Teaching choir is an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s not just about teaching music; it’s about fostering connection, growth, and a sense of community. I became a teacher to not just help students but to help them see the potential in themselves. I became a music teacher to help students understand the power of music, be creative, to help them get over stage fright, to have them work in a team, to allow them to express themselves artistically, and to develop a strong self-esteem.

There are so many. From having elementary kids performing with professional and famous musicians to taking students to auditions and concerts for mid state, watching students, that I had in Kindergarten, graduating and going to college, seeing former students working in the community, having new students whose parents are former students, watching students put their hearts and souls into a performance and the show being a huge hit. These are memories that I will always cherish.

I would use it to pay off some bills and take my family on a small vacation. I would also use some of it to work on my classroom, buying sheet music and updating materials that I currently use.