Speaker 1: 0:30

So my name is Jinsil Kim. I'm originally from South Korea, but I've been in the US for about 24 years, almost 30 years, and I represent C2 Education Center and I lead a franchise group within the C2 Education and we have over 130 locations nationwide for the nationwide company over 130 locations nationwide for the nationwide company and I actually, for me, I just opened my officially seventh location in Orlando, florida. So I've been with C2 since 2007, and we help students with college consulting, essay, sat prep, act, you name it.

Speaker 2: 1:17

You know if it's academy related K through 12, we do it and we love helping our students. I love that. Now tell me about the specifics of the services that you offer. Is it for college entry testing? Is it tutoring with different subjects? What are those subjects?

Speaker 1: 1:28

Tell, so you know, for C2 education we realized that for students there's always a bit of limit when you're in a group setting, when there's individualized lesson. Have you ever heard about Bloom's two sigma problem? I?

Speaker 2: 1:53

have.

Speaker 1: 1:53

Bloom's two sigma problem. Okay, so what it is is that they have found out that when students are in a group setting and versus students who are in an individualized lesson or in a tutoring or in a small groups setting, the ones who are in a small group setting are likely perform it higher, much, at two standard deviation higher than those who are in a group setting. So it's called yes, and it's Bloom's problem, or Bloom's two sigma problem. And so for us, really, tutoring is one of the very few evidence-based practices in the K-12 education industry. Yeah, and C2 education is really known for really one of the top results in the industry. We send a majority of our students to top colleges and universities. Our students increase their SAT and ACT scores, averaged 200 points or sometimes even higher. So we've been serving our community, for example, mclean, virginia. We've been with that community for more than 20 years, okay, yeah, so last year it marked 20th year anniversary. Congratulations to that, thank you, thank you, yeah, so you know, for us, really, our greatest joy is when we see students who have been skeptical of their own ability, especially our academic abilities, and we boost our confidence, but also really going through the foundational gaps that they create or they accumulated through their years in school.

Speaker 1: 3:44

Yeah, absolutely yeah. So I mean, if you think about it, like when we go through K through 12 in a group setting, right, most students are not going to ask all the questions that they have. No, there's no time, exactly, and learning is about really a communication, right, because it has to register. In order to do that, the students have to have the opportunities to ask questions and get the feedback from the teacher. However, in a group setting, it is very difficult for students to have that opportunity. So therefore, there's a continual gap in their learning that gets accumulated. So what we are at C2 Education, what we are offering, is that how about we hire top-tier teachers, tutors we call them teachers actually, teachers, tutors, we call them teachers actually and also give the students diagnostic tests where they get to see what are these areas kind of like cheese, where are the holes?

Speaker 2: 4:46

Ah, the Swiss cheese yeah.

Speaker 1: 4:47

Exactly. And then we let the teachers know hey, these are the areas students can improve. And what we have done it's a genius of CETA program is that we have customized curriculum according to each student's individualized needs. Yes, it's kind of like a three-step process. So students would come in and they would take diagnostic tests and we'll find out what are those gaps that they accumulate. Is it K-5 or 5th, k-12, k-11,? Wherever they are, there are different areas they missed over the course of the years. Yeah, right. So then once we find out through the diagnostic test, then these teachers have been trained with C2 curriculum, yeah, and who also have top tier score through the standardized tests such as SAT or ACT or AP exams. Then they are matched after training with these students who are maybe struggling or who want to really get ahead yeah, and then we provide them with customized curriculum. So then, when all these three things come together, then we create the magical result Beautiful.

Speaker 2: 5:58

And can this be done in person and online, or is there a particular way that you like doing this?

Speaker 1: 6:03

So you know what? That's a very good question. Thank you for asking. So we've tried online. Of course we had to try because of COVID, yes. However, we did notice it's actually more effective when it's face-to-face, in-person. So for C2, we began in-person tutoring. However, covid kind of forced us into the online tutoring, so we were more of a hybrid model and now we are kind of going back to the brick and mortar business style. However, we still offer the online tutoring.

Speaker 1: 6:37

So we are still hybrid, but majority of the parents and the students they do request in-person tutoring, Absolutely and honestly I share this with my friends and students and their families that if God wanted everything to be virtual, he would have made us a virtual beings.

Speaker 2: 6:55

I know right.

Speaker 1: 6:56

So I think there's always that quality that you cannot replicate just virtually. There is a special, unique quality, such as quality, such as what is the communication right? The body language is the 70% to 80% of the communication. So then body language is only going to be observed by the physical interaction. So we think it's beyond just the knowledge transfer, but it is more of a mentorship, encouragement, communication and knowledge transfer at the end, yeah, yeah, love it.

Speaker 2: 7:29

And now talk to me about the teachers or the staff and employees that you have with me. I guess they have a history of being tutors, or talk. Just tell me a little bit more about that, oh yes, you know what, thank you.

