Teaching is not just a career for me; it’s a calling. It’s about making a meaningful difference in the lives of students, helping them find their voice, and guiding them toward understanding themselves and the world around them. The inspiration I drew from my mom’s classroom and my early experiences at playing “teacher” with my stuffed animals and dolls, shaped the path I am on today. I’ve been answering that call ever since.

One of my most unforgettable teaching moments didn’t happen in the classroom -- it happened in the pool after League Finals in Venice. My co-coach and I had just wrapped up an intense, nerve-racking competition, and we were feeling a mix of exhaustion and relief. That’s when it happened: The moment our swim team decided that a celebration was in order…and we were the guests of honor. We were scooped up by our energetic team, were airborne, then splashed right into the pool -- fully clothed!

I'd invest in textbooks that directly benefit my students. Currently, our school does not have the budget to purchase class sets for each teacher's course. With $25K, I could make a dent in at least one department at school and make sure that our students have the most updated textbooks. If I get the ball rolling in one department, maybe it'll snowball to others throughout the school.