On any given day, you can visit Watercrest at Kingwood (a premier retirement community) and speak with a number of residents enjoying their retirement. However, if you stop by the apartment of Humaira John you’re not likely to find her home, instead she can be found hard at work following her passion for teaching at Pines Montessori School in Kingwood. While it may seem unorthodox for a 55-year-old to live in a retirement community, it makes sense for her. Ms. John moved with her father to the United States from Pakistan 17 years ago to avoid the growing unrest in the Middle East after facing persecution at the hands of the Taliban. Initially making Salt Lake City home, Ms. John moved to Houston six years ago to care for her ailing father. His health brought him to Houston and Ms. John soon followed. After he passed in 2015, she decided to find her own space to call home.
“People are always surprised when they find out where I live, but I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else,” said Ms. John. “Having moved around as much as I have, I understand that having a place where you feel safe and comfortable is incredibly valuable. I wanted to live in a place where I not only felt safe, but also at home. After my father passed I stayed in his apartment for a while until I decided what I wanted to do, and when I found out about Watercrest I was immediately intrigued. I’ve been very lucky to find a place to live where I can make a positive impact and build lasting relationships with my neighbors.”
Ms. John was born in Pakistan and grew up in Saudi Arabia where she graduated from high school before completing her education and teachers' training in London, where she also began her teaching career. After her first year of teaching, Ms. John returned to Pakistan where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in art from the University of Karachi. Ms. John would then spend the next 12 years teaching art, design and technology at the Center of Advanced Studies, a private English school in Karachi, before moving to the United States in 2001 to flee the growing presence of the Taliban in the country. She spent six years teaching in Salt Lake City before coming to Houston to care of her father. According to Ms. John, each experience helped her to grow and molded her into the person she is today.
“The trials and the triumphs that I’ve faced have made me a stronger person and have ensured a deep appreciation and affection for the gifts God has given me,” said Ms. John. “In my wildest dreams I never would have imagined the path I walked, let alone that I would choose to make my home in a retirement community. However, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have the chance to continue following my passion for teaching and serving others while being surrounded by friends and neighbors who cheer me on each day. This community is a blessing in my life.”
Today, Ms. John spends most of her time at school teaching her students and sharing the wonders of the natural world with them. She teaches them how to connect with the earth, and in many instances, she continues her teaching duties in her spare time by helping with various activities and programs for her neighbors at Watercrest. With the weather beginning to warm up, Ms. John will soon begin volunteering in the gardens at the community. Additionally, she helps with a few of the art classes including card making and origami. Each activity is an extension of her calling as a teacher and allows her to share her gifts with others.
“The relationships that I build living here at Watercrest make all the difference in my life,” said Ms. John. “It’s the people that make this place feel like home, and everyone within the community is like an extension of my family. There’s always someone to talk to about my day if I need to share, and if not, there is the peace and quiet of my apartment. Living here has been such a blessing, I couldn’t imagine calling anywhere else home.”
“We believe in providing residents with the resources they need to live full and active lives,” said Terri Lowery, executive director of Watercrest at Kingwood. “Humaira John is an inspiring example of what it means to live life on one’s own terms. The safety of being in a retirement community and the maintenance-free lifestyle attracts adults of all ages. Humaira shows all of us what it means to live well, and we are privileged to have her as part of our community.”