As a little girl, I remember always wanting to "play school" at home with my younger sister. As I grew older, I enjoyed helping my classmates with their work when they were confused. It gave me such fulfillment to see others finally "get it" when I explained it to them. Teaching and helping others has always been a passion of mine, so my chosen career path was no surprise. I can't imagine doing anything else. I love seeing students challenge themselves and being proud of their accomplishments.

I looped and had a student with severe emotional behaviors for 2 yrs. We built a strong relationship where I had expectations of her but also became a confidant and positive relationship for her. I knew when to push and when to hold her and she came to respect that immensely. She learned how to talk about and process her emotions and made many strides. Heartfelt notes expressing her love for me as a teacher, helper, and motherly figure remind me that what I'm doing matters beyond the curriculum.

$25,000 would be life-changing for me. I could use the money to support my family and my home, pay off my student loan debts, and potentially continue my education toward a school counseling degree.