Have you ever had an experience and you thought to yourself, “Man, this was made for me!” I began working with pre school age children at 14 and teaching literacy quickly became my passion. I knew I wanted to teach children that books can take you places you may never go physically, they defy differences and create commonalities. Stories and literature allow for big emotions in a safe place and teach things empathy and compassion through story telling. I was born to educate children.

My most memorable teaching moment comes unconventionally. I feel like we all have break throughs- that’s our job. However, I had my one in a million, gifted student in second grade. Her mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer the year I had her. This child never showed emotion. I’ll never forget the spring before she went to third grade she finally told me about all the big feelings she was having about her mom, we hugged, she said “thank you” and that moment changed my life. She was 7.

I would pay off debt that I have accrued so that I could focus more time on my family and our goals of spending more time together. Debt carries the weight of stress, guilt and worry. I’d wipe that off my husband’s plate and my own. I’d also take us to our next national park adventure so we can be together and create a new memory together doing what we love.