Becoming an educator actually wasn't my first career choice. Since an early age, I loved working with children. Babysitting, teaching Sunday School, serving as a summer camp counselor, and life guarding at a summer camp gave me the opportunities to help others. But as a college freshman, I chose to major in Occupational Therapy with the idea to help children. After observing a child that had suffered severe burns, the pain and the painful treatment, I just couldn't do it. I changed my major.

The most memorable teaching experience was when I won both Lewisville Elementary School's Teacher of the Year and Chester County School District Teacher of the Year and ran for SC State Teacher of the Year. Being chosen by my school peers and District was an honor, exciting, life changing, and humbling. It was a joy to advocate and be an ambassador for our teachers, students, parents, and the Chester County School District community.

If I were to win the $25,000 for being in a career that I still absolutely love after 37 years, I'd take care of several personal finances, start a scholarship for mentor teachers in our district, support students in need, and invest for the future.