Meet Joe Fong!
Outstanding Community
Service Award
[b. 12/05/99]
I will never forget one of the numerous lasting impressions of Mr. Fong: picking on fellow HAA-AS member Jonathan Kim, while watching a movie, and telling him to turn off that "kim-chee radio". He later explained that he likes to make fun of people that he likes. [I don't mean to disrespect Jonathan in any way!]
Seriously though, Mr. Fong is one of a VERY small handful of teachers I respect today. Having taken classes at SFSU, CCSF, Cañada, and now CSM, I have run into my fair share of teachers who have put paychecks above everything. [Sad, but it is true!] One of the things that made him stand out above my other teachers this semester was his teaching style. With his cracks about "dodos" and "losers", he never ceased to amaze me with what was going to come out of his mouth next. He didn't sugar-coat anything or made things more politically correct. He freely expressed whatever was on his mind, and he was honest. He actually cares about his students, a quality that I would like to carry onto myself when I become a teacher someday. He does have a very "unorthodox" attitude towards life, and that's probably why a lot of other students find him appealing. [I'm sure that other students could vouch for me about this.] I am VERY fortunate to have met Mr. Fong this semester. He made things fun, interesting, and memorable. In all, through my brief experience with Mr. Fong, he is an all around nice guy. Serious when it's time to be serious, humorous when it's time to be humorous.
If you don't beleive me, go ahead and enroll in one of his classes. I bet you it'll be the best class you'll have that semester!
At this time, I would like to thank Mr. Fong personally for allowing me to participate in such a grand event. I definitely have to take you out for noodles when I happen to be around CSM!!!
[Caption: Although a busy man, he still manages to have time to squeeze in a photo op!]
Hold on though Mr. Fong, it so happens that my friends and I sat with a personal friend of yours...Mr. Joe Lam. Besides being the Vice President of The Organization of Chinese American of Northern California, Mr. Lam is also a Senior Project Manager in the City of San Francisco. [The Mayor's Office of Community Development to be precise!] He shared with us stories about his life...as well as telling some juicy stories about you! [Don't worry Mr. Fong, neither my friends nor I will mention anything about you being a "bad-boy" back in the day and all that other COOL stuff! I just never thought that out of all the teachers that I ever had, you would be the most "colorful" one! With that in mind, I respect you even more!!! =) ] It was a pleasure for my friends, as well as myself, to have his presence at our dinner table.
[Caption: Mr. Lam gets candid before tonight's festivities!]