Bethany Kwan, or Ms. Kwan for short, is the 12th grade counselor and has been working here at Mission since coming back from the pandemic. Ms. Kwan is a nice, genuine person who cares for all her kids. She will welcome you with big smiles, she will be there for you even when you’re not trying your best, she pushes you to be the best person you can be, and she motivates you to do good in school, to go to class for you to give it your all. She tries to be there as much as she can with all her students. You could find Ms. Kwan in the counseling office on the first floor of Mission High School.
Ms. Kwan grew up in the city of San Francisco with two siblings, with her being the middle child. She attended Jefferson Elementary, AP Gianinni and Lowell High School. Her parents were always supportive of what she was doing when she was growing up. If she got a bad grade, they weren’t going to get super mad at her, but she was hard on herself.
Her parents would always say, “As long as you’re doing your best, that’s all that matters.”
So that’s just what she asks from her students–their best.
Ms. Kwan went to the University of Hawai’i at Manoa where she studied business, but she wasn’t necessarily set on that specific major. She was actually pretty set on going to Willamette and majoring in Studio Art, but what changed her mind was when she toured the University of Hawai’i and she felt there was more of a community in Hawai’i. That’s why she always recommends that students tour a lot of college campuses instead of setting their eyes on one when making their final decisions.
“I chose my college based not on a major, but where I could learn and grow as a person,” she said. “The opportunity for growth motivates me. I believe that we always have something to learn so I’m motivated to consistently try and be a better person and to have a bigger, more meaningful impact in the lives of people around me.”
She loved her experience at the University of Hawai’i. She considered it to be the place where she grew up because at 18, she thought her world was still very sheltered and insular. However, when she went off to college, her world opened up in a very positive and meaningful way.
Hawai’i is a very community-based home where people care about their neighbors and even look out for strangers. Growing up for Ms. Kwan in a place like this played a huge role in who she is today.
“(It made me understand) the kind of impact I want to have in my life, whether it’s with you all here at Mission or friends and family in my personal life.”
For Ms. Kwan, community really matters. When asked how she ended up working at Mission, she said that originally she wanted to be a counselor at a middle school, but felt involved with the community over here. She shared that there was an open spot and she wanted to try out high school to see what it was like. She got a call back and said that it was the best choice.
“This is the team I want to grow with, this is the team I want to learn from, and it just felt right in my heart, it felt right in my brain, it was just a pretty easy decision.”
In her time at Mission, she’s gotten closer with a lot of students. She’s very involved with the students and always running around. If a student needs help, she’s most likely going to help you fix it, whatever the problem is.
If you’re ever having problems, you just come to Ms. Kwan. She’s very relaxed and you feel at peace with her. Ms. Kwan loves her job. The days can be really difficult, but even with the hard days or moments, she really loves what she does because she gets to work with amazing students and she also enjoys how every day is different.
“You have to be a friend to have a friend,” Ms. Kwan said. This is a quote she lives by. “(It) signifies the act of putting yourself out there, being generous with your positivity and spirit in this world. I feel like many people wait for others to make the first move, but if we are bold and smile at others or even just say hello first, I believe the world would be much happier and brighter.”
