0:00 [Music] Welcome back everybody to another episode of the Careful Boys where we have Steve Chen out here with us today. Y >> two. Yeah. What a It's It's really fascinating. You're totally a hustler of education soliciting education to people uh in the entire 66 area and stuff like that. So we still want to get into that story of like how you became who you are today but at the same time connecting all the dots from this hustle of tutoring education to teaching in a school as well. >> Sure. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Um so yeah thanks again for having me here. Uh going back to my story of uh my total tutoring adventure tutoring journey. Um, so last time we talked about like where I was, you know, passing out cards, brochures to, you know, attract leads
0:52 to, get customers for my tutoring business. Uh, eventually what happened was I started tutoring a lot of kids. I couldn't fit any more people within my schedule. >> This is after you graduated all your college and masters and all that. >> Yeah. And then I was also tutor I was also working as a public school teacher at that time too. When you started tutoring then was it during your like undergrad or like what? So you started the business early on, right? So you're like I'm not doing um American Apparel anymore or what? Yeah. American Eagle. >> Yeah. And then you started tutoring at like what second year in college, third year, whatever. >> I see. So then that became your thing like that's my side gig. I'm making good money. >> Okay. And then you're like once I become a teacher then I'm going to focus on my career. But your tutor also picked up as a good side hustle. That's >> right. Gotcha. I see.
1:43 >> Yeah. So, I've been tutoring since I was 19. That was my first time I actually sat down and got paid that $15 an hour. >> Yeah. And then um I mean that ramped up all the way through my college years. That's what kind of sustained me um just as a college kid. I I that's when I started once I had enough students at that time where I was like, "Oh, you know what? I don't have to work at American Eagle anymore or GNC or this art uh this art school. I can just tutor. get paid way more. Then I just kind of cut everything out and just went for the higher leverage activities out there. When did thing when when did you have the like I guess revelation of like something's not right and I need to pursue like um like financial intelligence cuz you know there's a lot of teachers even if they're good at math they're just they still pursue that path and there's like there's no need or
2:33 urgency to go like wait a minute this is like my career but something doesn't add up with life like when was that moment for you where you're Like I need to like >> Can I ask a one that's right before that? >> Yeah. >> Cuz why? Cuz it'll lead to that. >> So it's >> first how did you even want to become a teacher? >> And then cuz your family seems very entrepreneurial and they seem like the Chinese family that'll be like teacher you need to be in finance or like business, you know, or something like that. >> So that I think that's the first choice that I'm really curious about. And then and then Bart's question after that. >> Sure. >> Yeah. >> Well, yeah. Like my parents, they thought uh this is like very typical, right? Like they thought it was the best route to become a doctor or a dentist or something like that. >> Teacher first. >> No. Uh be before me being a teacher. I
3:23 actually went to school. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> To become a teacher. >> That's why you're in science, right? I see. >> Yeah. So I actually switched a lot of m I went through a lot of different things. I first went to um I was an architect major. >> Yeah. So then I did architecture for a while. Didn't like it. And then I was like, cuz at that time I was uh I like to draw. I like to design things. >> Oh, that's why the art math. So I was like, "Oh, maybe I can I can do something like that." I did it for a year. I didn't like it. So I was like, "Okay, maybe I need to watch or sorry, I need to like switch on over. I was watching >> I know this sounds dumb. I was watching like Grey's Anatomy at that time. I was like, "Oh man, they'll get you hooked." >> Yeah. I was like like Steamy Mikotti, one of those guys, right? Uh and then I was like, "Oh, maybe I can be a doctor." Cuz my mom and dad, they're always like, "Oh, you want to be a doctor or a lawyer?" that's like the way to go. So, I went into sciences, took a lot of
4:13 biocham, and all that stuff. I was like, I don't know if I want to be a doctor anymore. >> Hell no. That s███'s whack. >> Okay, we'll do it. >> We were just talking about before you came in. >> Oh, talk about cuz that was the I in uh un like lower division sciences. That was the hardest one you can take. >> That was the first hard one. >> And then I remember going into my four year when I transferred. Then they're like, "Oh, the next one I think after that was biochemistry." And they're like, "Biochemistry makes OKAM look like child's play." And I was like, "F███ that." I was like, "Dude, Okam already killed me, dude. It's pretty hard." Yeah, it's crazy. Yeah. But um yeah, I went to Yeah. I was like, "Okay, maybe I can do premed. Didn't like that. I met my uh best friend in college and then he was like, "Oh, you should do dental school. You get it's more flexible. You don't have to be on call all the time." I was like,
