I choose to teach because I love connecting with young people and empowering them through education.Teaching encourages lifelong learning for myself and the students I serve.Some days, I might argue I learned more from my students than they learned from me.The connections I’ve made with my students is my motivation after nearly 10 years of teaching. From the Navajo Nation Reservation to the wards of Washington D.C., I’ve had some of the best and, brightest students in the country!

When my family came into town for my graduation, I invited them to my classroom.My students were honored to meet my family who had flown in from across the country.Students wore suits, brought gifts and showed the bilingual greetings and handshakes they had rehearsed for weeks. During the lesson, my father, a retired teacher, jumped in and co taught with me.Fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine! The photos my mom took that day radiate with smiles of joy all around.

I would use the $25,000 to help fund two educational projects I’m passionate about. Money from the winnings would be use to fund research, for a book I'm currently writing on the brain science used when building relationships in the classroom.With examples from students I've taught. Additionally, portions of the earnings would be used to start a female empowerment organization for secondary age girls, that embraces social emotional learning, college &future preparedness, and community service.