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?**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A: To be honest, the biggest inconvenience is the distance\u2014it\u2019s really far. That\u2019s something we reconsider every single year. But we\u2019ve stuck with it because Melody truly loves it. Every year I ask her, \u201cIt\u2019s time to sign up again. Do you still want to continue?\u201d Her reaction is always, \u201cOf course!\u201d She\u2019d say, \u201cIs that even a question?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When we first started, Melody was studying children\u2019s 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\u2019t adapt well to the very traditional and rigid format\u2014memorizing a song every week, doing a set of prescribed movements. Each class had 30 or 40 students, and the teacher couldn\u2019t 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, \u201cI don\u2019t like it. I\u2019m not happy there. The teacher is mean.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The way the teachers interact with each child here makes her happy. She\u2019s even made a few very close friends here. There used to be a Korean girl she met in musical theatre class\u2014they 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\u2019s allowed her to form some really good friendships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A: Yes, we meet a wide range of people in this industry. We often joke that if a college graduate doesn\u2019t know what job to take, they should try PR. It covers so many areas, and you can discover your strengths and skills through it\u2014like a testing ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I used to think I didn\u2019t want Melody to go into this industry\u2014it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another key skill is time management. In the future, multitasking will be the norm. You have to prioritize\u2014urgent but unimportant, important but not urgent\u2014and learn how to handle it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And one more crucial trait: a sense of responsibility. Whether you\u2019re just an ordinary person or a leader, love and responsibility matter. A cold, indifferent person ends up alone, without help from others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: Do you think our classes have helped Melody develop these qualities?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A: Absolutely. Especially musical theatre\u2014no 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\u2019t have dead air on stage. If one child forgets a line, the others need to step in. It\u2019s a great form of training\u2014not just for the stage but for life and work as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, musical theatre is a comprehensive form of training. You need to sing, dance, act, and sometimes even make and move props. It\u2019s like event planning at work\u2014you have to know everything and be ready for anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: Every mother has dreams for her child\u2019s future. What kind of person do you hope Melody becomes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A: I\u2019ve thought about many possibilities. Melody herself also has lots of ideas\u2014at different stages, she\u2019s wanted to be a kindergarten teacher, then a police officer. Now she says she wants to be a mom\u2014but she\u2019s worried about how painful childbirth might be!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As her mother, the most important thing I wish for her is to be happy. That\u2019s actually a tough ask. Many people seem successful and well-off, but they\u2019re not truly happy. In today\u2019s world, it\u2019s hard to lead a simple, joyful life. I\u2019ve seen first- and second-graders who already look weighed down\u2014rushing from class to class. I don\u2019t want that for Melody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Success is defined differently by everyone. I just hope she has the skills or ability to live a life she wants. I honestly don\u2019t see one glaringly \u201cbrilliant\u201d trait in her right now\u2014she has strengths and areas for growth. She\u2019s 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\u2019t have a grand vision. I just want her to be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There are many training centers out there. What do you hope iStage brings to Melody?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A: Passion. I always ask her, \u201cAre you happy coming here? Do you like what you\u2019re learning?\u201d I don\u2019t ask her how much she\u2019s learned, but whether she still has interest\u2014because interest is the best teacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I believe in \u201cteachers open the door, but you must walk through it yourself.\u201d Keeping up the practice depends on genuine love for the subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Melody really likes her current musical theatre teacher. Sometimes I see her in class practically glued to her. I can tell it\u2019s sincere. She sings songs from class like a broken record at home\u2014driving me nuts! But I know that\u2019s a sign she loves it. And keeping that passion alive requires teachers to keep guiding her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: How did you choose her initial classes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A: She started with just ballet. I didn\u2019t have high expectations\u2014I 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She didn\u2019t have great coordination as a kid, so I hoped dancing could help with that. If she liked it and wanted to continue, I\u2019d support her. But no matter how far she gets, I\u2019d never push her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later, we added musical theatre. It\u2019s something I personally love. I\u2019ve 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\u2019t really support me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for me, those things were a huge source of joy. Singing, drawing, listening to music\u2014it felt like a way of talking to myself. That\u2019s why I really want Melody to have these outlets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I always tell her, \u201cSinging, dancing, drawing\u2014these are just different languages to communicate with and understand the world.\u201d Emotions are rich, and words alone are often not enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One thing that really shocked me once\u2014I was at a close friend\u2019s house. She and her mother were arguing intensely. After the mother left, the girl\u2014who plays piano really well\u2014locked 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\u2019t have to mean crying or breaking things. You can process emotions through art. That\u2019s another reason I want Melody to learn art. I don\u2019t expect her to be a master\u2014I think setting such goals would make it stressful for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: Are the things Melody is learning now chosen by her, or discovered through daily life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A: Yes, she genuinely loves singing and learns songs very quickly. Sometimes in the car, she\u2019ll listen to songs on my phone. In a week or two, she\u2019s memorized them. This interest began early\u2014her kindergarten teachers said that while other kids were snacking on field trips, she was listening to music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: What if she needs to learn something more boring but necessary, like English?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A: Language learning comes in many forms\u2014not just classroom grammar or vocabulary drills. Musical theatre is taught entirely in English here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2014she didn\u2019t understand or dare to speak. She lacked confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I kept encouraging her, saying, \u201cYou made it through today\u2014great job!\u201d \u201cYou spoke up\u2014that\u2019s amazing!\u201d I tried to create different scenarios and environments for her to adapt. Even now, she\u2019s not the strongest English speaker in class, especially compared to international school kids. But she\u2019s okay with it now. She knows there\u2019s a gap but accepts it. I tell her, \u201cSo what? They read once, you read three times. You\u2019re not wasting time\u2014you\u2019re gaining more practice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: So does she need a lot of encouragement at home?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A: Yes, constant encouragement and guidance. I use her interests to boost her skills\u2014for example, giving her more English songs to sing because she picks them up quickly. Even if she doesn\u2019t understand the lyrics fully, she\u2019s building a sense of the language. With enough input, the breakthrough will come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: Recently we\u2019ve noticed Melody seems more grown up\u2014taking on hosting duties, chatting more confidently with our staff. Do you see changes in her personality at school?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A: From kindergarten to first grade, her teachers always said the same thing: \u201cShe needs more confidence and a louder voice.\u201d They felt she was great in many ways but too shy, always hiding behind others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But gradually, in the second half of first grade and into second grade, I noticed a big change. Now I\u2019m the one saying, \u201cUse a softer voice!\u201d She\u2019s 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\u2014like a little mentor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I think the teacher sees her transformation too. Teachers spend more time with kids than parents do, and their influence is enormous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: One last question we always ask\u2014do you like iStage?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019m so envious. I even tell Melody, \u201cI really envy you\u2014you get to do what you love while you\u2019re still young and free.\u201d She knows I\u2019m busy and often work late at home. She doesn\u2019t fully grasp what \u201cbeing busy\u201d means, but she does know that once you grow up, you might not be able to do everything you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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