5:03 "Okay, yeah, maybe I can do that." So, I followed that route. I had a science I was in in my science major already. I switched on over from being an architect major and I was like, "Okay, I'll do that." And I literally one quarter before I was about to graduate. >> I was like, "H, I don't think I want to be a dentist anymore." Wow. >> Yeah. I called my mom and I was like I was like, "Oh, mama, like I don't I don't think I don't think this is for me. I don't want to look at people's mouths like every day. Like this is I don't know if I can do this." My mom was just like, >> "But you you went through school. like you're almost about to finish, you know, like what are you going to do? So then I was like, I want to be a Pixar animator. >> What the ████ >> That's crazy. >> So I I I graduated with my science degree. I I walked uh everything and I got my degree. So I was like, "Okay, cool." But then I started taking art
5:54 classes at a community college. And then I did that. And then I remember this one day I was just like sitting there and then there was a person next to me. He was like, we were drawing um like I took a class. I didn't know I didn't know what class I was taking, but it was like a life drawing class. Nice. >> And I was like, "Oh, okay, cool. Life drawing class is just like people." But uh the first day of class, I found out that it was like a nude uh life drawing class. So like, you know, >> you get nude and you draw your own dick. >> And he's like, "Mama, I don't want to be drawing dicks all day." >> It's like most of the class They told me to get naked. >> It's not as glamorous. It's more like older gentlemen, you know, like Yeah. >> kind of funny. They kind of I'm like, "Okay, that's cool." Yeah. We're all super respectful. We're like sitting in
6:44 a circle. We're drawing them and everything, but >> kept winking at me. >> I remember sitting there this one day and then my friend next to me was drawing. I'm like looking at his art and I was like, "Oh my gosh, like you're so good. like how like it's just like like the shadows and the muscles are all popping. I'm looking looking at mine and it's like just so funky looking. And then I'm asking him questions like oh like how long uh like what's your goal? What are you trying to like do? He was like yeah I've been here for like the last 3 4 years and I'm trying to get to Pasadena Art School but I just can't get in. And I was like >> okay like if you're drawing that well >> Oh yeah. I lit that literally the hardcore >> I I I quit the next I was like oh no I don't I don't think I can do that. Yeah >> my dumb ass is like I'm going to keep
7:34 trying. >> Yeah I'm going to get these shadows right. >> The models are like eyes up here gentlemen. You have so much stop talking to each other >> self-awareness of the world and like of yourself and >> I feel like what college student has that level of like insight and go maybe it's not the right thing cuz I feel like everybody I knew was impulsive as ████ >> You have good internal dialogue. >> Yeah. >> Nobody questioned themselves. They're like I'm going to do this thing >> or I don't want to do it anymore. Or they say I'm going to do it and they did none of the work. >> That's that's all I know. Damn. >> So yeah. Um I I think that that time I just called my I called my friend. I called my mom again. I was like, "Oh, maybe I need to switch into something. I was like, you know, I've been tutoring all these years since like 19 all the way into college. I was still tutoring
8:24 at that time when I was in art school. Uh taking my bio classes and everything." And I was like, maybe I'll just be a teacher. I like that. Yeah. It's like and I've been tutoring SATs and all everything. I already know the subject. So I got my CS C best. uh took everything, got my masters or my uh teaching credentials and I was and I yeah became a teacher from there on. >> Mhm. Yeah. And I loved it. I I love being a teacher. >> Yeah, for sure. I think just >> until you got your paycheck though. >> Until Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> It's ████ >> It was It was mostly the paycheck and the >> kids. You hate kids. No, I'm just kidding. >> The politics. Yeah, there was like a little bit of the politics and then also just uh it's like the admin stuff that I just didn't like cuz it's cuz as being a teacher like you don't you don't just teach. It's also >> taking role. >> Yeah. Okay. That's one of them, right? Like printing out papers, fixing the
9:14 copy machine, like it's like always breaking. >> It's all out of your pocket, isn't it? >> Uh some things um cuz sometimes like if you want to get like funding from the school, like you want to like get something like brand new like a tech thing or something, right? It's like there's so many hoops and paperwork that you have to fill out. So, I'm just like, I don't even want to go through this. I'll just buy it myself. Right. >> Oh, right. So much red tape. >> Yeah, that's right. U some my kids, my students need something. Um I'm like, "Oh, shoot. I don't have enough folders or whatever." So, I have to like I go to Walmart usually in fall time. Uh I go to Walmart, they have like the 39 cent, the the dollar sale, whatever. I just grab a whole bunch of folders and I just pass them on to my my kids, >> you know. Or like pencil supplies, something like that if the if the school doesn't supply that. So there's that. And also like uh people what people don't really realize when they get into teaching is that it's not just teaching the subject. A lot of it is
