I want to live a lifestyle where I can be a role-model for kids; my own kids, my future students, and kids-at-heart. I plan to do this by always trying my best, respecting others, stepping up when help is needed, and by pushing the boundaries to make a difference everyday.

As I stood on my tippy toes at around age seven to look at myself in the mirror, I still remember being surprised to see a tan little girl's dark brown eyes peeping back at me. Those little details in life make the biggest differences; especially when you attempt to ignore them and pretend like they don't matter. You may wonder why this was so surprising to me. Well, I was adopted as an infant into a white family. My family lived in a suburban town that was 99% white. Most of my family was pale, and both of my parents had blue eyes. My best friend at the time was a quiet redhead. I frequently fantasized that I was just like the white heroine girl in every book I'd read. At this time, I was disappointed to realize that I wouldn't be just like them. A year or two later, I received recognition and praise for scoring in the 99th percentile on several sections of the 3rd-grade standardized test. I learned one important lesson from this, I had found a way to stand out for something that I deserved and that could be earned. This began my pursuit of academic achievement. However, it was always a game of comparison for me. I worked hard to be told that I was doing better than others; I remember having a competition with a boy in my 10th-grade science class to see whose grade was higher when the teacher posted our weekly progress in the back of the room. During my senior year, I told one of my best male friends that I had made it into the top school in the state; he declared that I only got in because I was a black woman. At graduation, my walking partner had earned higher grades than I and I felt that he deserved to be at that top school more than I did. At the time I barely considered that I had worked, volunteered, and attended community college classes; I looked at his wavy blond hair and skin that was tanned from time on his dad’s boat and thought about how I didn’t deserve to be there as much as him. In order to avoid any additional feelings of remorse, as an undergrad, I refused to apply to any scholarships that had to do with me being a woman or my race. I didn’t want to have an “advantage” over anyone else. I wanted to work hard to show people that I made my own way. This time around, I am not letting my pride get in the way of people helping me. As a graduate student, there have been fewer opportunities for scholarships, but I have applied for hundreds; especially including ones for women, BIPOC, and first-generation students. When I finish, I will be a teacher. I plan to proudly walk the halls of the school and show girls of color that they can make it in the world. That they deserve an education just as much as anyone else and that they don’t have to be too prideful to take help when it is offered. I will always have my door open for these girls and I plan to tell them about all the people who helped me on my way to becoming the curly-haired, amber-skinned heroine of my own story.

Given my extrovertive personality now, many people find it unbelievable that I used to be incredibly shy. But it's true. I used to be the girl who hid behind a paper with hunched shoulders while barely whispering my book report in front of a class. I remember my 4th grade teacher telling me, "Angela, I'm sure your book report was very good - but I couldn't hear a word of it!" Now, I'm the woman who gets up and shakes her booty in front of a group of people several times a week as a Zumba instructor! I truly think this type of confidence from being a Zumba instructor pushed me to feel more comfortable in my own skin and since then I've been working on building my confidence in other areas. I'm not as afraid to get up and speak in front of a large group of people. And my fears of speaking I'm front of a small group of students has completely disappeared. Which is good because I'm now studying to become an elementary school teacher. As part of preparing myself to become a good teacher, I have also started substitute teaching. At first, I would be nervous to go to a new school and work with a new group of kids, but now I find myself looking forward to the challenge whenever it presents itself. And that, is an amazing change that only confidence in myself could bring.

I never let a moment go unused and because of that, I have completed 40 credits in 4 months. As a returning adult student with three small children, I am used to breaking my time into five-minute or fifteen-minute segments. Because of this, I make use of small chunks of time for studying. Without finding these small bits of time, I do not think that I would have finished so many credits so quickly. Here, I'll give you all my tips and tricks to make the most of your time: 1. Ask Siri to read articles, webpages, or even online accessible textbooks to you. I often cued these up and listened to them as I drove. 2. I saved video lectures or YouTube videos for times that it best suited me, I usually watched them while I folded laundry or cooked dinner. 3. I started on assignments right away. I knew that I could always make changes in the future, but I found that once I had something on paper, I was much less stressed about the assignment. 4. Use your resources. Whenever someone offered to watch my kids so I could get work done, I took them up on it without feeling guilty. Schoolwork is only for a short period of time in the long run, it's not a permanent situation. 5. I didn't wait until I had a "set period" to study. If I did that, I would have taken twice as many days to get my work done. By using ten or fifteen minutes at a time, I ended up with three hours of study time by the end of the day! Plus, the small chunks of time helped with overall retention of facts.

Off the coast of Puerto Rico, there is an island named Vieques (Vee-eh-kay). There are long stretches of sandy beaches, so sparsely populated, that vines still grow across the shallow dunes. On this island is a beautiful bay surrounded by mangrove trees. I have only seen this bay at night. Why? You may ask. Because Mosquito Bay has a natural wonder to offer under the light of a full moon. I had learned about the phenomenon of this bay and had wanted to visit it for a few years. After first hearing about it and its natural beauty, it quickly rose as a top desired destination. So, with some luck, I persuaded my husband to visit Vieques as part of our honeymoon. From Washington state, we took three planes, two taxis, one wet and cold ferry ride, and a local shuttle before arriving in Esperanza. The next day, our Jeep rental was delivered to our guesthouse at Casa de Tortuga. We drove to beaches only accessible by Jeep and the two of us enjoyed warm blue water and shade from palm trees on a deserted beach. Soaking in nature on this island turned out to be the best part of our honeymoon. Even thunderstorms didn't dampen our moods. The next day, we met up with a group at sunset. From there we drove by bus through a tropical rainforest as the evening darkened. By the time we arrived at Mosquito Bay conditions were perfect. My husband and I jumped in a kayak and watched in wonder as every dip of our oars in the water glowed. The bioluminescent plankton are in such a high concentration in the bay, that the water appears to glow when it's disturbed. It was the most magnificent natural marvel I've ever seen.

At 36 years old, I have returned to college to change careers. Even though I will have barely started my teaching career at age 40, I still plan to become a superintendent of a large public school district someday. In order to achieve this, I plan to find mentors within my schools to help coach me through every step. I envision using every experience as a learning opportunity. Even now, as a substitute teacher, I take pictures and notes in every classroom experience. Compiling this data helps me decide how I will want to run and organize my own classroom someday. When I'm employed at a school, I plan to watch different leadership styles to see which one resonates best with me. I think that I will learn the most by finding the leadership style that people respond to and that also pairs well with my own personality. As I learn and grow, I also plan to apply for leadership opportunities within the school as soon as I have the experience necessary. Each step of the way, I hope that I will have a community of support that will help shape my path. I'm looking forward to seeing the differences I can make within a school district as a teacher, a leader, a principal and eventually a superintendent.

I love people at both ends of the age spectrum. It's why I am studying to teach elementary education and why I currently teach fitness classes that are geared toward older adults. In the past I have taught Zumba Gold, which is Zumba modified for seniors; Silver Sneakers, which is a fitness class specifically made for older adults; and I currently teach water aerobics. Water aerobics is my favorite class right now. I missed my regular attendees so much during the pandemic lockdowns. Even now, many are just returning to the gym for the first time in two years. It is so uplifting to see them come back and excitedly greet one another. They all tell me about how much they missed my water aerobics class. While this seems like such a simple thing, I know that for many of the most elderly, water aerobics is their big outing for the day. Because of this, I always make the class fun. We listen to "oldies" in class and many members sing along to the songs. But everyone also works hard. I love when they tell me about their fitness and health accomplishments, and they often say that they wish we had the class five days a week. I enjoy teaching the group and spending time with them, so it never feels like a "job" or like I'm providing a service, even though that's what it is. I am so glad to be able to serve this group of older adults, and I look forward to seeing their smiling faces every week.

My initial reaction was to say, "Pay for tuition!" but that seemed very unoriginal. But in the interest of honesty, if I had $1000, no strings attached, I would spend it differently. Part of the money would be spent on me, updating my wardrobe for work. I have been a stay-at-home-mom and group fitness instructor for the last six years. That means, I live in yoga pants, sweatshirts, and tennis shoes. Even simple clothes needed for teaching at a public school, such as jeans and sweaters, are not a large part of my attire. It would be nice to have a full set of clothes ready for when I get a job as a teacher after I finish school. I would spend another portion of $1000 on extra testing. I know, it's unglamorous but necessary. After obtaining my initial teaching degree, I plan to add an endorsement area in English Language Learners. Many of the schools near me want someone who is certified as bilingual and I will need to take a test to show my level of Spanish comprehension in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. There is an additional state test to take to add the endorsement as an area that I can teach as well. Lastly, I would love to spend a little on something fun with my family. My kids are 2, 4, and 6, and it would be a lot of fun to take them to the zoo and a children's museum this summer.

Sometimes it's easier to treat strangers with empathy than it is the people closest to us. I find it easy to think, "I've never walked a mile in his shoes" or "I don't know her story" when I see strangers. It reminds me that I need to give people space to be themselves or have a bad day and treat them kindly no matter what. However, I find I have to work extra hard to have empathy for those closest to me. I already know their stories. I know what's happening in their lives and many times think, that they "Don't deserve to act like that." But in time I'm finding that I need to remember to treat those closest to me with the same grace and compassion that I extend to strangers. For me, it is a work in progress and something that I struggle to improve upon every day. I think that by putting in that effort, I am treating people with more empathy than I used to.

Back when I wasn’t sure if I would become a parent, I still wanted a way to have children in my life so I could help raise the next generation. I’d already been working as support staff at a school, so I decided to apply for admission to Western Governors University’s teaching program to further my education. That same summer, I also found out I was finally expecting my first child. My decision to put my education on hold seemed simple. I would return to school and full-time work after he was older. Instead, my husband and I decided to add to our family and I have stayed at home with our growing family for six years now. While raising our children full-time has not always been the rosy experience I had envisioned, it has been an adventure. My goal has always been to enjoy the time with my kids while they are little. The kids are currently ages 2, 4, and 6, and they are the center of my life. We like to spend time together; exploring the outdoors, going to community events, and helping each other learn about the world. Many of the ideas I had about how our lives would look were turned upside down during the pandemic lockdowns, but we persevered and found new ways to live. The time spent caring for three young children has been all-consuming. Throughout much of the last six years, I have lost sight of my personal goals. As much as I wanted to find a balance in life, I have found that there is not very much time for my own friends, aspirations, or even sleep! While raising kids has changed my professional timeline, it has not derailed it. One of the goals I was inspired to pursue again was my education. I decided that I had put it off long enough, that even if I started at that time, my career goals were already going to be a decade behind where I had originally envisioned them being. Now, I am in the middle of earning my initial teacher’s licensure and plan to start teaching in the 2023-24 school year. Even though it’s taken me longer to get to my career change than I thought it would, I will never regret the time I had at home with my family and I look forward to finding a new balance between family and work life.

Being an encouragement to others is my biggest goal for the future. As a future educator, I plan to do this in my classroom by providing opportunities for my students to show their growth. As a future leader in education I plan to do this by pursing less traditional educational models for my students. I would love to be involved with a school that has many ways for students to show their proficiency in in their intelligence and provides many tiers of support for learning. Currently, I am studying to become a teacher, I substitute teach at a local school district, I teach group fitness classes and I am the main caregiver of three young children. I figure if I am capable of doing all this right now, I am capable of achieving whatever I put my mind to. I plan to graduate with my Master’s in Teaching by February of 2023. After that, I will obtain an English Language Learner endorsement so that I am better prepared to serve the students in my region of the country. I am excited to finish my degree and start teaching by the fall if 2023.

While I entered the fitness industry for vanity, I stayed because of the people I have met. As a water aerobics instructor, I see how important it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Getting to know my participants over the years has changed how I view who is "fit". I have heard about and seen my class's fitness journeys. Many of the members who attend my weekday morning classes are retired. Often, they will tell me of physical ailments they have suffered over the years and how coming to water aerobics makes them feel strong and capable again. People who have had knee replacements find themselves able to jump again in the water. Participants tell me that they've become more active in retirement and feel healthier than they had in the decades beforehand. We are always excited to see a new person join the class or welcome someone who has been gone for a while. My goal with this group is to make sure that they are building up their cardiovascular stamina and strength as well as gaining flexibility and agility. The members who live alone should feel confident in their abilities and be able to remain independent for as long as possible. I love to hear when someone tells me they are now fit enough to go on a hike. I love to see friends' excitement as a woman dons a new swimsuit at the pool. I really love to hear participants telling other people in the locker room that they should come to check out the water aerobics class because it's such a great workout. Our community has grown bigger and closer over the years. I learn more about the members every week and I can't wait to see what the next big accomplishment will be for our class.

Right now, I am using persistence while I finish my master's degree at Western Governors University. I am currently ahead of schedule at this competency-based, self-paced school. I have put my head down and was able to finish 40 graduate-level credits in 5 months. To make this happen, I had to use all my resources. I asked people for favors, and I made time every single day to study. I relentlessly worked on getting a quick placement for my teaching observations. This means I put a rush on my fingerprints, and background check, and studied to pass state tests. I was not afraid to ask schools where I substitute teach if I would be able to do my observations there. When my observation aligned more quickly than I had even imagined it would, my family helped watch my kids so that I could go. Next on the list is setting up my student teaching for the fall so that I can graduate and become a teacher within the next year. I'm looking forward to becoming a teacher who works just as hard to advocate for my students as I do for myself.

Most of the middle class's wealth is built from home ownership. Fortune recently published an article where it touted that "wealth gains [are from] the rapid rate of home appreciation in the U.S." In the past ten years, many middle-class homeowners have seen their home values rise over 100%. It's also a realistic investment for the average person. Many of us cannot afford to invest a lot of money into much of anything. However, we all need a place to live and owning your home has many rewards over renting. A normal middle-class investor has much more of their assets tied to the value of their home than anything else. These people were able to come out ahead on their very large investments - their primary residence. Some markets have seen over triple the appreciation growth since 2000. According to KNWA, Seattle has seen an increase of 235% and Denver has seen 205% rate, which means even cities outside of California are seeing very large returns on investment. If I could go back in time, I would have figured out how to buy a second home that I could have rented out. While after the housing market crash, it seemed like a risky investment in 2010, if you invested then, it has paid its dividends.

One change that I would like to see implemented is where students everywhere have access to high quality services. I believe a way to meet this goal would be to use technology to make it more accessible to more people. A big one that stands out to me is for students who are English language learners. They would easily be able to use technology to improve their education. This can be especially important in a rural area where access to a less common language may be difficult. Problems such as these can easily be resolved with access to technology and the services that are available through live sessions as well as interpretation and translation. While I am a native English speaker, I have learned Spanish as a second language. I understand how hard it can be to be immersed in a setting where you do not speak the language well and have difficulty understanding what’s going on. In the middle of my undergraduate studies, I went to La Universidad de Guadalajara for a two week intensive study. One challenge I encountered while in Mexico was getting around while not knowing the language well. I had decided to explore downtown on my own after class; when it was time to return to my host’s home for dinner, I discovered that I was far away from my bus route. I hoped that I could ask someone for directions to a transfer bus, but was unable to get an answer. Instead, I walked over three miles to get back to where I knew I could catch the bus. That simple experience has given me an idea of what it would be like to need help with communicating in a language other than my first language. This tiny bit of experience has given me compassion for those that are here and need help in order to be understood. I think that technology can help to assist many people, including students. I look forward to being able to use these practices in the classroom as my students need help. I also believe that the same use of technology can be used to assist people in endless ways, and I think that schools should not be afraid to use them all.

