Ms. Cheung, the ceramics teacher who has been teaching for almost 14 years, gives insight on her path to becoming a Ceramics teacher and what a normal day in her class is like, filled with ups and downs. 

Q: What college did you go to? What did you major in?

A: I went to UCLA and majored in Fine Arts, but I was doing more Ceramics rather than painting or drawing.

Q: What made you want to teach ceramics?

A: I loved doing ceramics when I was in highschool, so I wanted to become a Ceramics artist. But it was hard to become one, so I thought teaching young people would be really nice so they could have the same experience that I did.

Q: What do you like about teaching ceramics?

A: Oh, everything! Ceramics is just so fun, and I’ve always loved ceramics. Plus, seeing the students learning their new skills and seeing how they get into it, and how they become really satisfied with the project is really nice. 

Q: What are some projects that students in Beginning Ceramics work on? What about Advanced Ceramics?

A: Beginning Ceramics are working on animal rattles, making their favorite characters and animals. Advanced Ceramics works on harder level projects, such as animal vessels, where they have to make a vase first and turn it into an animal. Both also work on clay houses. 

Q: Other than pottery, what other hobbies do you enjoy?

A: I enjoy traveling. I travel to Japan every summer.

Q: Some students have expressed their concern about your health as you have been teaching Ceramics for a long time. What are some health concerns that you have? What do you think is the primary reason for these conditions?

A: I hurt my back three days ago, unloading a kiln. When you hurt your back it just comes back. So then it was hurting yesterday, and it was hurting today. Three days ago I could barely walk. I do have a lung problem from the dust, it’s kind of chronic. But in recent years, we’re keeping the room cleaner, and the custodians are doing a better job of sweeping the floors. The room is pretty clean now, so I don’t cough as much. But years ago, I used to cough everyday because of the dust, which is really bad for your lungs. Right now, it is mainly my back. Most potters have back problems, from the potters wheel [and] from lifting the kiln (the fiery oven).

Q: What advice would you give to a student that is interested in continuing to learn pottery or becoming a potter in the future?

A: I actually don’t recommend doing pottery for a profession because of finances. I recommend doing it as a hobby. It’s actually not a really good career, unless you want to become a ceramics artist, and if you do, you have to make it big. Realistically, I recommend people do it as a hobby. You could be a high school teacher like me, or a professor who teaches ceramics. Being a ceramics teacher is pretty good!

   Ms. Cheung is a teacher that inspires her students to have a creative mindset and create amazing things with art. Even through her own trials, Ms. Cheung is there for any student.