Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I wanted to be the kind of teacher I needed when I was a student. Also, I wanted to experience other cultures through teaching ESL. During my senior year of high school, a Japanese exchange student came to our school. We quickly became friends as I helped her adjust to school. Later, she invited me to visit her home in Japan. This was my first time experiencing another culture so vividly. From then on, I wanted to teach ESL and learn Japanese.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I’ve experienced many memorable moments while teaching, so it’s hard to choose just one. However, inviting my students to my wedding was one of the most exciting and fun experiences I've had so far. It was fun to share how we celebrate weddings in America!

What would you do with the $25,000?

Honestly, I would probably take the opportunity to finally teach in another country for a while. I would also use some of it to buy materials for my students or for the facility where I work. Of course, I would put some toward paying off my student loans.