My dream is to become a teacher so that I can change education and help make it better for students. Right now, I feel that the education system is not working well for too many students. My ultimate goal is to work with others as I work in different capacities in the field of education to make things better for kids. That is one of the reasons I’m pursuing a degree in elementary education. I want to work in the classroom and help each student by pushing them to reach their goals. After teaching in a classroom, I eventually want to move upward to become a principal or superintendent of one of the large and diverse districts in the “Road Map Project” area in the South Puget Sound near Seattle. As I make steps forward, I want to listen to students, parents, and staff along the way to create the changes needed to create schools that are just as successful as the ones in neighboring, more advantaged, districts. The education of children is crucial, and I think that zip codes should not play a role in the quality of education they receive. During my educational career, I hope to leave a legacy of high standards in teaching and learning. I want to show the world that creative, innovative teaching methods can be implemented in our public school system to help all of our students be successful.

Family and my future career are the two main things that fuel my life. Wanting to improve the life of my family is what encourages me to change careers, get my degree, and become a teacher. I want my kids to be able to live somewhere where they attend good schools. It is my desire for my kids to live in a good neighborhood where they can grow and help shape the community. And I’m excited about the activities and time we will spend together on adventures. Becoming a teacher provides a sense of intensity to my goals for my kids. I also want these same things for other kids in the area where we live. My ultimate power source is from a desire to change the schools and make where we currently live a desirable place to be. I hope that by becoming a teacher I can be part of a network that makes that possible.

My bucket list started as a “30 things to do before turning 30”, but now that I’m over 30, I’ve found that instead of my list getting smaller, it’s getting longer. Each time I accomplish one of my dreams, I feel empowered to add another to the list. As I’ve learned more about the world, I add more goals. In my “60 things to do before turning 60” list I have a variety of targets to hit. One of my big ones is to help my husband retire before we turn 60, and I hope to follow just two years after him. Career-wise, one of my objectives is to earn my teaching certificate and then return to school to obtain another master's degree in educational leadership. I am currently halfway through my teaching credentials and am excited to be able to start teaching in a year and a half. Traveling is another aspiration for me. Since getting married, my husband and I have been able to check off many destinations - from visiting Washington D.C., New York, and Maui to Victoria B.C., Zihuatanejo, and la Isla Vieques. We have many more places to visit on our list and hope to make our first overseas trip with our children someday.

My background always feels complex. I am a woman of color, who grew up in an adopted home. My family is white, and when I was growing up, it seemed everyone I knew, especially every adult in my life was white as well. I didn’t grow up seeing people who looked like myself, much less, good examples of people of color as successful business owners or professionals. Luckily, since then I have lived in an area where I have had the chance to get to know many people of color who are aspirational. Even though my parents are white, they did not attend university. I became the first person in my family to earn a bachelor’s degree. It was a big accomplishment for my whole family. Since then, I have worked in many positions ranging from a barista, court clerk, fitness instructor, and school support staff. My experience working at an alternative high school in one of the most diverse school districts in the country is what made me decide I wanted to become a teacher. I am currently enrolled at Western Governors University in the Master of Arts in Teaching to earn my initial teaching licensure in elementary education. Now, my goal is to work in the “Road Map Project” area of the South Puget Sound near Seattle. This is where I currently reside. While many of the districts nearby are known for their academics, the ones in this specific area continue to struggle. I want to work in this area and lift the schools to become just as good as the ones in the more advantaged zip codes. I believe that students should have equitable access to education no matter what their socioeconomic status is. I plan to start as a classroom teacher and put methods into practice that will serve students of all abilities. My ultimate goal is to make a positive impact on the world by eventually becoming a school principal or district superintendent of one of these large school districts so that I can help reach more students. All of these students deserve a high-quality education with access to good technology, great materials, a nice school building, and highly qualified teachers. I believe that a good teacher who cares about students and can build strong relationships with their students can have the best impact on them. Building a school community based on serving the whole child is my ultimate goal. In this way, the school can provide a safe and caring environment where students feel free to be themselves. It is only in this type of setting, that students can truly learn and build upon their own skills and knowledge. Someday I look forward to working with other like-minded individuals to create a community of learning for students in the public school system.

Currently, I am changing my habits to make more time for myself. I just started a master's degree program; I work part-time and am a mom to three small children. To say that I haven’t taken much time for myself is an understatement. My new habits include setting time aside for just me. This also means I’ve had to learn to ask for help from others - my husband and parents have been amazing in helping me with the kids so that I’m able to do this. To take care of my mental health, I am trying to get out of my head and get daily exercise. I’m finding this helps destress my body and mind as well as helps me to sleep better at night, which in turn reduces my stress. While I may not get much time to relax, at least once a week, I spend part of my time at the gym in the sauna instead of working out. It’s the perfect way to relax after a good workout. I’m working on developing these skills more and also working on asking others for help when I really need it.

Dynamic and mobile activities are my favorite hobbies. I live in the Pacific Northwest and love the outdoors. I love it so much that I have gone out on hikes while babywearing with a toddler and preschooler in tow. It has helped them develop the same appreciation of the natural wonders of the world as I have. During the rainiest season, I spend time indoors at the gym. Years ago, I loved group fitness classes so much that I decided to start teaching classes, beginning with Zumba. Now, I have expanded that passion so that I can help other people be active as well in their free time. I like to teach all of my classes with a focus on mobility and range of intensity so that everyone can enjoy the workout. Bringing that special zest is what keeps water aerobics, yoga, boot camp, and Zumba fun. Another personal hobby is my desire to find engaging activities and learning opportunities for my kids and me. I like to plan trips to the zoo, museums, and find new places to explore so that we can learn more about the world. I look forward to planning and expanding our world in the future.

For someone so close to me, it's interesting that I don't even remember the first time I saw her. To be fair, she would have just been a baby and I, a toddler. I do remember growing up living next door to each other. We would play dress-up in her bedroom and build forts in my basement, and on sunny days we would meet at the tree in the field between our houses and swing on the tire swing. We were as close as family because we were family. That person is my cousin Tracy, and she's one of my closest friends as well. During high school, we were on the dance team together and post-high school, we both attended the same college. Later, she was in my wedding and has been one of the first to come and visit each of my children after their birth. At the peak of the pandemic lockdowns, Tracy was the person to come and keep me company when everyone else was staying away. She recently moved to another state, and it has only served to make me realize how close we are and how much I miss her. I suppose it's only a friendship like this that makes you truly value the people in your life and appreciate them. Because of my friendship with her, I have more empathy and compassion for people in the world.

Even as I started to write this essay, I was interrupted by my parental duties; it was 5 hours before I had time to come back and work on it again. I’m currently writing my essay while standing at the kitchen counter and watching my kids play with Duplos (the bigger Legos). To say this has epitomized my graduate school journey is an understatement; being a parent has shaped every aspect of my educational route to becoming a teacher. It all started the same year that I decided I wanted to become a teacher. I had been working as a learning facilitator at an alternative high school when I discovered my love of working with students. After my first full year of working in the classroom, I knew that I wanted to do it as a profession and decided to apply to a teacher licensure program. Only a couple of months later that my husband and I were (finally!) blessed with the pregnancy of our first child. It would take another six years before I actually enrolled in a program. I had always known that I wanted to stay at home with my kids while they were young, so instead of going to school, I decided to become a stay-at-home mom. Since then, my husband and I have had two more children - all boys. They are currently ages 5, 4, and 2 and my life schedule is based around them. However, during the pandemic, I realized I needed to do something more for myself and many doors were opened that allowed me to pursue my education now. During these past six years, our family’s budget has been tight, but God has always provided us with exactly what we need. My husband is a carpenter, I have been a group fitness instructor and have also recently started working as an emergency substitute teacher. We have slowly been outgrowing our 3-bedroom, 1490 square foot home and are planning to upgrade. However, we live in the Seattle area and home prices have nearly doubled since I stopped working full-time, but salaries have remained at the 3-5% annual cost of living adjustment. This means that in order to move to a house to fit our family's needs, I will need to go back to work. I am excited that upon earning my degree I will get to do something that I love while also being able to help support our family. My goal is that on top of moving, we will also be able to invest money into our retirement plans and save for the kid’s college. Knowing that a master’s degree in teaching will help me earn more than twice as much as I was making as a learning facilitator is an amazing feeling. I look forward to finishing my degree so that our family can flourish.

Recently, I’ve learned that I’m not bad at math. During high school, I thought I wasn’t good at mathematics because I didn’t get very high grades. After that, I avoided math whenever I could. I chose to stop taking math classes after fulfilling the minimum requirements in high school. While I was studying for my undergraduate degree, I chose a major and two minors that would help me to avoid taking additional math classes. Now, I’ve enrolled in a graduate program so that I can become a teacher. It was no longer possible to avoid math. As it turns out, I’m actually understanding all of it. I think now, I know that I need to spend time studying. So many other subjects came to me naturally and I wasn’t used to having to sit down to study to gain understanding. As a graduate student, I knew that I would have to put in a lot of time for all of my classes. By putting in the same amount of time in my mathematics class as my other graduate-level classes, I’ve realized I am good at it. This recent realization has made me wonder what else I could be good at if only I take the time to invest in it. I feel like limitations have been removed and I’m ready to tackle anything.

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget the way you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou This is one of my all-time favorite quotes. Every time I think of my dear friend Linda, I think of this saying. Linda was someone who embraced this in every aspect of her life. I first met Linda while taking her Zumba class. I tried to hide in the back, but she noticed me and asked me to come further forward. At the end of class, she asked if I had ever thought about becoming a Zumba Instructor. I said, “No!” but I kept attending her class because she made me feel good about myself. Eventually, I did become an instructor and Linda was my mentor. She shared with me a secret. She said, “People don’t really come to class to work out; people come to class to make friends.” It was true. I always made sure that my classes were fun, friendly, and encouraging - just like Linda’s classes. Linda ended up being diagnosed with cancer and passing away only a couple of years later; over a hundred local Zumba-lovers came to dance in her honor at the gym. It has been my goal since then to create an experience that leaves every person feeling good about themselves when they leave my presence. This is especially true in my classes. I think that people will always remember the way they felt when they were around you, even though they may not remember anything specific you said or did.

I am lucky enough to have a talent that can be used on the job. It has required a lot of practice in order to hone-in on my talent in order to turn it into a skill. For me, this talent started as dancing. As I grew older, it was hard to find places to dance. There aren't exactly a lot of dance recitals or dance teams for grown women. To help save my love of dancing, Zumba helped as it came onto the scene. After a few years of attending classes, I decided to become an instructor. I had never enjoyed getting up in front of groups of people to talk, so at first, it was very intimidating to get up in front of them and lead them to dance. It's much different than a performance because you're trying to get everyone else to be successful at doing the dance moves. After a few very painful months of attempting to teach classes, I finally started learning how to use cues for the participants. Now, I feel like I can walk into a room to sub a class where no one has ever done my songs before, and they all look like dance divas. It's always my goal to make sure everyone else is getting a good workout - not that I look good doing it. I think these skills will translate well to being a classroom teacher. I know how to inspire and lead people to get up and dance, and I think it will be fun to put that into practice through lessons with elementary school students.

Changing the world in many small ways for children through education is what I'm passionate about. Right now, I feel that the education system is failing too many students. While the global pandemic helped us realize that children can learn from home, we also realized just how important it is for them to attend school and socialize with other kids. Wouldn’t it be great if we were able to be more flexible, accommodating, and on top of that, expand the abilities of these young students? I hope to bring new life into the classroom that will inspire students to learn. I want kids to be excited about coming to school every day and knowing that I, as a teacher, will be there to support them. A whole child philosophy is one that I hold near to my heart. Kids cannot learn if they don't feel safe at school. Kids cannot open their minds if they are hungry. If kids are too worried about their lives and families outside of school, they will not have the capacity to do schoolwork outside of the classroom. My goal is to make sure that students with these problems experience to support and success in my classroom. I’m currently pursuing a degree in elementary education at Western Governors University. I plan to implement many whole-child practices while I am educating children. After teaching in a classroom, I want to become a principal or superintendent of one of the large and diverse districts in the “Road Map Project” area in the South Puget Sound near Seattle so that I can serve more students. The school district I live in is a school district that needs a lot of work and will have many opportunities to help make it better. One of the reasons I will strive to make it better is to serve the people of this community, and that includes my own children. As I make moves forward, I want to listen to parents, students, staff, and community members along the way to create the changes needed to make schools that are just as successful as the ones in the neighboring, more advantaged, districts. The education of children is so important; I don't think that zip codes should play a role in the quality of education that students receive. During my educational career, I hope to leave a legacy of high standards in teaching and learning. I want to show the world that creative, innovative teaching methods can be implemented in our public school system to help all of our students be successful. I look forward to starting my career as a public-school teacher.

Having three little kids makes you realize how much of your time is spent making sure they feel loved. Much of my daily routine revolves around making sure that they feel safe, secure, and loved. My day starts getting up and helping whoever wakes up first. Most days, this is my 2-year-old, and since he shares a room with his brother, if he wakes before 6 am, I try to rush in so that my middle child can get more sleep. As the other two boys awake, I greet them with a good morning hug. A lot of my day is spent preparing food. We do breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 2 or 3 separate snacks. I try to make sure that there is a favorite for everyone at some point during the day so that each one feels special. I tell them that I picked out that specific item just for them. Even when I’m doing schoolwork, I set my 4- and 5-year-old up with activities that they will enjoy so I can study while the 2-year-old naps. After that I let each of them choose a book or two while I snuggle and read with them. At the end of the day, their dad and I spend time with the kids, just hanging out and talking. We make sure that we tuck each kid in, say good night, and tell each one that we love them. I always make sure I say each child’s name instead of a blanket statement. I hope that all these actions add up throughout the day so that my kids know that I love them with all my being.

I always love a song that makes you want to get up and dance. It seems like so many of those songs have a very shallow message, that's what makes the song "joy." by "for King and Country" so special. The song talks about how we become jaded through the course of life and daily activities like watching the news where we always seem to hear about bad things happening. At this point in the song, it has had an unsteady tempo but keeps building with every section introduction. Then, finally, the song hits the chorus where the artist tells you, "I choose JOY!" I've been listening to this song for several years now, and I still get tears in my eyes from inspiration at this particular point in the song. From here, I feel the song is upbeat, with the chorus repeating choosing joy and letting it move you. At first, you may think they are talking about your body moving, but this is about a spiritual movement. It's about your choice to choose joy (which is not the same as happiness) even in suffering, and let it fill and move your soul. As a Christian, I believe that you can choose joy every day and have your soul filled with an overwhelming peace that comes from God. I always know it comes from God, because even in the toughest of times, at I time I am not happy, I am still able to find an appreciation for the life I have, which is an expression of living in joy. I loved this song so much, I choreographed moves to it for my Zumba class. It has made me happy to be able to bring a song of joyfulness to other people through music and dance.

