Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because of my own high school science teacher. My AP Biology teacher, Mr. Polochak, taught science as if he was teaching us about magic. The way his eyes would light up when discussing scientific phenomena was purely contagious. My interest in science was always there from a young age but the interest to teach it to young minds started right there in that man’s classroom. I wanted to provide this same experience for my very own students.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience was during one of my first post-observation meetings. My principal, who conducted the observation, explained to me that she was elated to see that my students demonstrated the ability to take risks and to explore the unknown with confidence. She observed students that were comfortable exploring the answers to problems without fear of getting them wrong and accepting failure and trying again. This is what I always aimed to achieve for my class environment.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I truly want to say that I would donate the $25K back to the community and to children that may need it most. However, I am not in a financial position where I could do that. I think the best course of action would be to apply this money to my student loans. It would not cover the full amount that I have left but it would truly make a huge difference in paying them off. I want to spend the rest of my life helping others. If I am able to care for myself then this goal can be a reality.