Q: You’ve been one of the longest-standing parents at iStage, supporting us since the very first open class in early 2016. What has kept you going all this time?**
A: To be honest, the biggest inconvenience is the distance—it’s really far. That’s something we reconsider every single year. But we’ve stuck with it because Melody truly loves it. Every year I ask her, “It’s time to sign up again. Do you still want to continue?” Her reaction is always, “Of course!” She’d say, “Is that even a question?”
When we first started, Melody was studying children’s musical theatre at \*\*\*. It was quite competitive to get in, and everyone thought it was great once she made it. But the reality was that she didn’t adapt well to the very traditional and rigid format—memorizing a song every week, doing a set of prescribed movements. Each class had 30 or 40 students, and the teacher couldn’t pay close attention to every child. Melody was still very young, with a soft voice, the kind of child easily overlooked in a crowd. But she was also someone who craved attention and encouragement. She told me herself, “I don’t like it. I’m not happy there. The teacher is mean.”
So I brought her here to study ballet instead. The classes were smaller, and the teacher gave each child individual attention, correcting her every move. She really liked that.
The way the teachers interact with each child here makes her happy. She’s even made a few very close friends here. There used to be a Korean girl she met in musical theatre class—they were incredibly close. Even though that girl no longer attends, we still hang out together outside of class. I think many of the parents and kids who choose iStage have similar values, and that’s allowed her to form some really good friendships.
Q: Given your profession in PR, which exposes you to people across many industries, how do you view the difference between specialists and generalists? What kind of talent do you think the future demands?
A: Yes, we meet a wide range of people in this industry. We often joke that if a college graduate doesn’t know what job to take, they should try PR. It covers so many areas, and you can discover your strengths and skills through it—like a testing ground.
I used to think I didn’t want Melody to go into this industry—it’s too exhausting. But later I realized that if she can thrive in this line of work, it would actually be a great validation of her capabilities. This field requires not only individual skills but also strong teamwork. Nothing can be done solo anymore. You have to coordinate across multiple departments and people.
Another key skill is time management. In the future, multitasking will be the norm. You have to prioritize—urgent but unimportant, important but not urgent—and learn how to handle it all.
And one more crucial trait: a sense of responsibility. Whether you’re just an ordinary person or a leader, love and responsibility matter. A cold, indifferent person ends up alone, without help from others.
Q: Do you think our classes have helped Melody develop these qualities?
A: Absolutely. Especially musical theatre—no one can perform alone. Teamwork is essential. I once saw a class where the teacher was doing an exercise: one kid says a line, then the next, then the next. The teacher explained that you can’t have dead air on stage. If one child forgets a line, the others need to step in. It’s a great form of training—not just for the stage but for life and work as well.
Also, musical theatre is a comprehensive form of training. You need to sing, dance, act, and sometimes even make and move props. It’s like event planning at work—you have to know everything and be ready for anything.
Q: Every mother has dreams for her child’s future. What kind of person do you hope Melody becomes?
A: I’ve thought about many possibilities. Melody herself also has lots of ideas—at different stages, she’s wanted to be a kindergarten teacher, then a police officer. Now she says she wants to be a mom—but she’s worried about how painful childbirth might be!
As her mother, the most important thing I wish for her is to be happy. That’s actually a tough ask. Many people seem successful and well-off, but they’re not truly happy. In today’s world, it’s hard to lead a simple, joyful life. I’ve seen first- and second-graders who already look weighed down—rushing from class to class. I don’t want that for Melody.
Success is defined differently by everyone. I just hope she has the skills or ability to live a life she wants. I honestly don’t see one glaringly “brilliant” trait in her right now—she has strengths and areas for growth. She’s still young, and I want her to do what she enjoys. And with how fast the world is changing, who knows which of our current jobs will still exist in 10 years? So I don’t have a grand vision. I just want her to be happy.
Q: There are many training centers out there. What do you hope iStage brings to Melody?
A: Passion. I always ask her, “Are you happy coming here? Do you like what you’re learning?” I don’t ask her how much she’s learned, but whether she still has interest—because interest is the best teacher.
I believe in “teachers open the door, but you must walk through it yourself.” Keeping up the practice depends on genuine love for the subject.
