Meet Michelle Lu | Boba Lover | Teacher | Mom

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

Hi Michelle, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I’m Michelle and I am a boba addict. I started my Instagram page to promote local boba shops and showcase drinks around town. As the page grew, I wanted to share my love of boba with others, in a real way.

I considered different types of food/drinks events. I kept seeing wine tastings and beer tastings and thought, “Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a boba tasting?” I shared the idea on my Instagram stories and got great feedback. Then, I reached out to a few boba shops and made it happen.

For the tasting event, I work with boba shops to create an aesthetic and unique experience where people could sample boba drinks, meet friends, take pictures and play games.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Though I’d love to tell you I’m a full time boba enthusiast, I do have a day job! I’ve had a long unique journey that led me to become a Special Education Teacher.

After graduating with a Business degree and working as a Market Analyst for a hospital for two years, I quit my steady job to do mission work. I volunteered in the Philippines, Vietnam and Bethlehem before deciding to become a nun. Yes, you read that right. I was a Catholic religious sister for three years. I discerned out and moved to Plano, TX.

I randomly got a job as a paraprofessional at a high school in Special Education and fell in love with the students, so I decided to pursue a certification in teaching. (Also, I met my husband at my first school!)

To me, I’m just a regular teacher. There’s not much that sets me apart. However, I am proud of following my heart in my journey to happiness. Sure, there will always be obstacles and challenges, but I think it’s important to pursue joy and love.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First, I’d obviously have to show them some of my favorite boba shops. TeaLatte, Feng Cha and Moge Tee are a few.

Second, I love watching live shows at The Firehouse Theatre in Farmers Branch. This cute small community theatre was built inside the historic Fire Station #1.

Third, one of my favorite things to do is to explore historic downtown areas, such as McKinney, Celina and Plano. It’s fun to walk around, shop local stores, and sip at a coffee shop.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I realized after my first event that I could not do this alone. I need to give a huge shoutout to my good friend-Ana. She calls herself my assistant, but she is much more than. Together we are a dream team! From creatively designing the place settings to cleaning ALL the jars, we always have fun hosting the boba tasting events. And, we are really excited to add a few more people to our little boba team for upcoming events.

Instagram: Thebobatomytea