After I had my first child, I was very anxious. I thought that constant worry was just part of being a new mom. Anytime I wasn’t directly involved, I could only think about what bad thing might be happening to him. If someone else tried to give him a bottle, I worried it would make him spit up too much, so I exclusively breastfed to avoid anyone else being part of feeding him. If my husband took the baby’s fussy night hours so I could sleep, I would lay awake to see if he was crying. If my mom came over during the day so I could shower, I worried that something would happen during that time. At night, I would get out of bed multiple times to check to make sure that he was still breathing. As soon as I walked away, I was worried that at that moment, he would suddenly cease to breathe. Only in retrospect, was I able to see that my actions were intense. Too intense. I had suffered from postpartum anxiety. When I had my second child, I didn’t experience any of these things to such a great degree. After I had my third, who was born via cesarean, I was doing well. I took two months off from teaching group fitness classes and was ready to go back to work on March 13, 2020. I got to teach one Zumba Gold class before the world shut down. At this point, I was at home with a 2-month-old, a 2-year-old, and an almost 4-year-old. My husband was in construction, so he was usually gone at work. Some of the struggles of being a person of color were being pushed to the surface. Experiences I had ignored and never fully considered kept coming up in my thoughts. All social interactions, my daily gym routine, our planned trips to children’s museums, parks, and even play-dates were put on hold. I felt like my life was on hold. My parents noticed that something wasn’t right and encouraged me to seek counseling. I did. It helped, but I needed more. My parents helped to watch my kids so that I could teach one Zumba class a week at the gym - it was my only semblance of normalcy - and it had to be taught outdoors with masks on. As the world got back to “normal” I still couldn’t do the things I had planned to do as a Stay-at-Home-Mom. The gyms in my state hadn’t reopened their childcare, so I couldn’t work. Many places wouldn’t allow parent ratios greater than 1-on-1 due to physical distancing precautions. Some required that my 3-year-old with sensory issues wear a mask. While I knew this phase of life was going to be difficult, I hadn’t expected to feel like I was barely treading water. Every day I pasted a smile on my face and tried to act interested in what was happening with my kids and people around me. Eventually, I realized I needed to invest in myself. I found a new, flexible job at an Amazon warehouse and began to work. I made appointments with friends and forced myself to keep them. I started a plan to enroll in college in a year or two and looked for applications for scholarships. Then, the gyms reopened childcare, and I was able to begin my fitness instructor job again. After my first week, I was able to finally make a breakthrough in my bout of depression - one that was influenced by postpartum but ultimately triggered by the pandemic shutdown. That same month, I looked at all my plans to start college online - and realized I didn’t need to wait. I could start this year. I think I’ve learned that having something to look forward to, new goals, and new hope can be what saves you from yourself. I hope that I can use this information and experience to notice if I ever have this happen again before it gets too far, too deep. I also hope to use it for friends and family and am able to help them when they are struggling. Now, I am in a much better place. Investing in myself is paying off. I am looking forward to becoming a teacher and being able to help students and parents who are part of my school community. I think that my struggle with mental health will help me be more attuned to being aware of when it is happening with people around me. I hope to be a person who helps make others’ burdens easier. I want to provide education based on a whole child approach so that I can address all areas that the child needs help with, not just academics. I envision this creating a group of kids and parents who are better equipped to handle life, and I am excited to help them prepare for that.

My desire is to change the world in many small ways for children in education. Right now, I feel that the education system is not working well for too many students. While the global pandemic helped us realize that children can learn from home, we also realized just how important it is for them to attend school and socialize with other kids. Wouldn’t it be great if we were able to be more flexible, accommodating, and on top of that, expand the abilities of these young students? That is one of the reasons I’m pursuing a degree in elementary education. I want to work in the classroom and help each student by pushing them to reach their goals. After teaching in a classroom, I eventually want to move upward to become a principal or superintendent of one of the large and diverse districts in the “Road Map Project” area in the South Puget Sound near Seattle. As I make steps forward, I want to listen to students, parents, and staff along the way to create the changes needed to create schools that are just as successful as the ones in neighboring, more advantaged, districts. The education of children is so important, and I think that zip codes should not play a role in the quality of education they receive. During my educational career, I hope to leave a legacy of high standards in teaching and learning. I want to show the world that creative, innovative teaching methods can be implemented in our public school system to help all of our students be successful.

Building connections and helping one another are excellent reasons for being involved in your community. I think it’s important to know the people who share your community with you, and I think it’s good to be able to help others when they need it, as they will be there for you when you are in need. My lifelong community has the South Puget Sound area near Seattle. I grew up in the area and have been helping through different means for as long as I can remember. My parents taught me that it was important to be involved, and I can remember serving at the local food bank with my dad. In junior high and high school, my youth group volunteered to help elderly church members with tasks like chopping wood for fireplaces and helping with yard work. As a teen, I remember showing up at a soup kitchen to serve meals. Looking for more ways to help, I also volunteered to watch children during weekly group meetings at a shelter for women who had experienced domestic violence. After my undergraduate studies, I moved back to the same area. During this time, I have taught Sunday School, offered free fitness classes for all levels of fitness, and helped with many women’s ministry events at my church. Every time my church volunteered to provide meals for a program for men who were without homes, I signed up to make a homemade meal to share with them. My favorite job was working as support staff at an alternative high school in one of the most diverse school districts in the country. While there, I volunteered as the supervisor of a student-led cooking class, taught Zumba classes to teens at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, as well as acted as a mentor for a student as she attended a quasi-military style school for at-risk youth. My experience with these kids is what made me want to become a teacher. I am now pursuing a degree that will lead to initial licensure so that I can teach elementary school. I want to work in the classroom and help students by pushing them to reach their goals. After teaching in a classroom, I eventually want to become a principal or superintendent of one of the large and diverse districts in the “Road Map Project” area of King County. As I make steps forward, I want to listen to the community of students, parents, and staff along the way. The education of children is important, and I think that zip codes should not play a role in the quality of education they receive. During my educational career, I hope to leave a legacy of high standards in teaching and learning for the South Puget Sound. I want to show the world that creative, innovative teaching methods can be implemented in our public school system to help all of our students be successful in our community.

To me, it is important to be able to find joy daily. I think it’s important to show my three little boys what it looks like to be appreciative and joyful. I like to let them know that no matter what happens, we always have something to be thankful for. Even if it is just our own lives and being able to be with each other, it is something we should be grateful for. Since little kids don’t understand this concept when you explain it to them, I spend my time showing them. I try to spend as much time as possible enjoying the people that are in our lives. The boys and I also love to go explore the outdoors; we have spent many mornings tromping through the woods in the Pacific Northwest. They love taking trips to the beach, where they like finding tiny crabs under rocks when the tide is out. When it's sunny out, we like to spend time at parks or taking walks around the neighborhood. If it’s hot enough, it’s fun to watch them run through the sprinkler on the backyard lawn. Rainy days don’t bring us down. We like to snuggle up on the couch and watch a movie. Lately, I’ve loved listening to my oldest son sound out words in books. And it’s always fun to have the kids help me cook; they always love to eat homemade food. It’s these different daily events with my children that bring me joy every day - and I’m excited to continue to build memories with them.

Trying to find accurate history about slavery life in America can be difficult; but Clint Smith, the author of “How the Word is Passed”, has found a very inspiring way to do it. He speaks of visiting places like Angola prison, which has historic roots as a plantation-run prison; and of Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s estate, and speaks about the efforts being made there to cover the lives of slaves who lived serving our long-ago president. This book was awe-inspiring for me because as a woman of color who is interested in history, Smith included many facts that I’d never heard about before and made me want to research more on my own. Smith’s voice is compelling, and he brings a depth of emotion that is needed in the telling of our slave ancestors. He finds a way to acknowledge that while little is written about or by slaves, the labors they left behind are all the proof we need to see how they formed the backbone of America. I also learned just how many people and organizations are striving to have slave stories included as part of the narrative at relevant historical locations. While I am from the west coast, because of Smith’s book, I have been inspired to include some of the places he talks about on my list of places to visit in the United States, and I want to learn more about the history of Black America.

I want to help to make sure that all students have access to a quality education. I have thought this is important since I was in school because I know how much attending a good school district helped in my life. Now, I view it through the lens of a future educator. My goal is to work in one of the school districts that is struggling and help them to be as successful as students in neighboring districts. As a mother of three young children, I want my kids to get a quality education. It saddens me to realize we live in one of these underperforming districts, but we are unable to move to a better district due to the high cost of living in those areas. Thinking about it as an improvement for my own children, as well as an improvement for thousands of others has helped me to see that my time and abilities can be best spent working at schools in need of improvement. That is what I'm passionate about and what I'm working to change.

It makes me happy to see people smiling again. We've been going around with half our faces covered for so long that I almost forgot how it can make you smile when you see someone else smile. I think everyone else feels the same way. It's easy to tell as we've switched from darting glances where we try to decipher someone's mood by the look in their eyes, to making eye contact and offering friendly upturned lips. It's so refreshing to see a radiant smile, a toothy grin, or even a smirk. I love to see how someone's nose crinkles as they laugh with another person. It's even helpful to see an opened, gaping mouth. Before COVID and masks, I would have told you that the eyes are the window to the soul. But now I know it's the mouth. Those lips are what inform us of the feelings going on all around us. I'm so glad to see the reactions of people again. I hope that this will be a permanent lesson and something I can always remember to be happy and thankful for.

Every time this scholarship comes up, I think - how can I show my perseverance? In a way, I think that continuing to apply for the scholarship every time since joining Bold does just that. However, I know that in and of itself is not enough. Another time I worked through a difficult situation was after the birth of my first child. During the birth of my first child, some health complications arose from my delivery. I was very thankful that my baby was perfect in every way, but sad for myself that I had some new barriers to work through. Along with needing to help my body physically repair, I also had the task of caring for a small human who was 100% dependent upon me. Just like many babies, he needed to be held all the time and seemingly nursed around the clock, but in between those, I found time to begin my rehabilitation. Since I had been a fitness instructor, my original goal had been to return to teaching classes two months postpartum. However, my body was not ready to do that. Instead, I built up slowly, from walks with a stroller, to baby-wearing walks and bodyweight workouts. After several months I was able to work out for a full hour at a time. I slowly built up the intensity of my workouts so that I would be able to teach my aerobics classes. Eventually, I was able to attend others’ classes and gauge my recovery. I persevered for five months until I was finally able to return to teaching fitness classes. It felt so good to be able to return to my job and helped me to remember a part of me that I had always taken for granted before I had the challenge to overcome.

My desire is to change the world in many small ways for children in education. Right now, I feel that the education system is not working well for too many students. While the global pandemic helped us realize that children can learn from home, we also realized just how important it is for them to attend school and socialize with other kids. Wouldn’t it be great if we were able to be more flexible, accommodating, and on top of that, expand the abilities of these young students? That is one of the reasons I’m pursuing a degree in elementary education. I want to work in the classroom and help each student by pushing them to reach their goals. After teaching in a classroom, I eventually want to move upward to become a principal or superintendent of one of the large and diverse districts in the “Road Map Project” area in the South Puget Sound near Seattle. As I make steps forward, I want to listen to students, parents, and staff along the way to create the changes needed to create schools that are just as successful as the ones in neighboring, more advantaged, districts. The education of children is so important, and I think that zip codes should not play a role in the quality of education they receive. During my educational career, I hope to leave a legacy of high standards in teaching and learning. I want to show the world that creative, innovative teaching methods can be implemented in our public school system to help all of our students be successful.

I try to make a difference, in a good way, in someone else’s life every day. Doing this is what makes it worthwhile to get dressed in the morning. Some days I get to make a difference in the lives of many children as I head out to be an emergency substitute teacher in a classroom. I come prepared with an upbeat attitude, an icebreaker for first thing in the morning, and a book to share at the end of the day. In between those I try to make small connections with the students in class. I might do this by giving them specific feedback on a writing assignment by telling them that the descriptive words in their sentence are wonderful or praising them for staying on task during reading. I’ve found these little conversations create a quick bond. Other days I go to work and teach classes at the gym. My goal is to challenge the members and push them to do their best, without going overboard. This usually involves scaffolding different levels of intensity for the same exercise so that people attending class can pick which one they like best. At the end of the hour, my hope is that they leave feeling capable, more confident and that it was a worthwhile effort. I love seeing these groups return again and again and encouraging them by sharing noticeable improvements. My final and most important motivation for getting up in the morning is seeing my kids. I love how all three of my boys are growing, learning, and changing every day. They are at ages (2, 4 & 5) where adventure is found in daily life and I love to share in their experiences.

Giving of time can be equally as important as giving of resources. At the peak of the omicron variant, I became an emergency substitute teacher. While I had planned on working in the classroom to gain experience to someday become a teacher, I had not planned on working so many days right away. I started working for a school district in January 2022. After my first day at one of the schools, I left my contact information with the office staff, telling them to call me if they needed a sub. That evening, I was asked if I could come in the next day. I was only available for a half-day, but they said they could use all the help they could get. The day was intense. Due to the staffing shortage, I was needed in a 3rd-grade class, and when they went to art class and lunch; I made my way into a Kindergarten class. Over and over when regular staff saw me in the hallway, they thanked me for being there. Just by performing this short 4-hour shift, I was able to ensure that classrooms were staffed and that teachers would still get their planning time and lunch hour - something that they were sometimes missing just to help out in an absent teacher’s class. It felt great to help, even if it was only for something small - like being a substitute teacher for half a school day. The school ended up asking me to come in every day that week. I gained a lot of experience and a great appreciation for all the hard work of the school staff; I hope to be able to help give back even more in the future.

At the peak of the omicron variant, I became an emergency substitute teacher. While I had planned on working in the classroom to gain experience to someday become a teacher, I had not planned on working so many days right away. I started working for a school district in January 2022. After my first day at one of the schools, I left my contact information with the office staff, telling them to call me if they needed a sub. That evening, I was asked if I could come in the next day. I was only available for a half-day, but they said they could use all the help they could get. The day was intense. Due to the staffing shortage, I was needed in a 3rd-grade class, and when they went to art class and lunch; I made my way into a Kindergarten class. Over and over when regular staff saw me in the hallway, they thanked me for being there. Just by performing this short 4-hour shift, I was able to ensure that classrooms were staffed and that teachers would still get their planning time and lunch hour - something that they were sometimes missing just to help out in an absent teacher’s class. It felt great to help, even if it was only for something small - like being a substitute teacher for half a school day. The school ended up asking me to come in every day that week. I gained a lot of experience and a great appreciation for all the hard work of the school staff; I hope to be able to help more in the future.

