I wanted to show students that education is a fulfilling experience. While I believe that English is the cornerstone to education, I'm aware many students are resistant to certain subjects, especially those they find difficult. That's why it's my goal to make sure that they know gratification is possible in courses they may not anticipate. I always tell my students that even if English is not their favorite class, I want them to end the year feeling confident in knowing that they improved!

The most memorable teaching experience I have that sticks out to me the most is how many Seniors told me at graduation that they wouldn't have made it to the finish line if I hadn't pushed them to do so. I started at semester with these students, so it was really empowering to hear that even in just half of a school year I was still able to make a positive impact on their education experience, especially since it was multiple students and not just one!

If given $25,000, I would love to get more flexible seating and better bookshelves for our classrooms. Our school could really use better bookshelves for classrooms; a lot of ours are old/metal and I think being able to update them would make choosing a book from the classroom library more appealing. Flexible seating would give students more autonomy and comfort than the standard desks that we have in our rooms - plus it's been proven to boost student engagement!