For the past 20 years, I have worn two hats: teacher and pastor. Both roles have planted me firmly in the middle of people’s lives—sometimes in moments of excitement, sometimes heartbreak, often simply in the ordinary rhythm of their days. Whether I’m leading a classroom discussion or counseling someone after a service, one theme keeps emerging: people deeply need someone who will listen and help them find a way through whatever they’re facing. Across two decades in education, I have watched students struggle not only with academics, but with pain that textbooks can’t address—anxiety, family turmoil, losses they’re still learning to name. As a pastor, I see similar burdens carried silently in the pews. Over the years, both my students and my church members have sought me out for guidance and support. Again and again, I’ve been humbled by the limits of my training. I could pray, I could care, but I realized how much more equipped I needed to be for the complex situations they entrusted to me. That’s why I decided to pursue a master’s degree in counseling. I want to do more than offer encouraging words—I want to be equipped with knowledge and practical tools that can make a tangible difference. My faith is what anchors me, shaping how I see others and why I want to serve. Yet I have come to understand that spiritual support and professional skill are both necessary, and that combining them is not just possible, but powerful. As I enter this new season, I know the balance between my spiritual walk and my responsibilities will need attention. I plan to draw daily from Scripture and prayer, not just out of habit but from deep necessity, especially as I take on the burdens and stories of others in a more intentional way. Surrounding myself with a supportive Christian community will help keep me grounded and accountable, while my training will expand my ability to offer care that is rooted both in faith and in best practices. I hope to use what I am learning to create safer and more understanding environments—whether in the church or the classroom. My years as a teacher have taught me the value of patience, adaptability, and seeing the potential in every person. As I grow in knowledge and skill, I aim to foster spaces where healing, honesty, and real growth can begin. My greatest hope as I pursue this degree—in partnership with my faith—is to become someone who helps others find hope and healing not only through words, but through tangible change as we work through what they are walking through. I pray I’ll keep learning, growing, and being open to however God wants to use me, in every setting I am called to serve.