As the 2024-2025 academic year comes to a close, Princeton Day School bids farewell to many beloved teachers including Upper School Mandarin teacher Ms. Wenting Chen. 

Having been a part of the PDS community for seven years, Ms. Chen has made significant contributions to the language department as one of two Mandarin teachers, starting out as a long-term substitute in her first year. PDS has also greatly influenced Ms. Chen; in an interview with the Spokesman, she expressed her time was “of deep connection, learning, and gratitude.” 

Sophomore Caitlin Hwong, a student of Ms. Chen’s Chinese III class, exclaimed, “Her class is so engaging, and she not only teaches us about the language and culture but also ways to apply it into our own lives.”

In addition to being a wonderful teacher, Ms. Chen is also a caring advisor and friend. Sophomore Anika John-Annaselvan, a member of her advisory, noted, “I like how understanding Ms. Chen is; I always feel like [her class] is a judgement free zone.” Hwong added, “She is so willing to guide you and help you. She is someone I go to when I need help for not even necessarily school related things—she is someone I can really talk to. […] Her strength and courage is so empowering to me.”

Looking toward the future, Ms. Chen plans to return to Taiwan to spend more time with her mother, whose health requires more attention. Additionally, she plans to further explore her love for Chinese food, poetry, and philosophy by writing several books. As a lover of nature, she also hopes to continue to garden in her free time because, as she puts it, “[gardening] takes patience and quiet attention and it feels like witnessing a small miracle each day.”

Comparing her love of gardening to teaching, Ms. Chen elaborated, “[I love] watching my students grow every day—intellectually, emotionally, and even spiritually. It’s a quiet kind of magic, and it never gets old.”

Although she is leaving for Taiwan, the East Coast will be her second home as all three of her sons live here. Ms. Chen explained, “I hope to return when the time feels right.”

When asked about a piece of advice she would like to share with students, she responded: “Don’t rush through life. Take time to notice the small, beautiful things—a falling leaf, a kind word, a question that makes you think. Learning is not just about answers, but about the wonder of asking. Be kind, be curious, and stay true to who you are.”