Educator Spotlight | Meet Vo

What impact did The Actuarial Foundation have on you?

TAF made the biggest impact on me through the impact it had on my classroom. The framework of the Modeling the Future Challenge makes it easy for me and my students to participate in and understand practical math at a deeper level.

What program did you participate in and why?

I participated in the Modeling the Future Challenge for something to do over the summer of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. I studied to be an actuary in college, so this program looked interesting to me. By doing this program, I thought it would help me to inspire my students to become actuaries and find meaning in their math classes.

What are your goals, dreams and aspirations?

My goals have always been to be involved in math. When I was in high school I was on a TV show called “Calculus Live.” When I got to college, I realized that there were such deep differences between various schools when it came to education and preparation for college, so I wanted to take a stand and make a difference in education. I started down the route of being an actuary in college, but after working in the actuarial field I decided to become a teacher.

What’s your best experience/memory from being a part of a TAF program?

My best experience from being a part of a TAF program is that it equipped me with the necessary tools and resources to teach my students that math is way more than just geometry and algebra, it can become a profession that they can profit from eventually. I wanted to be a teacher that can sponsor this kind of challenge and help the students out, and this program helped equip me with that.

What’s your advice to future actuaries/participants?

Especially if you’re a first-generation college student, pursue your dreams and go to college to do what you want to do. Don’t listen to what other people want you to do, listen to your gut and do what you want to do. Take time to think about what you want to do and what fills you with joy and passion, and do whatever it takes to get there. Take your studies seriously because it will get you to where your dreams are.

 

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