“When I was in school, I had really inspirational teachers. They made me feel like I could learn, and they made me feel like I was smart. I liked who they were as people, they were good role models. So, it seemed like a profession that I would be proud of.

The most rewarding thing is when a student thinks a concept is hard and then they slowly figure it out and are super proud of themselves. When I used to live in a small town, I would see my students as adults, and I was always proud of them and what they became. I liked seeing them mature and be successful in their lives. I like to be able to play a part in that.

The hardest part is that students often don’t see the purpose of what they’re doing. They don’t see the value in trying or learning. The effort you put into any class will help you later, no matter what you do. I wish I had the ability to explain to them why they’re here in a long-term way.  If you’re in a public school, you’re trying to give everybody an equal playing field. Everybody deserves to be smart.

If I switched careers, it would be something like defending some kind of injustice, fighting for somebody in a circumstance they didn’t get themselves into. Maybe an immigration attorney, or someone on a school board trying to change something. I just hate people dealing with things they did nothing wrong for.

If you’re in a public school, you’re trying to give everybody an equal playing field. Everybody deserves to be smart.

Outside of school, I plant a lot of trees, probably fifty so far. School and trees, that’s kind of my life. My goal is to leave a positive legacy, to help people learn, to be kinder, and to assume good intentions.”