My background always feels complex. I am a woman of color, who grew up in an adopted home. My family is white, and when I was growing up, it seemed everyone I knew, especially every adult in my life was white as well. I didn’t grow up seeing people who looked like myself; much less good examples of people of color as successful business owners or professionals. Luckily, since then I have lived in an area where I have had the chance to get to know many people of color who are aspirational. Even though my parents are white, they did not attend university. I became the first person in my family to earn a bachelor’s degree. It was a big accomplishment for my whole family. Since then, I have worked in many positions ranging from a barista, court clerk, fitness instructor, and school support staff. My experience working at an alternative high school in one of the most diverse school districts in the country is what made me decide I wanted to become a teacher. I am currently enrolled at Western Governors University in the Master of Arts in Teaching to earn my initial teaching licensure in elementary education. Now, my goal is to work in the “Road Map Project” area of the South Puget Sound near Seattle. This is where I currently reside. While many of the districts nearby are known for their academics, the ones in this specific area continue to struggle. I want to work in this area and lift the schools to become just as good as the ones in the more advantaged zip codes. I believe that students should have equitable access to education no matter what their socioeconomic status is. I plan to start as a classroom teacher and put methods into practice that will serve students of all abilities. My ultimate goal is to make a positive impact on the world by eventually becoming a school principal or district superintendent of one of these large school districts so that I can help reach more students. All of these students deserve a high-quality education with access to good technology, great materials, a nice school building, and highly qualified teachers. I believe that a good teacher who cares about students and can build strong relationships with their students can have the best impact on them. Building a school community based on serving the whole child is my ultimate goal. In this way, the school can provide a safe and caring environment where students feel free to be themselves. It is only in this type of setting, that students can truly learn and build upon their own skills and knowledge. Someday I look forward to working with other like-minded individuals to create a community of learning for students in the public school system.

At the peak of the omicron variant, I became an emergency substitute teacher. While I had planned on working in the classroom to gain experience to someday become a teacher, I had not planned on working so many days right away. I started working for a school district in January 2022. After my first day at one of the schools, I left my contact information with the office staff, telling them to call me if they needed a sub. That evening, I was asked if I could come in the next day. I was only available for a half-day, but they said they could use all the help they could get. The day was intense. Due to the staffing shortage, I was needed in a 3rd-grade class, and when they went to art class and lunch; I made my way into a Kindergarten class. Over and over when regular staff saw me in the hallway, they thanked me for being there. Just by performing this short 4-hour shift, I was able to ensure that classrooms were staffed and that teachers would still get their planning time and lunch hour - something that they were sometimes missing just to help out in an absent teacher’s class. It felt great to help, even if it was only for something small - like being a substitute teacher for half a school day. The school ended up asking me to come in every day that week. I gained a lot of experience and a great appreciation for all the hard work of the school staff; I hope to be able to help more in the future.

Being able to build relationships and foster good social situations has always been a strength for me. This dates back to my school days when my teachers would frequently note that I was a great student, but also that I talked a lot in class. Since then, I have learned to harness this attribute and make it work for me. The way I am improving this skill is by making my interactions with people intentional. Currently, I am in school so that I can become a teacher. However, gaining formal knowledge is not the only way that I have been preparing to make myself a better teacher and colleague. As a group fitness instructor, I have been thinking about the way I interact with and encourage my class. I’ve found that spending the extra time to arrive early or stay late to talk with attendees is one of the best ways to build a relationship with them. While these conversations may be short, I find out a lot about my members and am able to improve their class experience by suggesting and sharing small changes to the exercises. I believe that the ability to listen, share and improve social skills is what will continue to make me a good teacher, whether it’s for fitness or students in a classroom in the future.

Balance. Life is best lived through creating a balance. This should be applied to all areas of life, we can work hard, but we should make time to have fun. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be 100% of the time, we should expect to take indulgences as well. It’s important to get up and move your body, but equally as important to find time to relax. Currently, I strive to live life this way. I believe that an overall emphasis on eating nutritious food and body movement will help me to live a long, healthy life. To do this I make sure the food I consume provides me with the energy that I need to get through the day. I’ve noticed that when I’m fueling my body properly, I can work better, have the energy to play with my kids, and get sick less often. I teach group fitness classes, so I may be biased but I truly believe that movement is essential to a long, healthy life. The key to making this a habit is to find something that you enjoy doing - the classes I teach range from Zumba to water aerobics and boot camp, but I think that you can find enjoyment in walking the dog or playing a game of pick-up basketball as well. I also enjoy lifting and building muscle. One of my favorite side effects of daily movement is that I sleep better at night. A good night of sleep is what prepares me for another day and hopefully a long and healthy life.

My name is Angela Caron and I have recently returned to school to become a teacher. Currently, I am enrolled in the Master of Arts in Teaching, Elementary Education at Western Governors University - Washington. The program is competency-based and self-paced. Due to this, I will be able to complete the program in about a year and a half while also working as an emergency substitute teacher, a group fitness instructor, and taking care of my three young children. Currently, to stay involved with my community I teach Sunday School at my church and am a member of my son's schools' PTA. Some of my previous involvement includes teaching Zumba to teen girls at a Boys' and Girls' Club after school, mentoring a student as she attended Washington Youth Academy (a quasi-military style school for at-risk youth), and making and collecting boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Upon completion of my teaching credentials, I plan to find work at a Title I school in the “Road Map” area, just south of Seattle, WA. My background of working as support staff in one of the most diverse alternative high schools in the country is what got me interested in becoming a teacher in the first place. While working, I enjoyed time spent building relationships with students. During the course of my employment at Federal Way Public Schools, I was awarded a Certificate of Achievement for my involvement and work at the school. Ultimately, my objective is to create a learning environment that is conducive to learning for a diverse group of students by providing differentiated instruction and using a whole-child philosophy. While I intend to start this as a classroom teacher, I envision becoming a principal or a superintendent someday as well. My goal is to elevate the education in the low-income school districts of the area to be comparable to the more advantaged districts. Right now, I feel that zip codes play much too big of a role in determining the future of our children, I want to help that to change. As a woman of color, I believe I can help to make those changes a reality. If I am awarded the Charles Cheesman's Student Debt Reduction Scholarship, I shouldn't have to take out additional student loans to finish my teaching certification. The money from the scholarship would be used to pay for childcare for my three children while I am doing the unpaid, full-time, 12-week student teaching portion of my program. I wanted to thank you for taking the time to read my application and consider me for your scholarship. Your time and generosity are greatly appreciated.

Weightlifting is one of my favorite activities. As a woman and mother of three, you may not expect me to say that. As a Zumba Instructor, you may be surprised that weightlifting can be even more enjoyable than dancing to me. I first became a proponent of weightlifting when I started training for a bodybuilding competition. The weights made me feel strong and capable. I learned to eat food that fueled my body instead of just eating food for the taste. Most days I was surprised at how hard I could push my body, but I loved the feeling of accomplishment at the end of the workout. Now, I may not be lifting as heavy as I did back then, but it still makes me feel good. I realize as I lift, that I am capable of many things, and I want to push for more. Every time I lift, I'm reminded of this, and it makes me happy and desire to work more.

Schools should be places where everyone is treated with respect - but this doesn't always happen. My goal is to create learning environments that support equality and diversity by realizing that everyone has something to offer the world. As a future educator, I want to make sure that every student attending school knows that this is true. It shouldn't matter if the person has exceptionalities, disabilities, or what they look like - all people should know that they are a person of value. It is my goal to make sure that my future classroom is an inclusive space. I want students to feel comfortable being themselves when they come to school. In order to foster this type of environment, I plan to teach all my students about these important values. Recently, I have become a graduate student delegate representative for the Washington Educators Association so that this opinion can be heard. I look forward to having a say in how classrooms, schools, and public spaces are used in the future.

My current goal is to finish school so that I can become a teacher. I want to make a difference in young people's lives, and I think that public education is the best way to do that. While my first goal is to become a teacher, my aspirations don't stop there. I want to work my way up to becoming a principal or higher-level policymaker. I'd like to make a difference in as many students' lives as possible. Many of these ideals can be accomplished through instruction that is based on social interactions and plays to each students' strengths. Truly believing that each student has something to offer the world and that our job as educators is to find that - and make it possible for them to do it - is what keeps me going. I look forward to earning my master's degree so that I can pursue these goals for the future of public-school students.

EV.RY.DAY. my patience is tested. The ways I'm tested are endless: stuck in traffic, waiting at the self-checkout, websites for class not loading, and my kids like to test my patience at every possible moment. All these moments are why being patient is important. It's something I have to do in order to remain cool, calm, and collected. Being patient helps me stay in control and staying in control helps me to get through every day. It's most important that I stay in control so that I can feel good about myself. If I get mad at other drivers, it only infuriates me - and doesn't impact them. Being angry about waiting in lines? Again, only impacts me, it stresses me out - so it's best to avoid those kinds of feelings. If I yell at my kids, it makes all of us sad and no one wins - that's why it's best to stay patient. I like practicing my patience because it helps me feel more at ease during my day and keeps my tension down - all of which helps me to be a better person all around.

Here is a link to my application video: https://youtu.be/ElCSh9FLljw

Physical actions can be the best way to show someone that you are listening. Looking at someone while they’re talking to you is the easiest way to show someone that you are taking an interest in what they have to say. Positioning your body toward them shows them you care. Having open, uncrossed arms indicates that you are open to what they are saying. One of the ways I practice this is by intentionally putting these methods into practice at the end of my group fitness classes. When I finish the last stretch and thank everyone for coming, my mentor taught me that you shouldn't be done yet. While I didn't always put this into practice, since returning to teaching post-covid, I have started doing what my mentor suggested - going to the back of the room and holding the door open for people as they leave. I try to learn my attendees' names and personally introduce myself to new people. I assure newcomers that the first time is the hardest, and I congratulate the sweaty exercisers on their awesome effort. I’ve found that this creates camaraderie and engages people as I listen to their opinions and comments on the way out the door. My post-covid classes are slowly growing, and I think the listening tactic is the biggest reason why they all return.

A few years ago, I participated in a bodybuilding competition. When I first decided that I wanted to enter, I was told that I didn’t have the right body type to do it. But I didn’t let that stop me. Along the way, I saw quite a few acquaintances from the gym who also entered the bikini category for bodybuilding. They looked amazing on stage at their competitions. Instead of getting jealous, which would have been easy to do, I felt inspired. I thought if they can do it, so can I. So, I continued my strength training and dieting. When pressured to eat at a party, I thought of my long-term goals instead of short-term gratification. Every morning I got up early so that I could do two-a-days, doing an intense cardio session in the morning and then lifting followed by more cardio after work. From this experience, I learned that obstacles and challenges were not enemies, they were just something to overcome that made me stronger. At the time I wasn’t even aware that my growth mindset had changed, just that I felt confident and powerful. By the time competition day came and I stepped on stage, I looked like I belonged up there. It had taken much dedication and time, but I was proud of myself for working through all the ups and downs to do something new.

A few years ago my mom told me that she wished she had started investing in a Roth IRA sooner. At the time, I had been depending on my state-sponsored retirement plan to provide the money I'll need when I'm older. Since then, I've read that the average American falls short of their retirement goals. Studies show that we don't invest enough, early enough and it's hard to make up the difference as we draw closer to retirement. I vowed not to become one of those statistics. As I looked at my husband and my financial situation, I realized that we had fallen into the same trap of thinking that we could do it later. I resolved to look at our finances and see where we could sacrifice to start investing more in our retirement plan. While I had to take into account that we both invest in pension plans, I also had to confront the fact that those pension plans might not be there when it's time for us to retire. Knowing this helped me to come up with a plan that would provide all the money we would need for retirement. So, at age 33, I opened a Roth IRA and made it my goal to adjust our spending until I could fully fund it every year. It’s only been 2 years, and I’ve been able to go from investing $200 each month into the account, to $500 a month. Someday when I start working, we will also contribute more to my husband’s Roth IRA, as well as invest more in the market - and that will help us to make up for lost ground. With this plan we will be on track to retire and enjoy our lives at the age of 65.

Zumba is my favorite hobby. Surprisingly, when I first was invited to a class, I didn’t want to go, but now I love it so much that I have turned it into a part-time job. The first time I went to Zumba, my friends practically dragged me. I kept finding reasons for why I was unable to go until I ran out of excuses. While the pumping music reminded me of the club and I had fun with my friends, the whole thing felt a little intimidating. I didn’t know the moves, I wasn’t familiar with the songs, and everyone else seemed to know just what to do. My friends assured me that this was normal and that it would get better with time. They were right, with each class my fondness grew. Soon I had become a front-row diva and arrived early to class to ensure I got my “spot”. I got so into Zumba that a few classes from one instructor weren’t enough. Branching out to other clubs, I added at least one class every day; sometimes attending one class with one instructor, then getting in my car, driving across town and still dripping with sweat, taking another class right after. To say the least, Zumba had become not only a favorite hobby but had become an adrenaline-rush addiction for me. In one of these classes, the instructor paid particular attention to me. She started encouraging me to become an instructor. At first, my response was “No, definitely not” but over time, I warmed to the idea. This instructor became my mentor, giving me advice and letting me do just a song or two at a time in her class until I was ready to take on my own class. When I first started teaching my class, I tried to embody my favorite instructors. In time, I realized that it felt too forced and that I would have to find my own style. My style was not always sexy, but a little more upbeat and goofier. But it fit and eventually, I gained a following of people who appreciated my way of dancing. Once I was making enough money to call it more than just a hobby, I was thrilled because I knew exactly what I wanted to do with the money. I wanted to go to Zumba Convention. Spending a year’s worth of Zumba earnings to fly across the country to attend a week-long training about Zumba may seem kind of silly to some people, but for me it was awesome. I had tons of fun and learned a lot from a multitude of other instructors. Now, I have been an instructor for 9 years, attended three Zumba Conventions, and have loved every moment. This summer the convention returns, and I am pumped to have the chance to go again and enjoy my hobby alongside thousands of other Zumba-lovers.

Zumba is my favorite hobby. I love it so much, that it's now my part-time job; but it wasn’t always this way for me. The first time I went to Zumba, my friends had to practically drag me. I had kept making excuses about why I was unable to go until I ran out of reasons. While the pumping music reminded me of the club and I had fun with my friends, the whole thing felt a little intimidating. I didn’t know the moves, I wasn’t familiar with many of the songs, and everyone else seemed to know just what to do. My friends assured me that this was normal and that it would get better with time. They were right, with each class my fondness grew. Soon I had become a front-row diva and arrived early to class to ensure I got my “spot”. I got so into Zumba that a few classes from one instructor weren’t enough. Branching out to other clubs, I added at least one class every day; sometimes attending one class with one instructor, then getting in my car, driving across town and still dripping with sweat, taking another class right after. To say the least, Zumba had become not only a favorite hobby but had become an adrenaline-rush addiction for me. In one of these classes, the instructor paid particular attention to me. She started encouraging me to become an instructor. At first, my response was “No, definitely not” but over time, I warmed to the idea. This instructor became my mentor, giving me advice and letting me do just a song or two at a time in her class until I was ready to take on my own class. I have been an instructor for 9 years and love every moment.