Speaker 1: 7:43

So I have this little funny story. So we have Mr Jonathan. He's been with us over 10 years.

Speaker 2: 7:49

I think 11 or 12 years.

Speaker 1: 7:51

Yes, he's been with us for a long time. And we have other teachers, like Mr Ting, and we have amazing, amazing teachers and actually a lot of them have master's degree and beyond Beautiful. And the funny story I wanted to share is that Mr Jonathan would actually go to College Board and take SAT himself. What, okay, and he's been doing it for years Now. I think he stopped because, you know, college Board said stop taking it anymore, but every time he would get almost or either perfect score or just maybe get one wrong. Was he doing it to brush up his skills? Yeah, well, he also wanted to. I mean, of course, he probably knows everything, but he wanted to kind of find out the trend and how he can actually help the students better.

Speaker 1: 8:35

Yeah, yes, so you know, we have someone like Mr Jonathan and Mr Ting who's been with us forever and he actually, you know, has PhD in, I believe, in science and chemistry. I believe I got to double check on that, yeah, and you know, we have other teachers we had actually, when I was my first location was in Glen Burnie, maryland, and I had Dr Ron. Yeah, and he was a mathematician PhD. Okay, impressive, yes, yes, and he was actually working for the Department of Defense, but he wanted to, you know, have a little part-time gig and so he would come after his work and teach our amazing students. So we have a.

Speaker 1: 9:19

You know, I would say the strength of C2 education is that if you want to hire these professors or these PhDs or these chemists, scientists, it would be very difficult for you trying to recruit and train and match and pay right Yep. But the way that C2 made this system is that we created a system where it is affordable and they are trained and also they're experts in their fields, and also we try to get these teachers that really care about the students, their life and their academic success and the morale, everything. So holistic approach is really what we're aiming for. I love that, thank you.

Speaker 2: 10:04

And now, what have been some of the most memorable stories success stories that you've had with students who maybe came to you with an issue or a problem and you were able to see them flourish and grow after coming to you guys.

Speaker 1: 10:15

Oh, you know what. Thank you. I mean, you have amazing questions, thanks. So I had one student, the first center in Glen Burnie, that she was very skeptical of her own ability because she wasn't really so academic and she didn't really have a high score to begin with in her SAT. And I just you know what, why don't we try? And you know what? You've never given yourself the opportunity right, and let's go ahead and do our best and see what we can do. And we have a great system, great teachers, great curriculum and you're willing to try. So let's do your best. We'll do our best and see how far we can get you. And at the end she got full ride to Johns Hopkins.

Speaker 2: 11:05

Okay, look at that.

Speaker 1: 11:06

Yes, that's amazing, it's quite incredible. And you know, and I actually always want to kind of practice what I preach, so I actually been a student for myself forever. I went to. After my getting my master's degree from Oral Roberts, I went to UCLA Extension, okay. And became a certified college counselor. Look at that. Congratulations.

Speaker 1: 11:30

Thank you, thank you. It took me a few years to finish, but we did it. Yeah, we did it. And actually I also went to Johns Hopkins myself. Okay, look at that girl. Yes, thank you. And it took me six years to graduate because I had two maternity leaves, oh my goodness. So when I entered the school I was pregnant, like eight or seven or eight months pregnant. That is crazy. Yeah, students are looking at me like what is this pregnant woman doing in the school. But you know what? It was difficult years because COVID I take the kids and study.

Speaker 1: 11:59

But I finally finished it and then I thought, what's next? Because, as a leader who's leading an education company, what can I do better? Because, as I learn more, I can benefit more, I can give more to our students and to the learning community. So then I looked into this program at University of Pennsylvania, which is an Ivy League program where they do business and education business and education leaders and they combined those two, where this program was originally designed by Graduate School of Education and Wharton School of Business, and so I was looking at the program in 2022 while I was still at Hopkins student Girl, and they both were going to rank number one in the US.

Speaker 1: 12:38

And so I'm like, hey, you know what? Just like how I was able to encourage that student who got into the Hopkins with full right. I said, you know what? Was able to encourage that student who got into the Hopkins with full ride? I said, you know, I need to encourage myself. If I had any self-doubts, skepticism, you know I need to. You know, remove that. Remove that Exactly, thank you. And I just applied and I got in this year. I love that for you, thank you. So I'll be the future Dr Kim. Oh, my goodness. But I definitely want to do more with that degree where I'll bring real change that will benefit our students and the community. Yes, I love that.

Speaker 2: 13:09

And then, where do you see yourself for the next five years with your business? Next, years.

Speaker 1: 13:15

So we are, as I share with you that we just opened our seventh location.

Speaker 2: 13:20

Congratulations thank you in orlando.

