About Mr. Ho

My name is Matthew Ho, and this is my 2nd year as a high school math teacher. I feel very blessed to have a job that I love. I truly enjoy helping students to grow in their knowledge, understanding, confidence, and enjoyment of mathematics and its many real world applications. I have found teaching to be both a challenging and rewarding vocation. Being a teacher also gives me the wonderful opportunity to be a role model and have a positive impact on the lives of my students.

People say growing up in the Midwest is the best place in the country to raise a family, specifically Kansas. For this reason and many others, my parents decided to settle in Wichita, Kansas to start and raise a family. I was born and raised here in Wichita. My name is Matthew Ho. I was a mathematics secondary education major at Friends University. I was a member of the Friends University Singing Quakers and Chamber Chorale. I also worked part-time as a retail sales associate and am accompanist for three churches and a worship leader for two. I am very much a musician, as I am a mathematician.

As a young child, I have always dreamt of having a career that always involved working with people. The list included career occupations such as a school bus driver, a doctor, a pastor, and many others. It was very apparent that I was an outgoing child and loved being around people, including my family. I can remember when I was just beginning school as a kindergartener and was very excited and anxious to start my career as a student. I already had made some friends with other children in the neighborhood and could not wait to attend school with them.

The first day of school comes around and I met the first teacher of my life, who later became such an inspiration to my desire to be an educator. Her name was Mrs. Jennifer Kern. She had been teaching for a few years prior and was already showing signs that my first year as a student was going to be wonderful. Her classroom was very well organized and brightly colored and was very inviting to both students and parents. She developed a schedule that allowed music into the day. What could be more amazing than to dance, sing, and listen to music at school? Having music aside from music class in the classroom. We began and ended each day with music. Before my classmates and I had time to realize the time that has gone by, the end of the year came and we were all moving to the next grade; first grade. It dawned on me that I would soon see less of Mrs. Kern and eventually will never see her again as I continued with elementary school.

Throughout my elementary grade years, I gained a vast amount of knowledge that has been the building block of who I am today. My love for mathematics grew as I quickly learned the skills taught in class and could successfully advance my skills ahead of my classmates. Through music classes, my knowledge and passion for music developed that led me to become an amateur musician. I soon began taking piano lessons and learned everything I needed to know at my young age about music, along with its history and theory. I soon began to see that my love and passion for music benefitted me in more than one way. Not only did it build my love and passion of music, but it also aided in my education. Music and mathematics had their unique connection that both subjects complemented and benefitted each other so much that I grew as a student and was able to be successful in all subject matter.

It was not until high school when I realized that I had to have a life career that somehow involved both music and math. I was not sure how, but I concluded that I would do both as a student until a final decision had been made. Throughout high school, I took as many upper-level mathematics classes for my grade. Most students at my age were a level or two below me. I soon began to make friends with upper classmen and developed a great network of whom I still connect with. I also participated in Student Council, of which I held elected positions, and was very involved in the vocal music program. I was a member of the Men’s Chorus, Concert Choir, Select Choir and Madrigals. I became highly involved with volunteering and performing many hours of community service throughout the Wichita metro-area. As I graduated from Maize High School, in Maize, Kansas, as a 13-year student of Maize Unified School District, I knew that I had to attend college that would get me a degree that dealt with people and the common good of people.

Much of my community service activities involved working with the less fortunate. I wanted to make an impact on the less fortunate and thus took upon a 5-year master’s program at Kansas State University, majoring in architecture in their College of Architecture, Planning, and Design. I did not realize how introverted one becomes while being an architect, thus I transferred to the College of Education. I started to feel more like myself when I started my field experience through Kansas State. After going through some personal and family issues, I transferred to Wichita State University. During my year there, I attended classes in the evenings and was a para-professional during the day.

During my time at Maize High School as a para-professional, I quickly learned that my calling was to educate. I had enjoyed working with the staff, faculty, and especially the students. Many of my supervising teachers had seen my passion and had allowed me to do mini lessons with their class. Much to their observations, I was told that I was a natural at teaching. This only confirmed my decision to enter into the education field. After much thought, I made my final transfer to Friends University to complete my education degree in Secondary Education and Mathematics.

My journey to find my true calling in life has brought much meaning to my life and has opened my mind to many new things. I have learned that no matter what I do, I will always find happiness in my involvement with people, more so young people. I have always wanted to make an impact in peoples’ lives and having the desire to also work with people every day, education was and is the best decision that satisfies both dreams of mine.

I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics, with an emphasis in Computer Science, and a Minor in Music at Friends University in May of 2016. I look forward to beggining my new career as an educator. While I teach at Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High Shcool, I plan to continue to be a student myself and strive for my Masters in Mathematics Education. In extension of my ambitious goal, I plan to have a Doctorates degree in Education. My dream of being a full-time student while teaching students is a dream-come-true in the making. As John Dewey says, “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”