Meet Joy Allado: Owner of Agape Learning LLC

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joy Allado and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joy, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Teaching kindergarten was extremely rewarding, so much so, that I taught for almost 20 years. Subsequently, I started contemplating whether that was it for me. I knew I could teach higher grades; I knew I could do more, but the comfort of my classroom then kept me from making bigger decisions in my career. Eventually, my mom talked to me. This is when one could say that mothers know best! The idea of starting a business seemed amazing, but my bank account disagreed with my overflowing enthusiasm. Money become a hindrance. How could I afford to lease a space with the measly pay I was getting? However, God had a different plan. I started looking for a place and found a 300 sq ft office on the second floor. My parents provided the deposit. We started with 2 students. To this day, we have over 200 students enrolled and an exceedingly long waiting list. To God be the glory!

What should our readers know about your business?
Agape Learning provides students with tools they will need to succeed. We have carefully formed a curriculum that gives our students the confidence to unlock the potential they have to be the best in their classes, better yet, their schools. We provide private and group classes to children ages 4-18. Besides our grade-school programs, our phonics program, Tamonics Phonics, gives an assurance that any child could read within just 7 classes with us. Our students are doing exceptionally well, but most of all, they have gained confidence in what they could do. We are proud to say that at Agape Learning, we don’t just teach subjects, we help nurture children by enhancing their skills to achieve their goals.

Today, we provide service to hundreds of families. All this would not have been possible if not for God. Our company is built on our faith in Him. Agape simply means God’s love. The challenges we had to face were not at all easy, and honestly, this page will not be enough if I started listing all of them. I’ve learned that facing those challenges head-on is impossible if I rely on my own flesh. This exhausted body will not be able to take in the mental battles a business owner often reflects on. I fight my battles with God on my side.

Although the challenges will be endless, starting this business has brought contentment. I have heard that to succeed in business, one should not be content because contentment is what keeps one idle. I beg to differ. The feeling of contentment means that I am thankful for reaching a certain goal. It would be impossible to move forward in business if I am not contented with my work. Contentment is what keeps me wanting to do more.

Success is great, but to reach that, we need faith, a substantial amount of faith.

Growing up, I have witnessed my parents walk by faith, be it in the trials that they faced, or the decisions that they made, my parents walked by faith in God. I never understood that word until I took this step of venturing into a business. There is a significant difference between believing in yourself and having faith. Success, or at least the feeling of contentment in business takes a lot of hard work, endless amounts of hours in planning and preparation, and yes, at times, self-doubt. Simply believing in myself was not enough. Faith in God is what sustained me during those days; days when I was unsure if I have made the right decision. Now I am beginning to witness, time and time again how God has orchestrated, and is continually forming everything in Agape Learning.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Los Angeles caters to almost anyone. Personally, I love going anywhere with a nice view. There are plenty of rooftop restaurants in L.A. that boasts a view of this fast-paced city. For instance, Perch on Hill St. is a great! 71 Above is another favorite of ours. However, if you want a simple picnic with a view, The Korean Bell of friendship is an amazing place to sit and unwind. From there, you’ll see the vastness of the Pacific Ocean while enjoying the ocean breeze.

Museums and botanical gardens are also all around Los Angeles! LACMA and The Broad are the most popular ones. However, there are plenty more: the National History Museum, the Science Museum, the Getty Center, and many more.
There are also plenty of gardens to visit. The Arboretum in Arcadia is a beautiful place to take pictures and at the same time enjoy the beauty of nature. The Japanese Garden is another place where families could have a wonderful time together. It provides a relaxing environment. It also offers a display of bonsai trees.

Wherever you go in Los Angeles, there is always something to do! The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
No one else deserves all the credit in our company’s success but my family. My family not only continuously supports my decisions, but they also work tirelessly to keep Agape Learning to where we are today. I cannot even begin to imagine how I would be able to go through this business without them. My mom, my sisters, and my late dad are the faces of our success.

Website: learnagape.com

Instagram: agape_learning

Facebook: facebook.com/learnagape