Speaker 1: 13:22

So yes, orlando, florida yes, we started in maryland, virginia into florida, and so we're getting here actually we're getting ready to scale down in florida and we want to open about maybe 20 locations or more. That's big and eventually we do want to take over. Okay, am I being a little too ambitious here?

Speaker 2: 13:43

No, I love it, dream big.

Speaker 1: 13:45

Yes, yes, and just not that we just want to be big. But we know what we're doing is so Impactful yeah, impactful, it's so needed. And we see so many success stories, students and their lives being changed and transformed, so we really want to replicate that. And then, you know, take it to the U? S, maybe even to the world eventually.

Speaker 2: 14:07

Right and make that impact everywhere where you can reach.

Speaker 1: 14:10

Yes, absolutely yes.

Speaker 2: 14:12

Is there anything, maybe, that I have not touched on, about yourself or your business, that you would like to share with our listeners?

Speaker 1: 14:18

You know, Sue, as you see, like my parents are here with me.

Speaker 2: 14:22

Yes, I can feel their presence. I have not looked over there yet.

Speaker 1: 14:25

But you know, I like to actually give special thanks to my parents, because what happened was when I was 16, I was struggling a little bit. I was a bit not sure about which path I should take and I was in South Korea. Believe it or not, I'm still a South Korean citizen.

Speaker 2: 14:45

Hey, hey. We love versatility, diversity, everything here. We love Netflix, right yeah, oh my God.

Speaker 1: 14:52

Anyway. So my parents really they were not at the time financially so well off to send me to the US, but what they did was they actually took their life saving out, oh my God, yeah, and they decided to use that money so I can study in the US, learn how to speak English and, you know, be the better service to God and to the community and to the people. Oh, my God. So I like to you know, for this opportunity. I like to just officially give them thanks. I love them and, you know, really they are my motivation and fuel to do better with my life and do more.

Speaker 2: 15:23

That is so beautiful and the fact that they're here too, like that's really special. Yeah, absolutely. Oh, my goodness, I'm so glad that they were able to do all of and get to see like their work paid off and everything for you, right.

Speaker 1: 15:35

Yes, yes, and ultimately it's God, you know, because they really instilled God's faith in me and then I was able to really rely on God. Yeah, because, being an international student since 16 and you know, I actually wrote a poem like an island. Can I read that to you? Yeah, please do. And actually that was one part of my dissertation, you know. Literature review positionality paper.

Speaker 2: 15:58

Yeah, bring it out.

Speaker 1: 15:59

Yeah, and I think this is something that I think people can relate to.

Speaker 2: 16:05

Yeah, and I was going to say if you could share, like something inspiring, a quote, anything, a song, lyric, oh, thank you. So this poem that works perfectly for that.

Speaker 1: 16:11

I just wrote this poem and it's about how we struggle with our identity. But there is really. We always have a common ground for longing and connection and belonging.

Speaker 2: 16:21

So here we go.

Speaker 1: 16:22

It's called Island by Jinsol Kim. Island is my address, a place without coordinates, without a map, no zip code, no road, found only by birds who come to sing, then vanish beyond the horizon's line. Island is my home, a reflection caught on the glass of ocean, where I search for the face I left behind, trace the shoreline for the land that lives only in memories tied. Island is my soul, sacred and salt-laden. Its breezes carry my worries, yet anchor me still. The waves wash over me, constant and calm. There's peace here, but no escape. Island is my life. Each wave a whisper of places unseen, calling me toward journeys I may never take. Yet I feel its sands become my skin, its tides pulse within my veins. Island is myself A world, entire, yet alone, where I belong, yet never fully stay A home. I long to leave, but always find this island my compass and cage.

Speaker 2: 17:33

That's so beautiful. Oh my gosh, I can hear like the struggle in there, but also finding yourself. That's so beautiful oh my gosh. I can hear like the struggle in there but also finding yourself Absolutely. You should print it out and put it in like a nice frame somewhere that's so beautiful. You got to share that with everyone that comes through your door you can maybe like have it there.

Speaker 1: 17:47

Yeah, and you know, I just think that everyone, you know, sometimes we feel like we're not fully understood by other people except God or us, right? But then it's almost like understanding that there's always that duality nature where you have that satisfaction and you have that hunger, right? Yeah, absolutely. You have that entirety, but yet you feel sometimes alone, right? Yes, so it's a part of human nature and human experience, but because of that, I feel like we need that bridge, we need that togetherness, we need each other. Yes, absolutely.

Speaker 2: 18:21

And it's who you are essentially. All those troubles and trials and tribulations make you who you are essentially.

Speaker 1: 18:27

So just grow with that.

Speaker 2: 18:29

Thank you so much for being on the podcast and for sharing this.

Speaker 1: 18:31

This is so much fun. Right, do it again. Yes, we should.