I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, but I took a non-traditional path. As the child of Mexican immigrants and being born in Mexico, I was encouraged to pursue a more “prestigious” career for stability, and I did — even meeting my husband along the way. But the call to teach never left. When a school took a chance on me to teach first grade, I said yes. I pursued Orton-Gillingham training and committed to becoming the best teacher I could be. I’ve never looked back.

My first year teaching will always be special. Each day ended with circle time where we shared our favorite part, something to improve, and a special shoutout. I often shared I was working on my patience, helping students feel safe to do the same. On days they chose me for their shoutout, it gave me the confidence I needed to keep going. They may never know how much that meant — but I still carry it with me today.

If awarded $25,000, I would divide it into thirds. One-third would support Catholic schools in my area, helping strengthen faith-filled education. One-third would be set aside for my child’s future college education. The final third would be given back to the school that took a chance on me when I began teaching, as a way to thank them and invest in the next generation of students and teachers.