Put simply: I was inspired. My mother was a teacher, but it was really Mrs. Brown who changed everything. In her class, I wasn’t sitting on the hard floor trying not to fidget, I was riding the rails as she read Summer of Monkeys aloud (a feat I’d never dreamed of as a struggling reader). Mrs. Brown wasn’t teaching, she was inviting me on an adventure. Thanks to her urging to be creative and committed, I now have my Specialist in Education, helping struggling readers like me become adventurers.

A core memory is when a student from an abusive background, JR, who often physically hurt others was at recess and snatched a ball from a nonverbal autistic student, Ben. JR yelled, "What’s wrong with him?" I explained, "His brain works differently but he smiles and laughs like you." I nervously watched as JR taught Ben to shoot and showed compassion as it is modeled daily in my classroom. As they played and the ball swished in the basket, I saw the reason I show up every day.

I’ve written my response multiple times allowing my mind to wonder what I would do with $25, 000. My answer may seem simple or narrow-focused, but I would spend it on what I spend my money on now, family and education. Specifically, my daughter and her medical needs, a functioning sensory classroom, basic needs for my students, and continuing education. Essentially, I would spend it on making the lives of those I love better and more fulfilled.