Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because the kindness and empathy I experienced in my own student experience, made me want to continue to spread that level of compassion and learning to other students. Within my own English classes, I was able to find solace within books, relate to different characters, and find ways to express myself through writing. This passion for reading and writing, and the passion for helping others, led me to teaching. Teaching is my purpose and I knew that from a young age.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

During our weeks of giving and receiving gratitude to staff members, students were able to also leave notes of kindness. One of the days was more difficult for myself, so I pulled out a note from my own bag, and found that a student from the last year had left one. She expressed her gratitude and how she missed my class, but stated I was the inspiration for her wanting to become a teacher. This felt like a full circle moment for myself, as I too have those teachers who made me want to teach.

What would you do with the $25,000?

One of the first things I would do with the money, is pay off my remaining student loan balance. The remaining money would go towards furthering my own education in a Masters in Education Policy. As a teacher, I have a control, understanding, and impact of my classroom environment, yet often I feel that fire that drives me to want to enact more change. With this money, I keep that flame alive by taking the weight of debt off, and pursuing more education to help even more students and teachers.