I guess you could say my teaching career started with a Speak & Spell and a captive audience of neighborhood kids who had no idea they were signing up for pop quizzes instead of tea parties. While other kids played house or dressed as princesses, I was busy running my own imaginary classroom. The joy of watching someone’s “aha” moment never faded, and now I get to experience it daily. Teaching isn’t just a job—it’s my way of making the world a little brighter, one student at a time.

During COVID, teaching Native American literature in Arizona felt daunting. With all cameras off, I worried I wasn’t doing the content justice. Then, I admitted, “I hope I’m explaining reservation life accurately.” A student chimed in, “My family loves this.” She explained that every day, her parents and grandparents gathered around to listen. I was terrified—what if I got it wrong? But they reassured me I was doing well, and in that moment, I knew my lesson truly mattered.

If I won $25,000, I’d use it to secure a forever home for me and my two young children—a dream that feels out of reach after teaching for more than half my life. With inflation making homeownership seem impossible, this money would be a step toward stability, a place where my kids can grow and feel safe. After dedicating my career to shaping young minds, I hope to finally build a home of our own, proving that even in tough times, dreams are worth fighting for.