I never planned on becoming a teacher at first—I wanted to be a veterinarian. But after graduation, I realized that it wasn’t the path for me. Instead, I thought, “If I’m not going to be a doctor, I’d love to be a part of teaching the future ones.” Teaching wasn’t my original plan, but I’m so glad that I took this path! Watching students get excited about science & knowing I’m helping shape their futures has been incredibly rewarding. It’s a role I never expected, but one I’m truly grateful for.

I had just started teaching pre-school and after a few days, one of my students said that loved me out of nowhere. My eyes wanted to cry! Not out of sadness, but because I realized I was finally making a difference. That moment, with my first kid who I’d ever impacted, will always stay with me. It taught me the power of connection & how even small gestures can so greatly shape a child’s life, & it made me really wish that a 3 year old could understand how much his words truly meant.

If I had $25,000, I’d put it toward paying off some of my student loans and save for a down payment on our first house. My incredible boyfriend is also a teacher and we have been dreaming of owning a home together one day. This would be a huge step toward making that a reality. It would take away a lot of stress and help us build our future that we’ve both been working so hard for. Also, imagine all of the lava lamps & school supplies that I could get for my classroom with just some of the 25k!