10:06 taking care of the kids like teaching the non um like the hidden curriculum. That's what we call it. It's like teaching them to like wait their turn to >> Oh, like the soft skills. >> Yeah, that's right. Like oh like someone like pushes you or like okay like hey like you know what's what's up? Like what you know maybe we can say sorry like what's what's going on? Like why did you do that? Right. the character development. >> That's right. So, there's a lot of that, right? So, it's like kids come in. It's not like they just sit down and do their work. Sit down and I'm just like, "Hey, hey." And then someone has a bloody nose over here and then someone like lost the paper, someone's crying cuz their pencil broke or their eraser popped off or something. >> It's a lot. >> It's a lot of management, right? >> Or is a kid hiding his bone underneath the desk? >> I don't know. Never experienced that. >> Especially at that age, dude. >> Can't stand up. Yeah, teacher. Tell you later. >> I can't I can't get up. I feel so bad
10:57 for the ████ that I've done. >> Just a torch your teacher, right? >> He just had like a He had the the moment where like the character looks at a puddle >> 35 years later, you know, you're like, >> "F███ yeah, cuz the teacher can't even get to the topic." >> No, I know. I'm just trying to chapter one. Chapter one, >> man. >> That's true. Oh, man. Yeah. >> How were the how were dealing with parents of the teachers at uh or I mean of the students at a public school versus the tutor parents like >> well uh yeah of course the the behavior of the kids you know that I tutored is a little bit a little bit easier to manage because well one uh you know typically if you're in a high higher socioeconomic class then the parents teach them a little bit like you know more well behaved manners right so it's easier to
11:49 work with also So like it's just oneonone >> or also like later on I I haven't talked about this yet but I also started doing group tutoring and that's when I started to scale but it's easily easier to manage compared to like back when I was a public school teacher. I think the most on average I usually have 32 34 kids within a class and there's five periods of that. The most I had was around 40 41. >> Yeah. So that was I think they were kind of they squeeze in a couple students. They weren't you're not supposed to I think there's a cap that to how many teach or how many students or uh to go to a teacher at at a single moment right >> so you had to teach 40 kids by yourself like aid or anything >> no aid or anything like that yeah uh but later on when I went to another school I I had an aid for like certain periods but most of the time there there's no aid >> almost all my schools were like that 30 plus >> kids by yourself >> that's scary bro >> so it's it's it's a lot of it's a lot
12:40 yeah for sure um but >> so you'd have to have meetings with parents about their kids' behavior, not even the academic side. Sometimes >> a lot of it. Yeah. It's like behavior like And then we also have to be very empathetic too. We cuz a lot of times when students are struggling in school, it's not because they're just they want to be bad, right? They're they want to be mean or whatever. It's just there's stuff going on at home. So take take it out in school with with their with their friends and everything. So, a lot of times when they misbehave in class, like even though I sometimes I I get like upset like, "Oh my gosh, I have to get through this curriculum or I'm going to fall behind, right?" Like I get kind of upset, but when I ask them like, "Hey, you know, you want to maybe we can chat outside." I have to like for myself, I got to like calm myself down, too. Like, okay, like don't don't be like aggressive or anything, right? Don't be offend, you know? Don't like try to go
13:31 on the offense. Like, ask them like, "Oh, how are you doing right now?" Like, "Oh, what's going on?" and like you know just be like a friendly person cuz I learned that if you want the kids to do well in your class the number one thing is they have to like you first. >> They have they have to like you cuz if you think about it like for us when we went to school most likely we don't remember what we learned >> from our teachers specifically. >> Yeah, that's true. >> I do remember the teachers I liked and don't like. >> But that's right. But you you remember the the impression and how they made you feel like as a just like a right like if they had good character, if they were empathetic and kind, right? >> So I always have to keep that in mind. Um just Yeah. with that too. And also when we talk to parents, uh I also have to be empathetic with the parents cuz I know that a lot of the parents they're they're working, right? They're a lot of them have like super busy schedules.
