Years ago, as a substitute teacher, I covered a class with a student who was known to be rowdy, disrespectful, & attention-seeking. After 3 strikes, I had to walk him to the principal's office. Walking down, I told him he could improve, & I knew and believed he could if he tried. This 5th-grade child looked at me as if he had never heard a phrase like that directed at him his whole life, and as if someone had seen him for who he could become. Believing in students gives hope to futures.

In US History, we covered an event called "Bloody Sunday," in which Civil Rights Activists nonviolently walked from Montgomery to Selma to secure rights. I had a student who grew up believing that if someone wronged them, they should get revenge, but was intrigued with MLK's quote: "Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." I encouraged them to try love-based tactics, peace & empathy with those they hated. When applied, they found friendship, peace & that KINDNESS KILLS CONTENTION.

75% will go into investing & into savings for my young family, as I have been married for 2 years and our first child is due this November. 15% goes to lesson planning for my students (especially incorporating more lessons surrounding the books "The Anxious Generation" & "The Amazing Generation": to help students & others be more aware of their tech use & how they can help themselves using tech as a tool in their personal, educational, & social lives). The last 10% will go to charitable causes.