Right now, I am persisting in my pursuit to find ways to pay for college. This is no small endeavor. There are many opportunities, including Bold.org, and I have been trying to find every single scholarship or grant I qualify for. As a graduate student, there are not as many chances to apply as there are for undergraduates. However, I continue to search. To date, I have applied for over 170 scholarships and grants. I also have 10 additional specific scholarships that I am applying for - these range from organizations like the Pi Lambda Theta, which is the member-only honor society division of PDK International; to the Johnathan T. Leonard Memorial Scholarship which is specifically for underrepresented minorities pursuing programs to earn a teaching certification. Recently, I found out I was awarded one of the scholarships at my school! I received the Back-to-School Scholarship from Western Governors University, and I am thrilled. Discovering this, along with being a finalist for the "A Daring Path" Scholarship on Bold, has reignited my pursuit for more scholarships. Since many of the scholarships I applied to are still open or pending, I am hoping that I will be awarded additional ones. While I have searched wide and far for scholarship opportunities, I continue to be amazed at how many Bold.org offers. Of all the scholarships I have applied to, almost 70% of them are on Bold. The number of openings that are here is what keeps me coming back. I hope that my persistence pays off and I am awarded another scholarship to help me pay for college to become a teacher.

Right now, my mom is awaiting the results of a brain scan. These results will tell us whether she has a normally aging brain, or whether something else is going on. Something like Alzheimer's. This is not a diagnosis were unfamiliar with, as my mom's mom had it too. While this is a time of worry, it is also a time to remember to live with gratitude. I am grateful for the close relationship I have with my mom and for all the time I've been able to spend with her. Looking back on life since high school, I realize I would describe my mom as my best friend. She's the first person I called for every important life event - from being accepted to college, to discovering I was pregnant. I also call her to talk about the small things, like when my son says something funny, or when I have spare time to talk while I'm out on a walk. Thinking about this makes me appreciate how wonderful of a grandmother she is to my kids. How she pours time into her whole family and is always willing to have us come over to her house, no matter how busy she is. So, even though this possible diagnosis were waiting on could be life-changing, I'll continue to be grateful. Thankful for all the time I've had with her, and all the adventures that we have to come. I pledge to make the most of the good times, of the things happening right now, since you never know exactly when they will change.

In another time of my life, I wouldn't have said I was selfless, but things have changed in my life. As I've gotten older, I've realized how much of life is about giving back to others. The main way I'm planning on giving back is by changing careers to become a teacher. Some of the work I've done in the past with young people has been life-altering. It is amazing to see the impact that one person can make when they are truly invested in something. One of my examples is a high school student I worked with - her family was homeless, her mother was a prostitute, and some days she showed up at school with the same clothes as the day before, having eaten no food, and gotten no sleep. But she showed up at school because she had a community that cared about her. A community who believed in her; when she graduated, she went to a university and inspired many along the way. One of the people she inspired was me. Now, I want to be involved with kids who need someone to be a believer. Right now, I do this by substitute teaching, teaching children's church, and volunteering at my son's school. My ultimate goal is to work as a full-time teacher and inspire students to become more. It will take a lot of my own time and effort to do it the right way, and that is how I am committed to being selfless.

Three things fuel my life right now. My family, working out and good food. My family is so important to me and wanting to improve our lives is what is fueling me to get my degree, change careers and become a teacher. I am excited about the life we will be able to have. I want my kids to be able to live somewhere where they attend good schools. Someday I hope that we can afford to move to a home where the kids can each have their own bedroom. And I’m excited about the activities and time we will spend together on adventures. Working out is another big passion of mine. I love it so much that I teach group fitness classes. It’s so fun to move your body, feel strength and become flexible. Knowing how these feel in my physical body helps me to pursue them in my mind and character. I want to be strong and flexible as a person, especially as a teacher after I finish my degree. While it may seem counterintuitive to working out; food is another fuel for me. I love making good food that can literally fuel your body. I think that the type of food you ingest affects the performance of your body and mind - so I find myself wanting to ensure that what I’m eating is helping me.

Recently, I’ve vowed to set aside time to take care of myself. Right now, I am enrolled in a master's degree program, work two part-time jobs, and am a mom to three children under age six. To say that I don't take much time for myself is an understatement. In order to hold myself accountable for my self-appointed self-care time, I have decided to set my schoolwork aside for an hour each evening, right after the kids go to bed. During this time, I take a steaming hot bath to relax. I turn off the lights and use candles to light the room. This little bit of time helps reset my brain, body, and senses. I practice deep breathing and push aside all thoughts of “things to do”. After I get out of the bath, I put comfy sweats on and do a few yoga poses to connect my breath, mind, and body again. I’ve found this small, habitual practice helps me to find rest and be prepared to tackle the next day, a better-equipped person.

At the end of every long day I take 30-60 minutes for myself. Right now I am enrolled in Master’s degree, work 3 part-time jobs, and am a Mom to 3 children age 5 and under. To say that I don't take much time for myself is an understatement. My day is go-go-go from when I wake until the kids go to bed. After this is "Mom time". I vow to put my studying aside while I take a steaming hot bath with epsom salts and essential oils to relax. I turn off the lights and use only candles to give some of my senses a break. I've found that I will think about school work, errands for the next day, or tasks for work if I try to "just relax". So, I spend my time in the bath watching part of a movie or a TV show on my laptop, just to give my brain a break from thinking. This small amount of "me" time helps me refresh, relax, and get ready to rest so I'm prepared to tackle the next day.

This is a skill I have been working on lately. If I'm being honest, it has been an area that I've struggled with my whole life. When I was younger, I don't think I even knew I had a problem. But the good thing is that recognizing it is half the solution. Now, when people are talking, I make an effort to show them that I’m actively listening. To do this, I make eye contact with them while they are speaking. I nod in agreement or widen my eyes in disbelief as they tell their story. Part of active listening means making sure to repeat back the main parts of the conversation to ensure I'm understanding them. Asking follow-up questions helps me to understand more about what they are saying. All these tactics together keep me be present in the conversation and it helps make the other person feel heard.

I'm passionate about the future of our children, my children, the children of America. Truly, I am. I get it, it’s easy to be passionate about the future of your own children, but other people’s children? Not always easy. In fact, I believe it's a choice. The new superintendent of the school district I worked for said, during her introduction speech, "We come here to love other people's children. That's our job." It's one of the main reasons I'm entering the field of education. One of my goals is to come up with a successful model to improve the student progress of those struggling. It should be one that can be used in other schools to successfully implement improvements as well. I believe that every child should not just know but excel in math, reading, and writing. These skills should lead to complex thinkers who can apply analytical techniques in any scenario. Having this knowledge and these attributes will prepare them to do whatever they want to pursue after high school - no one in America should be held back from their pursuits in life because they lack the training or skills. I believe in this so much, I am sending my children to our neighborhood Title I school, and I want to make our school district better than it is now so that all the students here are successful. I am looking forward to the work there is to do to help change the lives of children, right here in Kent, Washington.

I plan to get a Master’s degree in Teaching so I can become a teacher. Having a graduate-level degree will also prepare me to be a principal someday. My plan is to work in a low-income school that has a lot of room for improvement. One of my goals is to come up with a successful model to improve the student progress of those struggling. It should be one that can be used in other schools to successfully implement improvements as well. It should be something that works for diverse groups of students including English language learners. I hope to work with others to create a new set of educational standards. A set of standards that every child will have the challenge to rise to - and will learn not just the basics, but the skills they truly need in life to be successful in school and work. While I acknowledge that this kind of work can be all-encompassing, I also want to have as much time as possible with my own children. My children are currently one, three, and five years of age. I would like to be the adult that has the greatest influence on their lives. I desire to have a strong & lasting relationship with my children for our whole lives, and I know this will be established now, and I will take the time to invest in them. This focus on children, both my own and other people’s children, will take up most of my personal and career life goals for at least the next couple of decades. I am excited about all that my future has to offer.

Right now, I'm staying true to myself by pursuing my own goals. As a stay-at-home mom (or SAHM for short), sometimes people expect that all you are is a mom. But that doesn't work for me. Honestly, I got bored. For a while, just working a little bit was enough. Then I realized I needed my mind to be stimulated. So, I started investing in the stock market. I made over 100% gain in my first year. Now, I'm ready to take the next steps toward my career. For me, that means going back to school. Most people think I'm crazy. I mean, the SAHM life is good - why would I want to mess up that lifestyle? Because it's not me, not all of me anyway. The way I stay true to myself is by pursuing and doing my passions - no matter what anyone else might think about it.

When you’re independent, you don’t need anyone to do anything for you. It means not needing anyone’s money. It means not needing people to help you out. It means that you don’t rely on other people to get you things. Because I’ve tried to live like this for a while, it means that I feel proud of my accomplishments. It means I get to own my wins, but I also have to take responsibility for my failures. This can be a stressful way to live because it also means that no one is there to help when you need them. If you truly live this type of independence out, it can be lonely. Sometimes it’s better to have people in your life who can help you rather than claim full independence. Since the COVID pandemic, I’ve realized this more than ever. Now, I care more about having the support that I need in life instead of always trying to be independent.

My story may be a little bit different than the normal tale. While I had plenty of people who influenced my decision to pursue higher education, from my parents to teachers and mentors; the educator who had the largest impact on my life was my boss, Adam Kulaas. When I first met him, he was the Principal at an alternative high school where I worked in the office. In 2012, I was working as a Data Secretary and serving as the Interim Office Manager. Our regular Office Manager was on maternity leave, and instead of hiring a person from outside the building, I was given to opportunity to fill the role. While we normally had a temporary worker fill the position at the front counter, they were mostly there as the first line of defense. Typically, this person could greet someone or pick up the phone and answer general questions, but anything specific ended up coming to me. In fact, I still did about half of my Data Secretary job. Adam noticed. He always encouraged me and was proud of all the work I was doing, saying I “wore many hats” in the office. Adam even gave me the thumbs-up to do extra-curricular activities with students. Many of them are activities that a Principal will not normally approve for office staff. Because of him, I started a cooking club and taught Zumba after school to a group of girls at the Boys & Girls Club located on campus. This was the first time I had a chance to interact more directly with students. In the spring, Principal Kulaas awarded me with the school’s Certificate of Achievement for my work throughout the year. It is like our school’s Employee of the Year and it was an honor to receive the award. He told me that things would be changing in the next school year and that I would have an opportunity for a new position if I wanted it. At first, I wasn’t completely sure that I wanted to try a different path, but Adam assured me that I would be great at it. At the end of the school year, I took the initiative to do a huge overhaul of the filing system. There were 30-40 filing cabinets that sat in an open area of the school, all turned in towards each other to make a “room” - it was an unsightly waste of space. Adam showed his support of my project by having the entire staff set aside half a day to help me purge the records. It took a full week, but when I was finally done purging unnecessary records, we were able to move the handful of remaining filing cabinets into a small unused office. The new open space is now being used as a collaborative area for students. Adam offered me the position of Learning Facilitator for the following school year. It is because of his encouragement and continued belief in me that I accepted this support position to work in the classroom with students. During that same year, I knew I wanted to work with students permanently. That is why I am now pursuing my teaching certification. If it had not been for Principal Kulaas, I’m not sure that I ever would have stepped outside my comfort zone and found just how much I belong in the classroom.

Selfishness is the biggest problem in the world right now. When it comes down to it, the average person, no matter how philanthropic, is usually thinking about their interests first. While many people are generous and well-intentioned, it’s not adequate. Let’s explore some of these predicaments more closely. If humanity were less selfish, many of the most crucial problems could be solved relatively easily. For example, imagine if the richest 30% of the world vowed to help the neediest 30%. Much of the world’s hunger and water issues could be by fixed resolving profound poverty. It seems that we should be able to help provide clean water to everyone. World Bank estimates it would cost $150 billion a year to provide clean water. While this is an unimaginable number to the average person, let’s put it in perspective. It would only be 6.8% of the CARES Act passed in 2020. Yet in many communities, children will spend hours a day and walk miles to acquire clean water. Even worse, there are over 800 children who die daily from the effects of unsafe water. Imagine the difference we could make with a little sacrifice. Another substantial issue is world hunger. Recently, Elon Musk was asked to spend 2% of his net worth to solve world hunger. Numbers show that $13 billion per year (or 4% of Musk’s current wealth) for the next 30 years could indeed solve the problem. The question is if you had access to that kind of money, would you be willing to donate? Or is only a certain percent, or a pre-defined amount of your money, available to help others? While this is a simplified version of the world’s problems, it helps to think about our selfishness and how we might be capable of helping others instead.

Joy is more than just a feeling - it's a state of mind and body. For me, joy is something that you feel deep in your soul and is not dependent on mood. My example is simple. It's actually how I'm feeling right at this moment. I'm sitting on my couch watching a Christmas movie. I have a stuffy nose, a throbbing headache, a terrible cough, and all-around don't feel well. My kids are running around screaming and playing. They have snot dripping from their faces and come to me to have them wiped about every 90 seconds. I wouldn't exactly describe my situation as happy - I'm definitely not smiling or laughing. But I would say that I feel joy knowing that I have the chance to be home with them and enjoy their company - even when everyone is sick. That's how I find a way to experience joy every day. It's easy to find it even in the mundane if you know where to look.

I have been involved in leadership positions since high school. In high school, I was in leadership class my junior & senior years. In college, I was the Secretary for the residence hall, held office in my school's Black Student Union, was involved in an international student program, and worked as a Resident Assistant. Since then, I've had multiple jobs at different companies where I have practiced leadership, even though I didn't have an official leadership role. One of the biggest ways I've shown leadership is by taking on projects that no one else had even thought of doing. While I was working as a Court Clerk, I decided to create PDF versions of our paperwork. It bothered me that we kept a paper “master copy” of every form and made photocopies from those. After typing up the first one and showing it to the Judge, he asked me to do it for every one of our forms. I also created a binder for new clerks. It had all the information and procedures that my supervisor had to show to each person as they were trained. At this court, we changed desks every 6 months and had to learn a new set of tasks and policies. It took over 3 years of rotations, but I finished every clerk position and made a complete manual for future clerks. In 2012, I was working as a Data Secretary and serving as the Interim Office Manager. At the end of my second year, I took the initiative to do a huge overhaul of the filing system. There were about 30-40 filing cabinets that sat in an open area of the school, all turned in towards each other to make a “room” - it was an unsightly waste of space. When I was finally done purging unnecessary records, we were able to move the remaining 8 filing cabinets into a small unused office. At the end of the year, my Principal took notice and gave me the Certificate of Achievement award. I have also run my own small business. My business was created so I could teach Zumba classes at the local city hall. While it was never very profitable, it was fun. I was able to put my license to good use and offered free classes at my church and at the high school where I was employed. It was a great experience, and I learned many lessons while doing it. I think it’s important for leaders to step up and take charge of a situation and know what their values are. Leaders should also know how to balance all their responsibilities and be able to assign others tasks. I’m looking forward to using my leadership skills as a teacher in the classroom after I get my degree. I also hope to have a chance to lead a whole school or district someday as well.

