Faculty in Focus: Joseph Baek, High School Social Emotional Learning Counselor

“Wherever I go, I want to be a person who welcomes others.”

Growing up while attending an international school in China instilled in Joseph Baek the power of community. Bringing people together became a passion early in life—one that has guided him ever since. With a master’s in school counseling, Joseph has dedicated himself to fostering a sense of belonging among international school students in South Korea, China, and Brazil.

In this issue of The Graded Gazette, Joseph reveals how he found his purpose at an early age, discusses his role as a Korean family liaison, and describes the moment in sports that gives him the chills.
 

How has your time as an international school student shaped your perspective on community and belonging?

I was born in Korea but moved to Tianjin, China, when I was five. I attended a small, community-based international school from kindergarten to senior year. It was one of the few international schools in China at the time. The community was strong, and teachers truly cared about the students. It always felt like we were a family. It was then that I understood how important community and belonging are to someone’s growth.  

Our school had a large number of Korean and other Asian students. As a Korean, I was friends with everyone and often acted as a bridge to those students who were in the minority. I reached out to them and made sure they were always included in events and activities. Our class grew very close. When I graduated, I was honored with the Eagles Award for embodying the school’s values.
 

When did you realize you wanted to be a counselor?

In high school, I attended a conference where I met a counselor from another school. We connected, and he told me I’d make a good counselor. Learning about the role of counselors in international schools and imagining myself in that position inspired me. My decision was also influenced by my experiences helping others discover their values and identities and understanding the importance of inclusion. When people feel a sense of belonging, they do better—not just academically but in every aspect of their lives.

What do you love about your job?

I love supporting students. Since childhood, I have enjoyed listening to people’s stories. I appreciate hearing what they like, what they don’t like, and what they’re struggling with. I truly enjoy getting to know each student. 

Having been a third-culture kid, myself, I can better support students because I have experienced what they are going through. Even local students at an international school can feel like third-culture kids because they are surrounded by so many different cultures. I have a lot of empathy for international school students because I know how hard it is to navigate one’s identity while attending classes in another language and living in an unfamiliar country and culture.

What was it like to serve in the military while in college?

After I finished my freshman year at Baylor University in Texas, I had to fulfill two years of mandatory military service in Korea.

I had expectations about the military, but you must experience it to understand its challenges. We had no freedom, no phones; we didn’t have anything. But once I adjusted to the lifestyle, I quite enjoyed it. It was very systematic. I got to be really healthy—working out consistently and eating regularly. I also grew close to the people around me. Of course, I was happy to leave the military, but I still have good memories. 

After your sophomore year at Baylor, you transferred to Yonsei University in Korea and studied psychology. What did you like about your major?   

I enjoyed psychology because it’s a subject in which there isn’t one specific answer to a problem. It’s all theory. When it comes to counseling, you have to get to know a student to choose the right approach. There is no ‘you have to do this’ mentality. There is an understanding of how complex a human being can be, and that’s very appealing to me.

In a counseling psychology class, I had the opportunity to go through five sessions of counseling with a professional counselor. This experience helped me understand myself better and gave me clarity on how I could be helping students through counseling. 

After living in São Paulo for almost two years, where do you recommend fellow expats visit?

São Paulo is such an international city. There are food options available from many different countries. If they want to have good Korean food in São Paulo, they should go to the Bom Retiro neighborhood and explore the Korean culture embedded in Brazil. One of my favorite Thai food places in the world, Thai Food, is located in São Paulo. Also, take advantage of eating good beef, chicken, and mangos while in Brazil.
 

What inspires your passion for volleyball?

I love playing volleyball. I played competitively in middle and high school. In the US, I joined an intramural club and traveled around the country with my team. When I returned to Korea, I continued playing, and I was very excited to come to Brazil because volleyball is such a big sport here. 

I used to play really well, and though I can’t jump as high today, I continue to be involved through coaching. I coached the Graded JV boys volleyball team last year. What I love about volleyball is you can’t do everything by yourself. You have to learn how to work as a team. Winning is, of course, important. But it’s not a star player that makes a team win; it’s how well they play as a team. That kind of teamwork gives me the chills. 

Tell us about your role as one of the Korean family liaisons.

Last year, Connie Hur [grade 4 teacher] and I launched this project. As liaisons, we help teachers and members of the Graded community with translation and the understanding of Korean culture. Connie takes care of the lower school, and I do the upper school. We also serve as points of contact for Korean community members. For example, we run parent coffees for Korean parents so they may ask questions in Korean. The feedback has been positive. Families say it has been very helpful as they had previously felt stuck—not knowing how to reach out to the school and teachers. Now, we are here to help them.

We have also led a seminar for the school about understanding what it means to be a third-culture kid and what that looks like for Korean parents. There are many Korean students in our school. I can relate to them, and they can relate to me. It helps them feel more welcome.