Jiyong Choi - 2023 Grantee Spotlight Interview

We are delighted to see our funding and resources are helping Jiyong Choi to pursue his master of educational leadership qualification.

1. Tell us a bit more about yourself?

I am from South Korea, and I arrived in New Zealand in January 2011. I have been an ECE-qualified teacher in New Zealand since 2013 and currently working at Chartwell Kindergarten in Hamilton. I used to be a civil engineer both in South Korea and the U.K. before my teaching career.

2. What are you doing? 

I have been doing the Master of Educational Leadership at the University of Waikato since March 2023.

3. What inspired you to do what you’re doing?

The more I work in early childhood education, the more important teacher’s well-being I discover.

4. Why did you choose to focus on this topic?

I hope I can contribute to enhancing teacher’s well-being through doing the MEdLeadership.

5. What made you decide to apply for an HealthCarePlus Grant for Good? (where did you hear about it)

I came across the individual grants from the newsletter of HealthCarePlus via my email.

6. How was your experience in Appling for the grant?

The application process was clear and straightforward, so I was able to complete my application without much difficulty.

7. How has funding from HealthCarePlus helped?

I was so happy to hear that I was granted as I was struggling to continue studying the MEdLeadership programme. 

8. What does this grant mean to you?

The grant has been helping me continue not only studying the MEdLeadership programme but also being able to share what I have learned from my study with my teaching team and organisation. 

9. What would you say to others considering but hesitant in applying for a grant?

It is worth applying for it.

10. What advice would you give to future Grants for Good applicants?

Read all the information provided and present your study plan.

11. What are you hoping to achieve?

The Master of Educational Leadership qualification

12. In what way will your course help make a positive impact on others?

I hope I make a contribution to the well-being of ECE teachers since I discovered this is paramount to attracting and retaining high-quality ECE educators in New Zealand. This leads to providing high-quality teaching for our young children.

If you are interested and want to know more this year's Grants for Good and how to apply for one then click below.