Neither of my parents was able to attend four-year universities. While they understood the importance of education, they were each the oldest child in their families and were just not able to afford it at that point in their lives. They encouraged me to go to college - and I did. I was given the Washington Promise Scholarship for first-generation college students and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with minors in Spanish and Business Administration. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a plan for what I was going to do with that degree. I ended up doing a handful of different jobs before ending up working as a Learning Facilitator. In this position, I worked directly with students in the classroom. It was a challenging job, but it also made me realize that I finally had a purpose for going to school myself. I wanted to return to school in order to get a specific job - I wanted to become a teacher. After a break from work to stay at home raising my own kids, I am now ready to return to school to earn my teacher licensure through a Master’s program. Instead of spending my last five years idly, I’ve been taking time to educate myself outside of the classroom. While I have been staying at home with my children, I still have had a desire to learn. I’ve read books from political authors on both sides of the aisle. I’ve taken the time to brush up on history, read about education, find my place on the debate between charter schools versus public schools, and have learned a lot about Black history in America. As a woman who is half-black, half-white, learning about the “other” half of my history has been enlightening. It has made me realize that there is so much more to our nation’s history than what we are taught in the classroom. But this information is out there and readily available. For me, it means that we should never cease finding opportunities to learn. I am glad that I have not taken the last thirteen years “off” from learning. I feel more prepared now than at any other time to further pursue my formal education. I hope to bring the knowledge that I’ve acquired outside of the classroom into my place of work. I’m very excited to move forward and help educate the next generation as a public-school elementary teacher.

My greatest simple pleasures are something that I can do easily and daily if I choose. For example, in the mornings, I enjoy a fresh cup of black coffee; when I want to make it special, I add flavored creamer. I try to find time to soak in the sunshine when it's out, even if it means leaving just a little bit early to stand outside while I wait for my son's school bus. I enjoy the company of others, so I make a point to try to find time for friends and family. Sometimes this is as simple as a phone call, or a text, and other times it's for a dinner party or inviting out-of-town guests to stay with us. One of my biggest secrets to food pleasure is to take time to enjoy whatever I’m eating or drinking. I like to sneak a slice of cheesecake in the mid-afternoon when my kids are napping, relishing the silence as much as the sweet. I get excited when I prepare a meal and all the components come out warm and perfectly timed. My favorite current indulgence is to slowly drink a glass of red wine while watching my newest TV binge, in a hot bubble bath. It’s the perfect way to wind down at the end of the day. It prepares me for a good night’s rest; a simple pleasure, that since having kids, I no longer take for granted.

My first child's birth story starts like any other. I had a supportive husband, an encouraging midwife, and helpful nurses. It was painful, but all worth it once they placed the baby in my arms. However, it's where my story changes and is different than ninety-nine percent of other women. As it turns out, during the final moments of labor, I suffered a 4th-degree tear (it’s on a scale of 1-4, with four being the worst). I was brought into the operation room for stitches, the surgery took almost an hour. The recovery was long and hard. I could hardly move to take care of the baby and he needed to be bounced vigorously all night, every night, to ease his tiny tummy. I went for check-ups every other week for twelve weeks to make sure I was healing properly. After the initial healing, the process was just beginning. My complications were embarrassing. While my doctor deemed me lucky to have control over my bowels, I wasn’t able to control flatulence. My pelvic floor made it so I was unable to return to cardio or weight lifting, much less my job of teaching fitness classes. I had a lot of tedious work to do to heal. The worst part was that you couldn’t tell by looking at me that I had these problems. People must have wondered why I walked so slow and had trouble finding a comfortable seated position. Through sleepless nights with the baby and lots of pelvic floor exercises; I was able to return to teaching classes at the gym after nine months. It was such a victory for me. After that, I knew that I was capable of persevering and achieving anything.

Financial freedom means not having any debt, including our home, and having a fully funded retirement. This is actually something I have spent the last few years dreaming about and planning out. It is one of the reasons I’m returning to school at this time - so that I can begin my new career in teaching. Believe it or not, we have been living on one salary for over five years while I stay home with our kids. We are looking forward to the extra income, it will give us much more breathing room to invest. Paying off any student loans, and then investing, is something I’m looking forward to doing. Part of our long-term plan is for my husband, who is a carpenter, to retire early. This means that we will have to invest largely in our private retirement plans as soon as we're able. While we both will have pension plans and will qualify for social security, we are planning as if those will not payout because we don’t want to depend on those funds. I’ve done the calculations, and realized that we are behind on our retirement for it to be fully funded. To make up for lost time, we will be investing aggressively throughout our forties. On top of Roth IRAs and traditional IRAs, we want to invest in real estate. We plan to rent out our current home and purchase a new home. Our current home only has ten years left on the loan, and has doubled in value from when we bought it twelve years ago. We will already be able to charge about 30% more for rent than the cost of the mortgage. Because the real estate market in our area does so well, we are not too worried about carrying two mortgages for a period of time. I also want to have our new home paid off by age 55. That means we will carry a 15-year loan on it as well. If the Seattle-area real estate market continues to grow at the same pace, we should easily gain over 100% equity during that time. After our kids are grown, we will plan to downsize and invest any additional equity from the sale of that home. During all of this time, we will still retain our first residence as a rental property. If we are successful in this scenario and we're able to save and grow our investments, we want to invest money into our children by paying for their education. I’d also love it if we can help each of them purchase their first home. In our retirement, my husband’s beginning at 55, and mine at 65, we would give freely to organizations and people that we believe are deserving; after doing that, we would still have money to enjoy our free time and take vacations together.

There have been times in my own life when I have been dependent on the generosity of others, so I know how important it is. During COVID, our family was so grateful to the donors that got together and gave out food boxes in the Kent School District; we used all the food every week. I’m always thankful when friends and family give us hand-me-down clothes for our boys. Because I realize how important it is to receive these resources, I try to give back when I can. We pass on our good condition clothes, toys, books, and even furniture to others in the neighborhood through a Buy Nothing page. Giving away things we no longer use to someone who needs it is always fun. Every year our family participates in Operation Christmas Child where each of our children packs a shoebox full of new toys, clothes, and games that they picked out to send to children around the world so they also have gifts for Christmas. Our family sponsors a child named Johao through World Vision; his picture and report card hang on our fridge. In the family minivan we also keep gallon Ziploc bags full of snacks, socks, envelopes with stamps, and hand warmers to give out to homeless people we pass within the community. For me, it’s not just about giving back but also teaching our kids to give back and be appreciative of everything we have. Without the kindness and generosity of people, there will always be those who are in great need.

Linda was someone who embraced the idea that people won't remember what you said or did, but they will remember the way you made them feel. I first met Linda while taking her Zumba class. I tried to hide in the back, but she noticed me and asked me to come further forward. At the end of class, she asked if I had ever thought about becoming a Zumba Instructor. I said, “No!” but I kept attending her class because she made me feel good about myself. Eventually, I did become an instructor and Linda was my mentor. Not only did she help me to develop my skills as an instructor, but she also shared with me a secret. She said, “People don’t come to class to work out; people come to class to make friends.” It was true. I always made sure that my classes were fun, friendly, and encouraging - just like Linda’s classes. Linda ended up being diagnosed with cancer and passing away only a couple of years later; over a hundred local Zumba-lovers came to dance in her honor at the gym. It has been my goal since then to create an experience that leaves every person feeling good about themselves when they leave my presence. This is especially true in my classes. Now, I know that people will always remember the way they felt when they were around you - and I strive to make that a good memory.

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget the way you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou This is one of my all-time favorite quotes. Every time I think of my dear friend Linda, I think of this saying. Linda was someone who embraced this in every aspect of her life. I first met Linda while taking her Zumba class. I tried to hide in the back, but she noticed me and asked me to come further forward. At the end of class, she asked if I had ever thought about becoming a Zumba Instructor. I said, “No!” but I kept attending her class because she made me feel good about myself. Eventually, I did become an instructor and Linda was my mentor. She shared with me a secret. She said, “People don’t really come to class to work out; people come to class to make friends.” It was true. I always made sure that my classes were fun, friendly, and encouraging - just like Linda’s classes. Linda ended up being diagnosed with cancer and passing away only a couple of years later; over a hundred local Zumba-lovers came to dance in her honor at the gym. It has been my goal since then to create an experience that leaves every person feeling good about themselves when they leave my presence. This is especially true in my classes. I think that people will always remember the way they felt when they were around you, even though they may not remember anything specific you said or did.

Don’t be afraid to take your gains early. I read somewhere that most new investors will quickly take their loss on a stock, but will not do the same thing with a gain. That means that even when we pick a stock that performs well in the short term, we will tend to leave our money there - when we can take that money we’ve earned and invest it elsewhere. I had never directly invested in the stock market before March of 2020. It seemed the world was falling apart, so my husband and I figured - what’s the worst that will happen if we invest a chunk of savings into the market? It was the best decision ever; out of sheer luck, I invested most of what we had at what were almost the lowest stock prices during the slump. While not every stock I picked was a winner - I have taken my big wins and cashed them out. Overall, my investments have appreciated well over 100% in a year and a half. Not a bad first stock market experience.

There are only two things - eat your vegetables and move your body. A lot of evidence shows that eating vegetables will help keep you healthy. They provide you with the nutrients your body needs and they help you feel full. If you fill half of your plate with vegetables, I believe that you can fill the other half with almost whatever you’d like. Since veggies have lots of fiber, they will keep you feeling full for longer than a simple carb. Because they are lower in calories by volume (per ounce) than protein, they fill you up faster. Vegetables are always the perfect addition to any diet. Moving your body in any way that makes you happy will help extend your life. For one, exercise should be something that is enjoyed - not dreaded. That means you should keep searching for ones that you enjoy until you find them. You can take a stroll, go for a run, swim, dance, do yoga, lift weights, practice breathing techniques, do martial arts, ride a bike, play with your kids, take a hike or walk your dog. The key part is that it should be something that helps you feel better and relieve stress. Because both the exercise and stress relief will help to make your life longer, healthier, and most importantly happier.

Did you know that you can take a tour to see an electric chair? At Angola Prison, it may only be a replica, but according to Clint Smith, author of “How the Word is Passed”, it is a truly creepy place to visit. Not to mention its historic roots as a plantation-run prison - using the free labor of imprisoned black men after they were freed from slavery. This book was awe-inspiring for me because even as a woman of color who is interested in history, Smith included many facts that I’d never heard about before. Smith’s voice is compelling; he brings a depth of emotion that is needed in the telling of our slave ancestors. He finds a way to acknowledge that while little is written about them or by them, that the labors the slaves left behind are all the proof we need to see how they are the backbone of America. I also learned just how many people and organizations are striving to have slave stories included as part of the narrative at relevant historical locations. Because of Smith’s book, I have been inspired to include some of the places he talks about on my list of places to visit in the United States.

No matter how long it’s been, you can always pick up the phone to talk. That is one of the most important aspects of friendship to me. It means that person always has your back. That they will be a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, or someone who is excited at your accomplishments in life. This friend should be truthful with you when it’s important but be willing to let something go for the sake of the friendship. I try to do these things with my best friends. Two of my best friends also do this for me. We’ve been in each others’ lives since the first grade. We’ve gone through first crushes and teenage drama. Been there for each other during loss - one was even staying at my house the night my grandpa passed away. We celebrated college acceptances, first jobs, and engagements. I lived with each one of them while we were still single. Each of us was a bridesmaid in each others’ weddings. Supporting each other as we’ve had babies, mental health crises, and medical scares. Offering advice on investments, real estate, job offers, and continuing education. Even when we haven’t spoken in half a year, it always comes easily. Now that we live further away from each other, our plans in the future include making an annual girls’ trip to see each other face-to-face. I can only imagine what the future will bring and I wouldn’t want to do life without these ladies’ friendships.

The book The Five Love Languages has forever changed how I show other people that I care about them. I read this book as a newlywed and quickly realized that I needed to show my husband that I loved him by speaking to him through this love language. His love language is Word of Affirmation. And while my love language has always been Quality Time, it was easy for me to see that my husband needed something different. I focused on complimenting him, thanking him, and telling him what I appreciated about him. After seeing the impact it had, I decided to use it on everyone close to me. Discovering which is someone’s love language only requires attention. If you know someone well enough, you can even figure it out by thinking about it for a few moments. The trick is to put it into practice every day. At this point in my life, I try to do this for my husband, my kids, my parents, my extended family, and my close friends. I hope that this improves my relationship with each and every one of them and makes them feel loved and appreciated.

There have been times in my own life when I have been dependent on the generosity of others. During COVID, our family was so grateful to the companies that got together and gave out food boxes in the Kent School District; we used all the food every week. I’m always thankful when friends and family give us hand-me-down clothes for our boys. Because I realize how important it is to receive these resources, I try to give back when I can. We pass on our good condition clothes, toys, books, and even furniture to others in the neighborhood through a Buy Nothing page. Giving away things we no longer use to someone who needs it is always fun. Every year our family participates in Operation Christmas Child where each of our children packs a shoebox full of new toys, clothes, and games that they picked out to send to children around the world so they also have gifts for Christmas. Our family sponsors a child named Johao through World Vision; his picture and report card hang on our fridge. In the family minivan we also keep gallon Ziploc bags full of snacks, socks, envelopes with stamps, and hand warmers to give out to homeless people we pass within the community. For me, it’s not just about giving back but also teaching our kids to give back and be appreciative of everything we have. I hope that when I become a teacher, I get even more chances to give to the community and students in my classroom.

Sometimes helping someone can unexpectedly come to you. I like to help others by listening to their needs. As a Learning Facilitator at an alternative high school, I got to put this into practice often. One of the stories I’ll remember is about a student named Dwayne. One day after school, I noticed Dwayne hanging out alone. After talking, he ended up confiding in me that he didn't have anywhere to sleep that night and that he had spent the previous night sleeping behind some bushes in a parking lot. Not really knowing what to do with this information and how to help, I asked if it was ok to tell the principal and see if we could get some help. After a lot of calling around, we found out that he was only eligible to go to a men's shelter. Dwayne said he had already tried that and preferred the bushes to the shelter. We were heartbroken by his situation. He ended up couch surfing while he looked for employment. During this time, when he came to school, we made sure that he never left without a full belly and extra food. Later he came back to thank us and to tell us that he had gotten his GED and was earning enough to get an apartment. While this is far from the traditional school success story, it made me realize I wanted to be in a classroom to connect with the students. I want to be able to help kids reach their own goals, push them to consider other things, and provide the support they need as a person as well as a student, and I believe I can do that as a teacher.

