Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher by chance, but it changed my life. In college, I needed a job and started working as an assistant in a special program at a public school on our campus. Watching those students grow, learn, and overcome challenges inspired me deeply. It didn’t take long before I realized education was my true calling. I switched my major from biology to education and never looked back. Helping students succeed and believe in themselves is the most fulfilling work I could ever imagine.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable moment was when a former middle school student invited me to his college pick party. He earned several scholarships and thanked me for being his best teacher. When we first met, he was my most challenging student—poor grades, bad behavior, and constant disruptions. I gave him my all, and slowly, he turned things around. Watching his success felt like seeing the crop of a seed I’d planted years ago. It reminded me why perseverance and belief in students matter so much.

What would you do with the $25,000?

If I won $25,000, I wish I could say I’d do something noble, but as a teacher, I’d need to use it to pay off some of the debt that comes with the job. With two kids of my own, I often hear them ask, “Is that for your students again? Can we have some?” I can’t ever stop buying things or food for my students—they deserve it—but paying down debt would ease the burden and let me keep supporting both my students and my family more freely.