14:21 They work until like 8 9:00 and kids are at home. They they're by themselves with maybe like little brother, little sister. they need to take care of them too. So, there's a lot going on with uh them doing homework and them taking care of like their little siblings and stuff, right? So, it's like I don't want to like put the blame on the parents, too. I'm like, "Okay, so it's cool. Like, we understand where you're at, but at the same time, we also need to make sure we work as a team. We want to I'm going to do my best. Parents, you can try to do your best, too. Like, put in 10 15 minutes a day just to check if the homework's done. And then also, the student has to have their own accountability and ownership themselves." So, we talked we we call this like the the tripod of like uh student success, right? >> You're a good teacher, man. >> Oh, thanks. No, >> cuz I'll tell you what, I'm sure a lot of us had public school teachers that didn't have this sensibility or empathy >> or the intention, too.
15:11 >> And they just ruled with the iron fist or carelessness. >> Can I ask you what you would do in in the famous impossible conundrum? Uh, if a kid is acting out and is misbehaving in class because he's having a bad home life where like his parents are hard on him or they beat him up and you have to have a meeting with the parents, what do you say to the parents so that they don't beat him up more that night? >> Oh, >> or they don't beat you up. >> It's always on the table >> physically or verbally. >> Both. Cuz like that was the thing that where it's like if if I'm getting it's like a cycle. It's like if my parents are beating on me, so I I become kind of an ████ in school and then I get in trouble in school and then the teacher talks to my parents. Anything they say about me will lead to me getting beat up more. >> So I'm like, what's Cuz you know what I always thought the dynamic was? >> I thought the dynamic was my teacher could tell I got my ass beat.
16:02 >> So in the parent teacher conference, he would or she would egg it on even more so that I get beat more to hopefully act right next day. Yeah, cuz it's like that cycle that a lot of kids were going through. >> It was a different time though. >> But I'm like, what? Did you ever find a technique to kind of break that chain? >> I never really I don't think I've met uh kids that were >> physically beaten physically or anything. or I wasn't aware >> cuz you have to report it if you do, right? >> I would have to report it. Um but if yeah I I that's something I I >> without disclosing the location or the school that you were teaching at what was like the so socioeconomic standing of like that particular public school. >> Um so I worked in a couple of different I worked in uh two three different
16:54 schools. So the first one it was more lower soio economic class. Um and then the next one it was a it was diverse. There were also a lot of Asians and a lot of uh like Hispanics. Um I would say I think around 2% African-American. So I I forgot what the ratio was, but it was more towards uh Hispanics than um Asians. >> Yeah. So we were called a um oh my gosh, a level Oh man, I haven't been >> level one penitentiary. level one juvenile hall detention center. >> I think it was a tier one. Oh my gosh, I can't remember. It was like level one tier one school where we had a lot of parents who uh they had just it was like
17:44 a lot of lower soio economic students where they had to uh their kids were able to get free and reduced lunch. >> One of those. Yeah. >> Yeah, that's right. And then Yeah. I can't remember what what the term was. And then we also have like funding for like after school programs just to kind of you know enhance like student learning and everything. >> But majority of the uh most of the part I would say the >> the parents the students they were pretty good at the school I was in like I I really liked my students. I mean, there were a couple, I'm not saying everyone, there were a couple of students who were all just like I fear I wake up, I'm like, "Oh my gosh, like I know this one kid's going to do this today." >> But majority of the >> a Bart type probably >> for sure a Bart type >> stressing out teachers. I feel bad.
18:35 >> Majority of the part, I feel like the parents, they're all very supportive and everything. Yeah. Before we move on though, I want Bart to just continue to feel bad for all the wrongdoing that >> both of you guys are being really reflective right now. >> Look, look, you see the guilt in their faces. Look at the guilt in their face. >> Guilt. >> Say sorry to him. >> I'm so sorry. >> You started this. You perpetuated these behaviors.
// end of tape