I became a teacher because I had inspiring teachers that made a profound impact on me. I saw their love of teaching and connecting with students and wanted to dedicate my career to doing the same for others. Making a positive impact in my community means a lot to me and establishing long-lasting relationships with my students is a tangible way to do that. My mother is also a teacher, so I grew up admiring the education field.

My school participants in the Amazing Shake competition, which gives kids the opportunity to practice real life skills such as shaking hands, greeting others and engaging in meaningful conversations. This is often where I see students the most engaged and even the quietest of kids light up when performing well. I love hearing the lessons they've learned along the way and giving them advice on how to improve their skills, which will help them long after they leave my classroom.

I recently got engaged to my girlfriend of four years and we've quickly realized weddings are very expensive. I would use the prize money to give my future wife the wedding she deserves so we can celebrate with our closest family and friends. This would help us have the wedding of our dreams and truly enjoy this next part of our lives together.