I became a teacher, because I played teacher with my cousin growing up at our grandmother's house. I was always the teacher and she was always the student. Today, we are both teachers. I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher. I could never see myself doing anything else.

My most memorable teaching experience is creating Bilingual Buddies for my 3rd through 5th grade English learners from Puerto Rico and Ukraine. In this unique group, my students bonded through their ability to communicate in English, Spanish, or Ukrainian. An language is welcomed. We learned about each culture through activities like painting Sugar Skull pumpkins for Day of the Dead. At Christmas, we decorated cards in our home languages & ate Ukrainian chocolates & drank cinnamon cocoa.

My husband and I have put off starting our own family because of money. This money would also finally help us with our dream of starting our own family finally. In addition, I would donate some of the funds to my school to start an elementary Spanish club.