The Superpower of Service: How an Earthquake Redefined Teacher Geanne Avi's Purpose at 51Talk

Every teacher has a moment that reshapes how they see their role. For Teacher Geanne Avi, that moment arrived not during a lesson, but in the middle of a crisis that shook her community.

When she began teaching with 51Talk, she believed her greatest responsibility was simple: show up prepared, teach well, and help students grow. Then on June 8, 2026 an earthquake struck. Families suddenly faced disruption, limited communication, and unreliable electricity. In that moment, Teacher Geanne Avi faced a choice. She could focus only on returning to her normal teaching schedule, or she could use what she had to help the people around her.

She chose to help.

Choosing Service Over Schedule

For about one week, Teacher Geanne Avi paused her classes. She and others opened a free charging station for earthquake victims in the community. She used her backup power supply, the same equipment she normally relied on to keep teaching during power interruptions, to help people charge their phones and essential devices.

"That backup power was something I normally depended on to make sure I could continue teaching during power interruptions," she recalls. "But during that difficult week, I realized that there was something more important than keeping my own routine. People needed to stay connected. Their phones were not simply gadgets. They were their connection to family, emergency information, assistance, and the outside world.”

So she gave what she had. Teaching paused. Purpose sharpened.

The Turning Point

At first, missing a full week of classes was difficult. Teacher Geanne Avi takes her responsibilities seriously. She worried about falling behind and questioned whether stepping away was the right decision. Watching people arrive at the charging station changed her perspective.

"I understood that teaching and service are not separate values," she says. "Both are about helping people move forward.”

The experience taught her something no training session could: sometimes the most meaningful lesson happens outside the classroom. When she returned to teaching, she carried a different mindset. She felt more grateful for every opportunity to teach. She became more patient when students struggled and more understanding when circumstances affected their learning. She also grew more adaptable.

Before the earthquake, her backup power was mainly a tool for continuing work. Afterward, she saw it as a resource that could serve others too.

Values Strengthened by Crisis

The week reinforced core principles she holds as a 51Talk teacher: Putting Customers First and Collaboration. It reminded her that teachers are part of a larger community, and that skills, resources, and time can create impact beyond immediate responsibilities. It also taught Accountability. She made a difficult decision, accepted the consequences of missing classes, and took ownership of that choice.

Most importantly, she learned a deeper meaning of resilience. "Resilience is not simply about continuing when things become difficult," she reflects." Sometimes, resilience means knowing when to pause, serve others, and then find the strength to begin again.”

Her journey with 51Talk has therefore become more than a story about improving teaching skills. It is a story about becoming a more compassionate, adaptable, and resilient person. The earthquake showed that impact is measured not only by the lessons taught, but by the lives touched when people need help most.

A Message to Fellow Teachers

To teachers navigating their own difficult seasons, Teacher Geanne Avi offers a clear lesson: "You don't have to have everything to make a difference. Start with what you have.”

She had a backup power supply she normally used for work. During that week, she chose to share it. Others may have a skill, a little extra time, a listening ear, a word of encouragement, or simply the willingness to help. Never underestimate the impact of what you already possess.

Students need teachers who can teach. They also need teachers who understand empathy, resilience, and humanity. The week Teacher Geanne Avi spent supporting earthquake victims meant she could not hold her regular classes. Yet that week taught her one of the most valuable lessons of her journey: sometimes stepping away from the classroom allows us to become a better teacher when we return.

"The earthquake interrupted my schedule, but it did not interrupt my purpose," she says. "It strengthened it.”

Today she carries that insight into every class. Keep learning. Keep adapting. Keep caring. And whenever the chance arises to help someone move forward, do not be afraid to give what you can. Because sometimes the greatest lesson is not spoken through a screen. Sometimes it is taught through the choice to serve.

Every teacher has a superpower. What will yours become?

Start your 51Talk teaching journey and discover how the skills you already have, combined with empathy and purpose, can shape both your students and your community.

Sign up now and begin writing your own story of impact.

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