My legacy will be to leave things better than how I found them. I believe this can be accomplished through little things like wiping down the counter in the bathroom at work when it's a little messy, to leaving a lasting legacy through generosity. When my career in education is over, I hope to have left a legacy of change. I believe that there are so many improvements to be made in the public education system, that it should always be advancing. In America, I feel like the public education system has lost sight of its true goals. We should be striving to build the best foundation for every student. Helping our diverse population learn how to learn, ask questions, and always be curious is the result I would like to see - I hope I am given a chance to make an even greater impact by being in a position of power that can bring advancement to students throughout the state and country. Part of my personal legacy will include leaving my kids with the tools they need to build their own lives and be successful. Another aspect of my legacy will be to have enough money in retirement to invest in others and to give generously. I would love to be involved in my community through philanthropic means. My desire is to even be able to leave money to charities, and scholarships as well as to my family.

I know, it may not be typical for a first-generation University student to also be a career changer. To help better understand how that happened, I’ll explain a little bit about my parents. My Mom got a one-year certificate to become a secretary, which is what she did until she decided to stay home with me and my sister. My Dad received an associate degree before entering the field of construction. His hard work and commitment to one company led him to promotions, and he eventually became a superintendent. However, he saw the way the younger generation was receiving promotions - only those with college educations seemed to be eligible. So he and my Mom encouraged me to go to college right out of high school. I did. I earned my Bachelor’s degree the same week I turned 21, but I had gotten a degree I didn’t really know what to do with because I hadn’t known what I wanted to become at 18. After different jobs in a handful of industries, I found my place in education. After my first year working with students in a support position, I decided I wanted to help raise the next generation of students permanently. I applied to WGU-Washington's Master of Arts in Teaching program. However, at the end of August 2015, I found out I was pregnant. It was always my intention that if I had kids of my own, that I would stay at home while they were young. My husband and I felt so blessed to have a child of our own that I decided to put my career on hold to raise the baby. Almost six years later, we now have three children, all boys, currently ages 5, 3 & 1. Now feels like the time to continue my education, so that I can start my teaching career. Currently, I am studying to get a Master’s in Teaching. One of the biggest challenges I will face is paying for childcare while I am doing my student teaching. While I am working two part-time jobs as a Group Fitness Instructor and a Flex Amazon Associate to help pay for the cost of college, I will not be able to do those while student teaching. Student teaching is a 12-week unpaid, full-time, commitment. The exorbitant cost of childcare means that the 12 weeks of care will cost more than the tuition I pay for the same term. I am trying to get enough money by applying for scholarships and grants that may help supplement the cost. So far, I have used my time leading up to my starting term to apply to over 80 applications with plans to apply to about 20 more - meaning that I will have applied to over 100 opportunities. My hope is that I earn just a couple of these to reduce the burden of cost so that I can concentrate on my studies. Another one of my motivations for choosing now to go back to school is due to the rising cost of everything. Right now, because I have to work my hours around my husband’s job as a carpenter, it means that I do not bring in very much income. We feel like a one-income household and it puts a lot of pressure on my husband. He works all kinds of hours, from early mornings to the night shift as well as having commutes that can take him up to almost 2 hours in one direction. I hope that when I start earning enough to pay for childcare and also provide extra income, that he will have a weight lifted off of him. He has been a wonderful provider for our family and he deserves to be able to relax without always worrying about work. After earning my degree, I look forward to being able to work with and inspire young students daily. However, my ambitions do not stop there. The area I live in is very diverse and I do not feel we always serve all of our students well. I am hoping with the cooperation of staff, parents, and students to be able to move forward with changes to help accommodate the multitude of different learners in our area. This will not be easy to do. It will require a lot of hard work, an open mind, and a willingness to try new things. While I can’t even tell you exactly what the plan looks like, I hope to be more adaptable and provide an environment with more options available to children utilizing the public school system. I truly believe that improvements are in the near future in education and I want to be at the forefront of those changes. There is no reason why a district with lower-income households should perform any worse than a nearby district. My goal is to prove that this is a reality by dedicating my time to assisting the districts most in need in my area.

The drive to be better motivates me every day. Some days I want to be a better student; I want to read more and learn more. I want to spend time finding out more about things that aren’t even part of the curriculum, and I am always excited about historical facts and stories that I’ve never learned about before. Other days, I’m focused on being a better mother. I want my kids to grow up to be good people and I try to find ways to focus on that development. Some days I just want to be the fun-Mom, the one who does activities, plays, and explores with them. Sometimes, I know it’s just a day for learning fundamentals that they will need in everyday life. And other times it’s just about being a caretaker for the young children that they are. I want to be a better wife, daughter, and friend as well. I think these are all areas where I can improve and it motivates me to try to do a little better daily.

One of my best skills is talking. In junior high, I received remarks on my report card like, “excessive talking” and “socializing in class”. While my talking may not have always been viewed in a positive light back then, I also always tried to answer questions in class too. In high school, I put my talking skills to work in leadership class. It was here that I learned to harness the power of words. In discussions, I could express my opinions and listen to others. Then, we could present our ideas to our teacher for approval. In college, I built upon those skills more. With more confidence, I could engage in meaningful conversations. I joined my clubs and groups and was able to even garner positions of leadership. Later, I was able to use these speaking skills in interviews to gain employment. Now, I am planning to improve my speaking skills by preparing and presenting lectures as a teacher. I hope to be able to put my “talking” skills to use throughout the rest of my career.

In no particular order - a list of my favorite things. Zumba. Smiles on my kids’ faces. Sunsets over the hill at my parent’s house. Holding a kitten. Prayer. A tall iced coffee with one-and-a-half-pump toffee nut and one-and-a-half-pump white chocolate. Tent camping. Days when my hair curls just perfectly. Spending time with my husband lounging on the couch. Jogging. Still lakes. Using my grandma’s china not just for special occasions, but on weeknight dinners. Sushi bars with the conveyor belt. Dancing to loud music. Doing puzzles. Reading a book. Warm chocolate chip cookies. Starting a new TV series. Getting up early to watch the quiet sunrise over the water while on vacation. Sleep. Soaking in a hot Epsom salt and essential oil bath. Weight lifting. Time with friends. Oversized sunglasses. Driving with the windows down on a warm day. The color pink. Water aerobics. Crashing waves at the ocean. Blue cheese and red wine, together. Seeing how happy my parents are as grandparents. Wilderness hikes. Learning new things. Driving in a silent car. A clean house. Knowing those friends and family who will always have your back. Each one of these things makes me smile, I try to get as many as I’m able to in a day. Every day.

"...People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou This is one of my all-time favorite quotes. Every time I think of my dear friend Linda, I think of this saying. Linda was someone who embraced this in every aspect of her life. I first met Linda while taking her Zumba class. I tried to hide in the back, but she noticed me and asked me to come further forward; she always liked to push people out of their comfort zones. At the end of class, she asked if I had ever thought about becoming a Zumba Instructor. I said, “No!” but I kept attending her class. She frequently asked me to become an instructor, telling me that I would be great at it. I finally relented and took the training. Linda became my mentor while I learned to teach an entire class. Always encouraging, she made me believe that I would love it, and I did. So, when she asked me to add water aerobics, I was hesitant, but eventually added it and ended up loving it just as much as Zumba. Linda ended up being diagnosed with cancer and passing away only a couple of years later - over a hundred Zumba-lovers came to dance in her honor. It has been my goal since then to create the experience that leaves every person feeling good about themselves when they leave my presence. This is especially true in my fitness classes, I think that people will always remember the way they felt when they were around you even though they may not remember anything specific you said or did.

I have learned that I am confident and determined. While my determination has been a part of my character for a long time. My confidence is something that has grown with experience. If you go back and ask, my parents will tell you that I was stubborn. I knew how to dig my heels in when it involved something I wanted. Later, stubbornness turned into determination and helped get me through college in three years. That determination and grit helped me land a good job with amazing benefits during the Great Recession. It helped me find a ready-to-live-in house when the housing market was full of foreclosures. Grit helped me move on when my office closed and I had to find a new job. And with every step of determination, grit, and stubbornness, I gained confidence. Now, I am confident in my ability to be successful. This confidence is what carries me forward as I pursue a degree and a career change. I am glad that I have been able to learn these things about myself because determination and confidence are invaluable.

My response and story are a little different than the narrative you usually see about a first-generation college student. The educator who had the most positive impact on my life was my boss, who was a Principal at an alternative high school while I worked in the office. He saw how hard I worked as both a Secretary and Interim Office Manager and nominated me for my school’s version of Employee of the Year at the end of his first year there. Afterward, he encouraged me to apply for a newly created position working in the classroom as support staff. I ended up applying for and taking the position of Learning Facilitator. It was that experience in the classroom that made me realize I wanted to become a teacher. Without his help and encouragement, I may have taken a lot longer to realize my potential for working directly with students. Because of him, I am now pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching, Elementary Education. I know, it may not be typical for a first-generation University student to also be a career changer. To help better understand how that happened, I’ll explain a little bit about my parents. My Mom got a one-year certificate to become a secretary, which is what she did until she decided to stay home with me and my sister. My Dad received an associate degree before entering the field of construction. His hard work and commitment to one company led him to promotions, and he eventually became a superintendent. However, he saw the way the younger generation was receiving promotions - only those with college educations seemed to be eligible. So he and my Mom encouraged me to go to college right out of high school. I did. I earned my Bachelor’s degree the same week I turned 21, but I had gotten a degree I didn’t really know what to do with because I hadn’t known what I wanted to become at 18. In a search to find my true calling, I also enrolled in a paralegal training program so that I was prepared to work in the legal industry - and it would help give me insight as to whether I wanted to become an attorney. This led me to my first real job as a court clerk. It was a stressful position that made me thankful that I had not pursued a law degree. When the court closed, I saw it as an invitation to reexplore what direction I wanted my career to go in. At that time, I started working as the Data Secretary at the high school I mentioned at the beginning of this essay. Now, I am very excited to be going back to school to earn my initial teacher licensure so that I can begin working with students.

In the aftermath of George Floyd, I learned just how many of my fellow people of color have issues with society due to their race or ethnicity. It was truly surprising to me. The reality is, that the part I found most surprising is how many of us don’t talk about our experiences because we find them embarrassing or uncomfortable. It’s because of our lack of sharing as a whole, that I found many of my white friends and family don’t think that these sorts of racist things happen regularly. You see, I am half white, half black, adopted, and grew up in a white family. My town was 99% white and with every passing year, I found that I had no one to talk to or relate to about my experiences as a person of color. Eventually, I dropped any sort of talk about the subject because I found it made people uncomfortable to discuss. Now, I am finding my community on social media. In my 30s, I’m finally finding the support I need to be more open about the differences I have experienced living in the same town as my white friends. Sometimes I feel comfortable enough to share my own story, but many times I still find that some family members can be defensive, people within the community can think you’re lying, and friends can just feel bad for you. I don’t want anyone to feel bad for me, I just want to share the truth of my experience more often than I used to. This perspective has emboldened me to own my truth.

I love my confidence and determination. While my determination has been a part of my character for a long time. My confidence is something that has grown with experience. If you go back and ask, my parents will tell you that I was stubborn. I knew how to dig my heels in when it involved something I wanted. Later, stubbornness turned into determination and helped get me through college in three years. That determination and grit helped me land a good job with amazing benefits during the Great Recession. It helped me find a ready-to-live-in house when the housing market was full of foreclosures. Grit helped me move on when my office closed and I had to find a new job. And with every step of determination, grit, and stubbornness, I gained confidence. Now, I am confident in my ability to be successful. This confidence is what carries me forward as I pursue a degree and a career change. I truly love that about myself.

Don't borrow other people's money to pay for stuff. That's something my Dad told me, that his Dad had told him. I believe this is a great way to think about money. It means not carrying a balance on a credit card.. it means avoiding high-interest loans. It means not being indebted to anyone. However, I also think there are a couple of caveats. I think if you are going to borrow money, it better be for something you really need. For example, we all need to live somewhere. It makes more sense financially to borrow money to buy a home that can gain equity than to keep pouring money into rent. You may also live somewhere where you need a vehicle. Some people will tell you to get the cheapest car you can afford with cash - but personal experience has taught me that it's better to have something reliable. So, if you need to take out a loan to buy -not a fancy- but a reliable car, do it. Make sure to look at different rates and get the best loan information possible before even going to the dealership. I also believe this caveat applies to education. It's important to have an education in your line of work. If you need to take a loan out - that's a great investment too, because it's an investment in you!

After working in a school office for two years, I took a new position in the classroom as a Learning Facilitator. During this school year, I got to know a student named Victoria. She was behind on her credits, but still wanted to graduate on time. With a lot of planning, and ambition, I watched her tackle all her classes with gusto. She finished the year by completing online courses ahead of schedule and was accepted to a 4-year University. Her story is one of many that became "my why". Throughout that year, I got to see the awareness, challenges, and triumphs of our student body as individuals. After that first year, I knew I wanted to work with students permanently. Since then, I have had three children and have been staying at home with them while they are little. Now, I am pursuing a Master’s of Arts in Teaching for Elementary Education. I hope to be able to work with and inspire young students daily. However, my ambitions do not stop there. The area I live in is very diverse and I do not feel we always serve all of our students well. I am hoping with the cooperation of staff, parents, and students to be able to move forward with changes to help accommodate the multitude of different learners in our area. This will not be easy to do. It will require a lot of hard work, an open mind, and a willingness to try new things. While I can’t even say exactly what the plan will look like, I hope to be more adaptable and provide an environment with more options available to children utilizing the public school system. My primary goal is to become an elementary school teacher. However, I know that if I want to impact more children, I will have to work with more people to have a bigger influence. I believe that I can become a principal, a district superintendent, or even the secretary of education if it would help to have greater results for more students. If we can open our minds to change the education system, then the next generation will be more successful. And since success is predicated on education, that is where it will all start. I am excited to begin my journey in education and I am looking forward to returning to school after so many years away.

