There are journeys that take us across the world,
and there are journeys that quietly lead us back to ourselves.

For me, both began at the same time.

my photo

I once spent eleven years

in the world of accounting— five years studying, and six years working — following a path that was steady and certain. But after the COVID-19 pandemic, something shifted. I began to feel the quiet pull toward a different life, one shaped not only by logic, but by meaning.

So I came to New Zealand in 2024, travelling as far as I could from where I started.

Here, I found something unexpectedly familiar.
The way people live alongside nature — not above it, not apart from it — reminded me of my childhood in a small town in rural China. Back then, the edges of the town were still wild. Trees grew freely, and the world felt open and alive. I ran through those spaces with my dog, without knowing that these simple moments were shaping the person I would become — someone who finds comfort in nature, and meaning in connection.

And in those early years, there was also a teacher.

Ms Shi.

I was a child who never stopped talking — always observing, always wondering, always wanting to share. She never rushed me. She listened, patiently and fully, as though every thought mattered. She met my words with understanding, and my questions with care.

Years later, as I navigate new languages and new cultures, I often think of the way she looked at me when I spoke — with attention, with respect. It is a quiet memory, but it continues to give me courage.

She passed away during the pandemic.

But I have come to believe that some connections do not end. They remain, carried in memory and in the way we choose to live — much like the message in Coco.

Perhaps this is where my journey has always been leading.

To become an early childhood teacher is not only a career choice for me — it is a return. A return to the kind of presence that listens, that notices, that nurtures.

As I begin my path in early childhood education in New Zealand, I hope to create spaces where children feel safe to speak, to wonder, and to be themselves. Spaces where they are seen, heard, and gently encouraged to grow — just as I once was.

Education

Graduate Diploma of Teaching (ECE)
Te Rito Maioha,New Zealand
Expected Start: July 2026

Master’s Degree in Accounting
Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, China / 2020 - 2022

Bachelor ’s Degree in Accounting Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, China /2011 -2015

Experience in Education

Tutoring Instructor, Shanghai,China
Jun 2022 – Sep 2024
Supported children’s development in Mathematics, English, and Mandarin Developed tailored lesson plans to support individual learning needs

Tutoring Instructor
Jan 2020 – Jun 2022
Supported the development of students’ logical thinking and writing skills for undergraduates

Volunteer Primary School Teacher
Rural Community Education Programme
Jun 2012 – Sep 2012
Taught academic subjects (including Mathematics and English) as well as holistic development classes to students in a rural and underserved area
Designed and delivered engaging lessons that supported both academic learning and personal development

Other Employment History

Café All-Rounder Spiker cafe /03.2025-12.2025

Kitchen Assistant /Fast Food Cook Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa/12.2024-03.2025

General Ledger Accountant
Sitc International Holdings Company Limited
Jun 2022 – Aug 2023
Pharetra Nibh,
Porta Libero
2023

Finance Accountant (part time)
Shanghai Chuanbo Asset Management Co., Ltd.
Nov 2021 – Jan 2022

Treasury Intern (part time)
SABIC (China)
Jun 2021 – Oct 2021

Accounting Officer (Progressed from Cashier to Accountant)
Changzhou Longquan Pipeline Engineering Co., Ltd.
Jun 2015 – Aug 2019

Interests

Chinese Dough Sculpture
Creating small handcrafted figures that reflect patience and imagination

Hiking & Nature
Exploring landscapes and reconnecting with the simplicity of the natural world.

Cooking
Finding joy in preparing meals and sharing warmth through food

Creative Writing
Exploring thoughts and emotions through stories, and finding meaning in everyday moments.

Joey Chen 陈 婧

Dough Sculpture Collection

Achievements & Certifications

CV

Joey Chen 陈婧