychuk has taken initiative to further promote consideration and support for students, especially those facing difficult personal circumstances, is through Sponsor a Stallion.
This club’s mission is to raise money for those who cannot afford the dance ticket prices and to collect dance attire – suits and dresses – donated by students to give to their peers.
“If I ran the world, like, all the dances would be free. That would be so nice for everybody. I feel like we don’t have to charge so much money for stuff like that. It frustrates me that there’s a whole population of kids that never participate in anything. They think they’re not invited. They think they can’t possibly do it,” said Bak-Boychuk, passionate about equity in school extracurriculars.
On the topic of passion, Bak-Boychuk is known for her immersive and ardent teaching style.
In her English 4 and AP Literature classes, she chooses to lead presentations and discussions in a way that will captivate the students, with an occasional Shakespearean outburst here and there. Her enthusiasm for theater and acting is unmistakable in the classroom, a love she realized while teaching in Los Angeles.
“I love acting, so bringing Romeo and Juliet to life was really fun for me when I taught in 9th grade, because I love when the kids get up and they act out the scenes and stuff. We used to do Hamlet and Epilogue [in AP Literature], and I would make everybody get up and act,” said Bak-Boychuk.
She finds a sense of exuberance in creating a space for students to be dramatic and creative, getting them out of their seats; consequently, boredom is a stranger to her.
“It’s always new. There’s always something new going on. It’s always fresh. It’s very fun,” said Bak-Boychuk.
“She’s very positive and always puts a nice spin on things,” said Ethan Davenport (12), one of her English 4 students.
Preparing for retirement, Bak-Boychuk looks forward to the simple pleasures of life – cooking, gardening, playing bridge, and driving her new Miata around town.
First, however, she is making the most of her concluding year at SJHHS by her attendance of consistent school events and performances and display of strong school spirit.
Becoming involved in every corner of the school and offering your time to go to student events is an endeavour she urges to new teachers, as she exits the teaching atmosphere herself. Even more so, one needs joy to teach, even when it is hard to radiate.
“I always tell people, the minute you’re not enjoying it anymore and you don’t bring joy to your classroom, then you should leave. Joy is really essential because then it makes kids want to come to school,” said Bak-Boychuk.
Above everything, it is the students that she will miss the most when parting from the daily rhythm of school life. To all students, she gives a piece of advice as they continue forward past high school that is as thoughtful as her teaching.
“Go out and do what you love. Do not slog through a job that you don’t love because that happened to me and you should change your life. There’s always time to change your life. Even when you’re old, you can change your life…And always read. Read forever…It grows you in so many ways,” said Bak-Boychuk.
Bak-Boychuk is one of many educators whose unwavering passion and enthusiasm for both their craft and community is apparent to those around them.
“She is dedicated and helps many students, whether it be with class work, with college essays, or otherwise…She’s so passionate about literature, which shines through her teaching. She was definitely meant to be an English teacher,” said Aarya Joshi (12), another one of her AP Literature students.