Melody really likes her current musical theatre teacher. Sometimes I see her in class practically glued to her. I can tell it’s sincere. She sings songs from class like a broken record at home—driving me nuts! But I know that’s a sign she loves it. And keeping that passion alive requires teachers to keep guiding her.
Q: How did you choose her initial classes?
A: She started with just ballet. I didn’t have high expectations—I just thought that dancing could help with her posture and physique. I wanted her to develop good habits. Dance involves stretching, and I think a bit of hardship is good. You always have to put in effort before reaping rewards.
She didn’t have great coordination as a kid, so I hoped dancing could help with that. If she liked it and wanted to continue, I’d support her. But no matter how far she gets, I’d never push her.
Later, we added musical theatre. It’s something I personally love. I’ve always wanted to learn it but never had the chance. I loved singing as a child, but my parents were traditional and very busy. They believed anything that distracted from school was unnecessary. Singing and drawing were hobbies to pursue on your own time. So they didn’t really support me.
But for me, those things were a huge source of joy. Singing, drawing, listening to music—it felt like a way of talking to myself. That’s why I really want Melody to have these outlets.
I always tell her, “Singing, dancing, drawing—these are just different languages to communicate with and understand the world.” Emotions are rich, and words alone are often not enough.
One thing that really shocked me once—I was at a close friend’s house. She and her mother were arguing intensely. After the mother left, the girl—who plays piano really well—locked herself in her room and played a beautiful piece. I could hear that it was a form of release. After about 15 minutes, she came out calmer. It was magical. I realized that anger doesn’t have to mean crying or breaking things. You can process emotions through art. That’s another reason I want Melody to learn art. I don’t expect her to be a master—I think setting such goals would make it stressful for everyone.
Q: Are the things Melody is learning now chosen by her, or discovered through daily life?
A: Yes, she genuinely loves singing and learns songs very quickly. Sometimes in the car, she’ll listen to songs on my phone. In a week or two, she’s memorized them. This interest began early—her kindergarten teachers said that while other kids were snacking on field trips, she was listening to music.
Q: What if she needs to learn something more boring but necessary, like English?
A: Language learning comes in many forms—not just classroom grammar or vocabulary drills. Musical theatre is taught entirely in English here.
In fact, Melody resisted musical theatre at first. The first time, she cried and had to be taken out mid-class. The second time, a classmate literally dragged her in. The third time, two girls dragged her in together. The language barrier made her afraid—she didn’t understand or dare to speak. She lacked confidence.
I kept encouraging her, saying, “You made it through today—great job!” “You spoke up—that’s amazing!” I tried to create different scenarios and environments for her to adapt. Even now, she’s not the strongest English speaker in class, especially compared to international school kids. But she’s okay with it now. She knows there’s a gap but accepts it. I tell her, “So what? They read once, you read three times. You’re not wasting time—you’re gaining more practice.”
Q: So does she need a lot of encouragement at home?
A: Yes, constant encouragement and guidance. I use her interests to boost her skills—for example, giving her more English songs to sing because she picks them up quickly. Even if she doesn’t understand the lyrics fully, she’s building a sense of the language. With enough input, the breakthrough will come.
Q: Recently we’ve noticed Melody seems more grown up—taking on hosting duties, chatting more confidently with our staff. Do you see changes in her personality at school?
A: From kindergarten to first grade, her teachers always said the same thing: “She needs more confidence and a louder voice.” They felt she was great in many ways but too shy, always hiding behind others.
But gradually, in the second half of first grade and into second grade, I noticed a big change. Now I’m the one saying, “Use a softer voice!” She’s grown so much. She eagerly ran for class officer and was recently made a squad leader. The teacher even changed her seat so she could help the youngest kid in class—like a little mentor.
I think the teacher sees her transformation too. Teachers spend more time with kids than parents do, and their influence is enormous.
Q: One last question we always ask—do you like iStage?
A: I love iStage. My biggest regret is not being able to join your adult musical theatre class because of scheduling conflicts. Every time I see videos of the adult classes, I’m so envious. I even tell Melody, “I really envy you—you get to do what you love while you’re still young and free.” She knows I’m busy and often work late at home. She doesn’t fully grasp what “being busy” means, but she does know that once you grow up, you might not be able to do everything you want.
So I always remind her to treasure her chance to study here. I hope once work calms down, I can finally take that adult musical theatre class too.
