Editor’s Note :
As the South Coast Chinese Cultural Association and Irvine Chinese School near their 50th anniversary, a special editorial team is collecting reflections from former presidents and principals to preserve this half-century journey.
Cultural Express launches the “Brilliant Fifty” series, featuring selected essays that illuminate the people and stories that shaped our community.
“敬禮, 預備! 拉手! 禮!” I take my students through our customary bows before starting our kung fu class. Chinese culture is very prevalent at the kung fu school where I volunteer and teach, despite the very diverse ethnic student base.
Practicing (and ultimately teaching) martial arts has been a passion and hobby of mine since a very young age – since my introduction to the martial arts at Irvine Chinese School almost 50 years ago, in fact.
And it is thanks to my education at Irvine Chinese School that I am able to pass along the language and culture to the kung fu school’s students.
Sunday Lessons Lifelong Dreams
I remember going to Chinese School every Sunday throughout my elementary, middle, and high school years.
While many of my friends spent their weekends relaxing, I was packing my textbooks, preparing for dictation quizzes, and heading to class.
At the time, I didn’t fully appreciate what those Sundays would come to mean for me. But looking back now, those years formed a foundation that has shaped my cultural identity in ways I could never have anticipated.
Teachers Inspire Heritage Endures
I have fond memories of my teachers, such as Mrs. Jiapyng Niu (牛李家萍） and Mrs. May Deng （鄧葉美音）, each of whom brought patience, warmth, and a deep sense of purpose to the classroom.
They weren’t just teaching vocabulary or grammar; they were transmitting a heritage. I also think fondly of the friends I made along the way, many of whom shared the same bilingual, bicultural balancing act that defined our childhoods.
And of course, there was culture class, which was my favorite part of the week. It was there that I was first introduced to martial arts, an experience that would spark a lifelong passion.
What began as a curious child’s fascination eventually became a meaningful part of my adult life, and later, a way for me to give back to the community.
Trials Shape Gratitude Deepens
Admittedly, I cannot say that I loved every aspect of Chinese School at the time.
The homework, the tests, and the speech contests were not exactly the highlights of my week. Even serving as an MC for school celebrations, while an honor, came with its own share of nerves and preparation.
But with distance and maturity, I now see those challenges differently. They taught discipline, confidence, and perseverance – skills that have served me well far beyond the classroom.
Today, I am deeply grateful for what Irvine Chinese School gave me. It gave me the ability to communicate with my family and relatives in a meaningful way.
It gave me the cultural grounding to pass on traditions to my own children. In fact, I continued the tradition by sending them to our local Chinese School.
Every Bow Legacy Grows
And although kung fu is currently something I teach part-time (as a volunteer instructor), it has become one of the most meaningful ways I stay connected to the culture I learned as a child.
Every bow, every phrase, every story I share with my students traces back to those Sunday mornings at Irvine Chinese School. What I once absorbed as a student, I now pass on as a father and teacher.
As Irvine Chinese School celebrates its 50th anniversary, I am reminded that institutions like this do more than just teach language.
They preserve identity, build community, and quietly shape futures. I am one of many whose lives were touched in ways we only fully understand years later.
And if my own journey is any indication, the seeds planted in those Sunday classrooms will continue to grow in ways that honor the past while enriching the generations to come.
Read More：
My Journey with the Lunar New Year Gala Judie Lai （ ICS Parent Volunteer ）
Half a Century of Commitment and Achievement Karen Kuo-Limb (SCCCA Former Board Chair 2017-18)
Reflections Inspired by a Video Vivien Kao (SCCCA Former Board Chair 2011-2012)
The Transformation & Growth of SCCCA Andrew Yen ( SCCCA Former Board Chair 2007-2009, 2010-2011)
Thirty Years at ICS Memories Still Vivid Shi-yun Chung (Former ICS Principal, 1998–2000)
Reflections on the 50th Anniversary Joan Chien (SCCCA Former Board Chair 1996-98 ）
Building on the Past Opening a New Chapter Peter Liu ( ICS Former Principal 1995-96)
Some Remarks on the 50th Anniversary of ICS. Bin Yang ( ICS Former Principal 1992-94 )
Looking Back on My Year as ICS Principal. Ping Deng Yow ( ICS Former Principal 1988-89 )
An Affinity for the Irvine Chinese School. Ann Hwu ( ICS Former Principal 1987-88)
Building Bridges Across Generations and Cultures. Susie Chu ( SCCCA Board Chair 1988-89)
From Parent to Principal : My ICS Story. Hedy Ho（ Former ICS Principal 1986-87 )
United We Strive · United We Rise. Don Niu ( Former SCCCA board chair 1986-87 )
ICS Memories That Still Shine. Phen Cheng (1984-85 ICS Principal)
Reflections of a School Janitor. JJ Lee (SCCCA Board Chair 1979-1980 )
A Journey from One Dream to a Community Legacy Mitzi Fu (1976-82, 1983-84 ICS Founding Principal)