Failing Up

A Professor's Odyssey of Flunking, Determination, and Hope

Biography & Memoir, Reference
Cover of the book Failing Up by Barbara Ph.D. Hong, Learning Specialists, LLC
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Barbara Ph.D. Hong ISBN: 9780974653914
Publisher: Learning Specialists, LLC Publication: April 12, 2018
Imprint: Learning Specialists Language: English
Author: Barbara Ph.D. Hong
ISBN: 9780974653914
Publisher: Learning Specialists, LLC
Publication: April 12, 2018
Imprint: Learning Specialists
Language: English

KIRKUS STAR Review

"An absorbing, eye-opening narrative about the value of grit and education, sure to inspire a wide audience**."**

In this stunning debut memoir, Hong (Special Education/Brigham Young Univ.-Hawaii) recounts her exceptional transformation from floundering student to flourishing professor.

Born in Singapore to an uneducated mother and an alcoholic, abusive father, Hong grew up in severe poverty. She attended school against her parents’ wishes. Despite her intellectual curiosity, she consistently failed her subjects because she couldn’t keep up with the fast-paced, competitive, shame-inducing educational style.

Flunking her 10th-grade finals just about extinguished her academic hopes. But one act of kindness radically changed her trajectory when an inspired acquaintance convinced her to redo the grade. Her new teacher—who was passionate and caring—taught students instead of subjects. A friend from her church gave her the finest tutoring, much-needed friendship, and even an example of a loving home and family.

After completing 10th grade with top marks, she spent her remaining school years working tirelessly, eventually earning the Best All-Round Student award. Her passion for learning expanded into a passion for teaching; she pursued post-secondary degrees in America and began an influential career as a professor of education and international education consultant.

Hong’s eloquent present-tense narration animates scenes of family strife and academic struggle and evokes an astounding range of emotions—commiseration, frustration, and eventually elation. Something is always developing, whether it’s the narrator herself or the plot.

Though the memoir charts the author’s intellectual growth, it also considers complex family relationships, poverty, Southeast Asian culture and education, disability, and determination. Hong demonstrates, through her own experiences, the pleasures and rewards of scholarship and effective teaching, and her account underscores how ordinary people can have life-changing effects on others.

Description

When people first meet Barbara Hong, they often conclude that her life must have always been enriched. They assume she had loving, successful parents and all the support she needed to reach her goals. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Hong’s path to an Ivy League university and beyond started in a filthy tenement in Singapore where she lived with an abusive father and an illiterate mother. Even as a child of six, she worked in her sweatshop home to help with extra money, which her father often wasted on alcohol. As she endured his drinking and abuse, she feared that the pain she internalized could shatter her.

But instead of falling apart, Hong managed to escape her misery, thanks to a teacher who believed in her. Once she knew she wasn’t the brainless “cabbage head” her mother called her, she began excelling as a student, eventually finding the courage to leave her home and discover her true calling as a knowledge seeker, educator, and advocate.

Hong’s inspirational journey from a sweatshop home upbringing to influential professor movingly illustrates the true strength of the human spirit and the power of teachers.

Failing UP was recognized as one of only 2% of books reviewed to earn a Kirkus STAR—the most prestigious designation in the book industry in awarding books of exceptional merit. To Read the Kirkus Review, visit: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/barbara-hong/failing-up/

 

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

KIRKUS STAR Review

"An absorbing, eye-opening narrative about the value of grit and education, sure to inspire a wide audience**."**

In this stunning debut memoir, Hong (Special Education/Brigham Young Univ.-Hawaii) recounts her exceptional transformation from floundering student to flourishing professor.

Born in Singapore to an uneducated mother and an alcoholic, abusive father, Hong grew up in severe poverty. She attended school against her parents’ wishes. Despite her intellectual curiosity, she consistently failed her subjects because she couldn’t keep up with the fast-paced, competitive, shame-inducing educational style.

Flunking her 10th-grade finals just about extinguished her academic hopes. But one act of kindness radically changed her trajectory when an inspired acquaintance convinced her to redo the grade. Her new teacher—who was passionate and caring—taught students instead of subjects. A friend from her church gave her the finest tutoring, much-needed friendship, and even an example of a loving home and family.

After completing 10th grade with top marks, she spent her remaining school years working tirelessly, eventually earning the Best All-Round Student award. Her passion for learning expanded into a passion for teaching; she pursued post-secondary degrees in America and began an influential career as a professor of education and international education consultant.

Hong’s eloquent present-tense narration animates scenes of family strife and academic struggle and evokes an astounding range of emotions—commiseration, frustration, and eventually elation. Something is always developing, whether it’s the narrator herself or the plot.

Though the memoir charts the author’s intellectual growth, it also considers complex family relationships, poverty, Southeast Asian culture and education, disability, and determination. Hong demonstrates, through her own experiences, the pleasures and rewards of scholarship and effective teaching, and her account underscores how ordinary people can have life-changing effects on others.

Description

When people first meet Barbara Hong, they often conclude that her life must have always been enriched. They assume she had loving, successful parents and all the support she needed to reach her goals. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Hong’s path to an Ivy League university and beyond started in a filthy tenement in Singapore where she lived with an abusive father and an illiterate mother. Even as a child of six, she worked in her sweatshop home to help with extra money, which her father often wasted on alcohol. As she endured his drinking and abuse, she feared that the pain she internalized could shatter her.

But instead of falling apart, Hong managed to escape her misery, thanks to a teacher who believed in her. Once she knew she wasn’t the brainless “cabbage head” her mother called her, she began excelling as a student, eventually finding the courage to leave her home and discover her true calling as a knowledge seeker, educator, and advocate.

Hong’s inspirational journey from a sweatshop home upbringing to influential professor movingly illustrates the true strength of the human spirit and the power of teachers.

Failing UP was recognized as one of only 2% of books reviewed to earn a Kirkus STAR—the most prestigious designation in the book industry in awarding books of exceptional merit. To Read the Kirkus Review, visit: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/barbara-hong/failing-up/

 

More books from Reference

Cover of the book Ethical Decision Making in Clinical Neuropsychology by Barbara Ph.D. Hong
Cover of the book Freibeuterschriften by Barbara Ph.D. Hong
Cover of the book Green-Light Your Book by Barbara Ph.D. Hong
Cover of the book Senses Greatest Quotes - Quick, Short, Medium Or Long Quotes. Find The Perfect Senses Quotations For All Occasions - Spicing Up Letters, Speeches, And Everyday Conversations. by Barbara Ph.D. Hong
Cover of the book My Best Friend, the Dog by Barbara Ph.D. Hong
Cover of the book Der Appell des Dalai Lama an die Welt by Barbara Ph.D. Hong
Cover of the book Mind Your Words by Barbara Ph.D. Hong
Cover of the book Vientiane by Barbara Ph.D. Hong
Cover of the book Before Journalism Schools by Barbara Ph.D. Hong
Cover of the book The Having of Wonderful Ideas and Other Essays on Teaching and Learning, 3rd Ed. by Barbara Ph.D. Hong
Cover of the book Indian Philosophy in English by Barbara Ph.D. Hong
Cover of the book Fiches CAP Petite enfance Savoirs et techniques professionnelles by Barbara Ph.D. Hong
Cover of the book Literacy Unbound: Multiliterate, Multilingual, Multimodal by Barbara Ph.D. Hong
Cover of the book Le DALF - 100% réussite - C1 - C2 - Livre - version numérique epub by Barbara Ph.D. Hong
Cover of the book Let's Play Doctor by Barbara Ph.D. Hong
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy