Tell us why you became a teacher

You might call me a little naive. But I became a teacher trying to improve our education system. In a world where our attention is demanded by the digital world, I wanted to show the students of tomorrow how to think for themselves without the pressures of media trends, how to read and cherish a book, and how to enjoy life away from a screen.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I once had a student who was a real challenge. He would draw instead of doing any classwork. Many had given up on him. He was the child of a single parent who was at their wits end with him. But this was an opportunity. It was challenging. But I didn’t want to give up on him. Through consistent effort, he rose to the occasion and we saw a real change in him. He left the school early that year, but his change in character has always given me hope for our future students. Potential is in everyone.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would finish my Master’s in Education. The. I would apply to work in administration in my local school system where I can be part of creating more stories like the one of my young student who rose to the occasion. All we need is someone to believe in us and then the stage is set for us to rise to the occasion and become our greatest self.