Cassie Rousseau

There was never any other career choice for me. As a young child, I would come home from school and immediately play school for hours, using my stuffed animals as my students. I had all the teaching supplies one could dream of in my room, from my easel, to my pointer. Most importantly, a teacher is the profession that molds every other profession in the world. Most students won't remember the method, formula, or content, without remembering the teacher who delivered that instruction to them.

My most memorable teaching experience par none is the current position I hold. I am a self contained Special Ed teacher, supporting emotionally disturbed students. I teach the youngest children in the school, whom hold the most special place in my heart. I am greeted daily with a hug and I send them home with the same hug and love. My students have seen and experienced more hardship and trauma, than most can imagine. My goal is to provide them a loving, safe space, where they can flourish.

It's hard to even imagine winning a lump sum of money that large. First and foremost, I would pay all my bills that I have struggled to keep up with. I would finally look into purchasing my first home, as I would be able to afford the down payment. Lastly, I would make a dent in my 6 figure student loans, that I have accrued from my many years of college. But most importantly, I would give back to the people in my life who have helped me when I needed it most.