Raised in the pews
Sean Hui (’23) was born into a church family. With his father a pastor in North Vancouver and his family deeply involved with church, Sean grew up hearing the accounts of the Bible and learning the principles of being a disciple. Along with their service in the church, Sean’s parents held regular family prayer meetings, so being ushered into the presence of God whether at home or at church was something Sean knew well.
A calm in the storm
Prior to entering university, Sean went through a difficult season of loss and subsequent anxiety. “When I was in high school, there was a lot of darkness that I struggled with—insecurities, doubts, and anxiety,” Sean shares. This led him into a deeper dependence on God, and it was during this time that Sean describes, “God moved from being part of my life to being my life.”
With Christ as his foundation, Sean was able to learn the difficult lessons of trust, faith, and obedience that God often teaches us during the storms of life. He remembers, “It wasn’t until I was in high school, when I was struggling with that anxiety and insecurity, that I really started to experience that peace and love found in Christ.” Once God had revealed himself to Sean in such a real way, he could not stay quiet. He explains, “When I experienced that for myself, I really wanted to share that with other people as well.”
On choosing TWU
Knowing his love for Christ and for evangelism, it was Sean’s sister who advised him to consider TWU when he was deciding on a university. Sean shares that after she mentioned this, he thought, “If I go to a place where there are people who are just as passionate for Jesus, I’d be totally down for that.” Once Sean began his studies at TWU, he quickly discovered the culture of intentional discipleship and community he was hoping for. He found Trinity Western to be a place where he could build his faith within “a safe context of like-minded believers.”
Discovering his gift
Sean’s choice of career came after receiving spiritual discernment and encouragement from a pastor. He explains that after watching Sean teach a short lesson at church, his pastor told him, “Sean, you have the spiritual gift of teaching.” This was the moment he truly decided to become a teacher.
In 2023, Sean graduated from TWU with a degree in education, and he is currently a practicing teacher. He is quick to point out that the personal education he experienced from his professors plus his time in leadership equipped him to walk alongside his students with a deeper level of empathy and love. In describing how he sees teaching, Sean says, “Part of my job as a teacher is to help those students find out what their purpose is, particularly in God.”
A light in the classroom
Having teaching as his spiritual gift, it is no wonder Sean thoroughly enjoys his career. Love for his students is evident in the desire he has for them to flourish and to discover “the unique gifts that they have been given by God.” Sean describes how he sees himself in this role, saying, “Being the light means showing Christ to my students.” This approach means investing a lot of energy into each lesson, but this is no deterrent to Sean. “My job as a teacher is to help my students thrive. That’s how Christ’s light shines through me.”
Also see: Alumna Isabella Alvarez’ TWU experience helped shape how she approaches her HR career
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university. We are dedicated to equipping students to discover meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. Drawing upon the riches of the Christian tradition, seeking to unite faith and reason through teaching and scholarship, Trinity Western University is a degree-granting research institution offering liberal arts and sciences as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has locations in Canada: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn. For media inquiries, please contact: media@twu.ca.