After I had my first child, I was very anxious. I thought that constant worry was just part of being a new mom. Anytime I wasn’t directly involved, I could only think about what bad thing might be happening to him. If someone else tried to give him a bottle, I worried it would make him spit up too much, so I exclusively breastfed to avoid anyone else being part of feeding him. If my husband took the baby’s fussy night hours so I could sleep, I would lay awake to see if he was crying. If my mom came over during the day so I could shower, I worried that something would happen during that time. At night, I would get out of bed multiple times to check to make sure that he was still breathing. As soon as I walked away, I was worried that at that moment, he would suddenly cease to breathe. Only in retrospect, was I able to see that my actions were intense. Too intense. I had suffered from postpartum anxiety. When I had my second child, I didn’t experience any of these things to such a great degree. After I had my third, who was born via cesarean, I was doing well. I took two months off from teaching group fitness classes and was ready to go back to work on March 13, 2020. I got to teach one Zumba Gold class before the world shut down. At this point, I was at home with a 2 month-old, a 2-year-old, and an almost 4-year-old. My husband was in construction so he was usually gone at work. Some of the struggles of being a person of color were being pushed to the surface. Experiences I had ignored and never fully considered kept coming up in my thoughts. All social interactions, my daily gym routine, our planned trips to children’s museums, parks, and even play-dates were put on hold. I felt like my life was on hold. My parents noticed that something wasn’t right and encouraged me to seek counseling. I did. It helped, but I needed more. My parents helped to watch my kids so that I could teach one Zumba class a week at the gym - it was my only semblance of normalcy - and it had to be taught outdoors with masks on. As the world got back to “normal” I still couldn’t do the things I had planned to do as a Stay-at-Home-Mom. The gyms in my state hadn’t reopened their childcare, so I couldn’t work. Many places wouldn’t allow parent ratios greater than 1-on-1 due to physical distancing precautions. Some required that my 3-year-old with sensory issues wear a mask. While I knew this phase of life was going to be difficult, I hadn’t expected to feel like I was barely treading water. Every day I pasted a smile on my face and tried to act interested in what was happening with my kids and people around me. Eventually, I realized I needed to invest in myself. I found a new, flexible job at an Amazon warehouse and began to work. I made appointments with friends and forced myself to keep them. I started a plan to enroll in college in a year or two and looked for applications for scholarships. Then, the gyms reopened childcare and I was able to begin my fitness instructor job again. After my first week, I was able to finally make a breakthrough in my bout of depression - one that was influenced by postpartum but ultimately triggered by the pandemic shutdown. That same month, I looked at all my plans to start college online - and realized I didn’t need to wait. I could start this year. I think I’ve learned that having something to look forward to, new goals, and new hope can be what saves you from yourself. I hope that I can use this information and experience to notice if I ever have this happen again before it gets too far, too deep. I also hope to use it for friends and family and am able to help them when they are struggling.

Society can most effectively empower women by listening before acting. Every woman is her own person and has different needs. Whenever we start treating women as if one set of rules or conditions will help each and every one, we are already failing to empower them. Empowerment means learning to advocate for yourself. In order to do this, we as women need to be able to speak up. But what if no one is listening? What if no one really cares about our answers and already has their own plan lined up for us? Then that plan is ineffective. That plan does not serve the women it is intended to assist. For example, I feel like I see many people who advocate for women in the workplace. Everyone wants better wages for the working woman. We all believe that women of every color should be earning more. We believe that there should be more women in positions of power with companies, government and organizations. However, all of this only takes into account the woman who wants to work or advocate. What about the woman who wants to stay at home and care for her children? When all of our answers are predicated on the fact that a woman must want to work outside the home, we close off a whole group of mothers who may in fact wish that they could afford to spend more time with their children. Personally, I have been on both sides of this. Early in my career, I wanted to be in the workplace. I often wondered why there weren’t more people who looked like me in positions of power within the companies I worked for. It made me think that something needed to be done to help fix the situation. But most of the time I felt trapped - like I would never get a chance for a promotion because maybe those didn’t exist for people like me. Later, after I had my first child; I wanted to stay home with him. When I told other professional women about my decision, I got a lot of “Good for you!” in condescending tones. They acted as if they couldn’t believe I was throwing my career away. But it was a personal decision. Something I had always dreamed of doing if I had my own children. By the time I had my third child, I couldn’t have gone back to my job even if I wanted to. The cost of childcare for three children, none of whom were yet school-aged, would have cost more than what I had earned. It is at this point, where I felt trapped by my decision because I could no longer change my mind on whether I wanted to be a Stay-at-Home-Mom or not. Now, I am pursuing a Master of Art of Education so that I can help raise the next generation. Because school is available online, I am able to start my schooling while two of my kids are still at home with me full-time. Telling my story and how my desires, needs and demands have changed throughout time is part of the story of every woman. We need society to listen to our needs and wants where we are now. By listening to these changing wishes with every step, we will be empowered to voice them

Treating people the way I want to be treated is how I try to have a positive impact on the world. Many times it's just in small ways. Smiling at neighbors and waving as we pass by on a walk. Thanking the janitorial staff at the gym for keeping it clean. Holding the door open at the UPS store. Having a conversation with the proctor before a test even though I'm really nervous and don't feel like talking. These are just examples of things I did in the last couple days. Another big one is that I try to be more sensitive on social media. I find myself restraining from complaining about COVID restrictions or the everyday stresses of motherhood. Trying to remain positive sometimes means I have less to say overall, especially on social media. But I think that the payoff is rich. I find myself less preoccupied with the bad things and I hope that people around me find the positive as much as I do.

Financial freedom. My dream life is mostly based on the premise that I have worked hard & saved and earned my financial freedom. In this dream life, my husband and I have paid off our home. We don't have loans on our vehicles. Every month we pay off our credit cards - but still get the benefits of all the points. We're able to put money into our retirement so that it is fully funded before age 65. In this scenario, we're also able to save & invest money into our children by paying for their education. In the best case scenario, we can also help each of them purchase their first home. Our dream life means that we can give freely to organizations and people that we believe are deserving. After doing all that, we will still have money to enjoy our free time and take vacations together. At the end of our life, I hope that we can leave a legacy to our family and community - one of generosity & love.

More recently I have been learning a lot about slavery in America. The more I learn, the more I admire and appreciate everything that the slaves did for our country. While their history is not well accounted for in writing, it is captured in the buildings, artwork, song, and success of America. Sometimes I think about the work ethic, determination & pride there must have been in someone like Sally Hemings. She was just a teenager when she went to work for Thomas Jefferson & she caught his attention. While beautiful, I'm sure he would not have made a life with her if she had not been an impressive and bright person. This was a scholarly man who entertained some of the greatest politicians, and I'm sure that Sally was someone he would have engaged in these conversations with regularly. She must have been such a strong woman. At that time to demand that she be treated better upon her return to America when she could have just stayed in France and been free was a big gamble. She must have been very persuasive in her argument - something that Jefferson himself was unable to say "no" to. She also was able to get him to free all of their common children either by letting them leave as adults or as part of the condition of his will upon his death. Sally must have been quite a force for reckoning. I admire the determination and spirit that must have been present, even if there is no real record of the feelings and thoughts of slaves - we can tell her impact through Jefferson's words as he grew old with her by his side.

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. I know, its not the traditional answer, but its true. There are very few book that I have read more than once and this book is one of them. Originally, I found this book at a huge 3-story bookshop in Fairhaven, Bellingham a poor college freshman, I hadn't wanted to spend much money; so I curled up in a chair with a hot cup of coffee and started reading, not having any intention of buying a book that day. As I read the book, a smile came to my face. This book was so much fun, it was exactly the escape I needed. I kept reading long after I'd finished my coffee, just waiting to see if I would like the book a little less so I could put it back on the shelf. However, just like the protagonist, Becky Bloomwood, I decided to buy the book. Ignoring the feeling in the pit of my stomach, it was the splurge I needed to spend on myself at the time. I truly love the whimsy of the book. It is so fun to get lost in the mind games of Becky as she justifies every new action and purchase. It's laughable - and sometimes you just need a good chuckle. There are many times I feel like I relate to Becky. When I'm feeling down, it's nice to get a rush by buying something new, something that makes you feel special. And every time I read this book, I get that special rush - and I only had to buy the one book.

Don't borrow other people's money to pay for stuff. That's something my Dad told me, that his Dad had told him. I believe this is a great way to think about money. It means not carrying a balance on a credit card.. it means avoiding high interest loans. It means not being indebted to anyone. However I also think there are a couple of caveats. I think if you are going to borrow money, it better be for something you really need. For example, we all need to live somewhere. It makes more sense financially to borrow money to buy a home that can gain equity than to keep pouring money into rent. You may also live somewhere where you need a vehicle. Some people will tell you to get the cheapest car you can afford with cash - but personal experience has taught me that it's better to have something reliable. So, if you need to take out a loan to buy (not a fancy) but a reliable car, do it. Make sure to look at different interest rates and get the best loan information possible before even going to the dealership. I also believe this caveat applies to education. It's important to have an education in your line of work. Having the education ahead of time can help you when you want to advance in the future. If you need to take a loan out to get a degree - that's a great investment, because it's an investment in you!

My husband is always telling me I’m an optimist. Where he sees doom and dread - I see opportunity. When he thinks we’re stuck - I see our unrelenting attitude. When he is discouraged - I can sit and listen. I’ve realized through our times together that advice is not always needed, sometimes we just need something to look forward to - something to be hopeful for. For example, during the pandemic we heard about how the market was crashing. I figured if the world as we knew it was coming to an end, that our money may not be worth much anyway - so I invested a chunk of our savings into the stock market. Since then, it’s more than doubled in value. The same month the pandemic began, we also bought a minivan to accommodate our third baby (born in January 2020). We didn’t negotiate enough and ended up paying more than we originally wanted to. Three hundred miles (and 3 months) later, we found out that it had a large problem - it cost us a quarter of what we had paid for it in the first place to fix it. It wiped out more of our savings and it was very frustrating - but I knew that we would eventually be able to work to pay for it (my place of work was closed due to the shut down). The craziest part is that I ended up being able to get extra unemployment and that covered exactly the cost of the repair. I think staying optimistic during this tough couple of months enabled me to see opportunities and act on them. It helped me remain hopeful for the future and look forward to the post-COVID re-opening. I carry this attitude with everything in life.

When I first started teaching Zumba classes, I was all high energy and high impact. At one point, another instructor asked if I would mind teaching a water aerobics class; I reluctantly agreed. I thought the class would be boring and full of old people. And the class was full of older people, but I realized over time that the class didn’t have to be boring. Since then, I have learned to make it fun every time. Teaching water aerobics is my very favorite - I play “Oldies” music and we keep it moving in the pool - it is anything but boring. Because I enjoyed this format so much, I decided to learn how to teach Silver Sneakers and Zumba Gold (Zumba for seniors). While I know the class is actually made to benefit them, I get a lot out of it too. They have even surprised me with baby showers when my children were born! My class is so appreciative of the effort I put in to make sure the class stays upbeat and that there is new material on a regular basis. Believe it or not, my dedication to these classes is because they have become my favorite demographic to teach - I just hope that I improve their lives as much as they improve mine.

Please see video essay link: https://youtu.be/fAS0vVcT3pw

In 2012, I found out that I would be losing my job. It paid well and had great benefits, but otherwise I did not like the job much. During my job search, I decided that I wanted to do something that would benefit others. Eventually I landed an office job at an alternative high school just outside of Seattle, WA. While in the office, I learned a lot about the field of education, the staff, the families and the students we served. After receiving recognition from my Principal for my role in the office, he also offered me the opportunity of a new position of Learning Facilitator working with students in the classroom. Many lessons were learned in my first year as a Learning Facilitator. I quickly had to learn how to inspire students, keep them accountable, provide support for schoolwork, and apply classroom management skills. During this school year, I got to know a student named Victoria. She was behind on her credits, but still wanted to graduate on time. With a lot of planning and ambition, I watched her tackle all her classes with gusto. She finished the year by completing online courses ahead of schedule and was accepted to a 4-year University. Her story was one of many I had the chance to be involved with; and after that first year, I knew I wanted to work with students permanently. Now, I am pursuing a Master’s of Arts in Teaching for Elementary Education. I hope to be able to work with and inspire young students on a daily basis. However, my ambitions do not stop there. The area I live in is very diverse and I do not feel we always serve all of our students well. I am hoping with the cooperation of staff, parents and students to be able to move forward with more changes to help accommodate the multitude of different learners in our area. This will not be easy to do. It will require a lot of hard work, an open mind and a willingness to try new things. While I can’t even tell you exactly what the plan looks like, I hope to be more adaptable and provide an environment with more options available to children utilizing the public school system. If we can open our minds to change the system, then the next generation will be more successful. And since success is predicated on education, that is where it will all start.

More openness to change would make a huge difference in the world of education. Many of the practices, standards and procedures are rooted in tradition. It seems like many of our traditions are in place, not because they are what’s best for kids, but because it’s comfortable and simple for adults. Think of something that we may not even consider changing - sitting at desks. Is there any reason kids have to sit at a desk with an attached plastic chair? Would they learn less if they sat on bean bag chairs and had writing pads or tablets? What if we let Kindergarteners stretch out on the floor as they practiced the sounds that letters make? I get it, it does seem more challenging - for the adults. However, I worked at an alternative high school that truly embraced the alternative. We had bean bag chairs, open concept spaces, large tables for sharing, and the traditional seating arrangements. Each student could choose what they needed, which they preferred and could choose something different depending on their needs at that moment. I believe much more of our educational system needs to embrace changes as they come in order to stay relevant. We need to reconsider the idea that traditional testing might not capture all the knowledge of every student. We need to embrace technology and teach kids how to use their phones as a tool in the classroom instead of attempting to ban them. We need to let younger kids have the freedom to get up and move around the room, or give their little hands something to do instead of expecting them to sit still in the classroom for large amounts of time. These are just a few examples - there are so many more. My goal is to help in this process. To always be looking for change. I am just starting my Master’s degree to become a teacher. While I look forward to my time in the classroom with young students, I also look forward to hearing input from parents, staff and the community. My hope is that someday I will be able to help bring about changes in the school system - whether as a teacher, a principal, a superintendent of a large district or maybe even a position with more influence. I hope to always come to the table with an open mind and listening ears.

The decision to go back to school has helped balance out my mental health. I know, it sounds counterintuitive. Add the stress of studying, learning new things, applying them, and getting good grades? Not for you? That's okay too. But for me, having a new focus has helped me emerge from a bout of depression. When the global pandemic hit in March of 2020, it was already going to be a challenging time of life. I had a 2-month-old, a 2-year-old, and a child who had not yet turned 4. I had even begun a practice of my own "quarantine" at the beginning of January to ensure a healthy household. It was set to end on March 13, 2020. I returned to work that Friday to teach one Zumba class before the world shut down. Like everyone else, at first I thought it was just for a short time, but as other businesses began to open - the gym stayed closed. My parents noticed that something wasn't right. That autumn, they offered to watch my kids once a week so that I could get out to see adults, exercise and teach my class. I also started seeing a counselor as I needed some techniques to help get me through. For me, that technique was to focus on the future. To think about good things to come. But there were still many days that I struggled. It was only in the fall of 2021 when I finally got back to my job at the gym that I started to get my groove back. After applying to school to get my teaching degree, I noticed that I was feeling like myself again. As of now, I am excited to push forward with a new outlook on life.

As a Mom of three young children, and a part-time worker at an Amazon Warehouse and group fitness instructor at a gym; a self-care regiment is very important. For me, I've been able to combine my fitness routine into a money-maker as well as using it for stress relief. I also take advantage of the fact that it's a small break from my children for the day, since the gym watches my kids for free while I teach. Sometimes I spend some of this extra time answering emails and working on essays. After dinner has been cooked, the kids have been bathed, brushed, and read to for the night - I finish my evening with an epsom salt soak in the tub to help relax my muscles. I like to use a sheet mask on my face so my time feels extra special. My dinosaur phone stand, bought specifically for this purpose, helps to catch me up on an episode of my most recent show while I soak.