I started thinking of becoming a teacher in 5th grade. In an extremely boring, conventional class, we were all quiet; if you spoke, you would be scolded. I wanted to change education and make students come to school excited and leave class feeling like they had learned and had fun. Although my father wanted me to go into finance, I followed my dream, and despite the hiccups and challenges, I have been teaching for almost 20 years and have never regretted it.

Two years after I taught a student, I received an email from him saying that he regretted not being better behaved as my student. He wrote that he realized I was an extraordinary teacher who cared about him and his well-being, not just his grade. While other teachers focused on scolding him, I tried to make school a place where he felt happy to come each day. Moments like that remind me that the long-term impact of teaching matters more than what happens in class.

Since teachers are known for their amazing salaries, $25,000 would basically be petty cash for me. All joking aside, I would first update the garage of my over 100-year-old home, which is currently in bad shape. I enjoy learning languages and consider myself a lifelong learner, so I would study for a month or two in a French-speaking country and work toward passing a C1 exam. Finally, I would pursue another master’s degree or even a PhD to continue growing as a teacher.