The women in my life have never failed me. The women in my life have become more familiar with rock bottom than many people will in their entire lives. Seeing my mother, grandmother, and aunts break their backs to support their families all while wholeheartedly teaching, has given me more lessons than I could have ever imagined. My Grandmother, for instance, was a scientist. She taught science during the day and came home at night to care for her three daughters. Mimi, as I call her, has become one of my ultimate inspirations. Growing up in a time when women were not expected to have successful careers, specifically within the STEM field, Mimi defied all odds with grace. The way Mimi’s eyes light up when she talks about her students, the scientific method, or even back-to-school conferences is contagious. Mimi and my mother instilled in me a yearning for knowledge, a yearning for success, and a yearning for curiosity. Had they not explicitly made learning enjoyable, I do not know where I would be today. My grandmother, now retired, has left a legacy throughout her time at Harrington Park School and beyond. Some of her lesson plans are still used to this day, even in different districts. Legacy. If there were one word to describe my inspiration for teaching it would be legacy. Ensuring to uphold my mother and grandmother’s legacy, as well as instilling my own legacy. Beyond that, every student should feel compelled to leave behind a legacy of their own. Although, this is much more challenging than it may seem. At the beginning of my freshman year of college, I was placed in a student-teaching High School practicum in Trenton, New Jersey. For those who may not know, Trenton is an inner city, with high rates of crime and drugs. I was so excited to begin teaching until I learned that many students do not have an innate passion for learning as did I. This led me to evaluate - how can I get these students motivated? How can we aid in dismantling fights, crime, and drug use through education? How can I connect with these students? So, I did the only thing I could at the moment WWMD? What would Mimi do? Mimi, ahead of her time, focused heavily on social-emotional education as well as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Essentially, students can only be in a place to learn when their emotional needs are being met first. How does this happen? To put it simply, the classroom needs to be filled with joy, and that starts with me. From that point on, rather than starting our class with worksheets or lectures, we began with an evaluation conversation. What do students need today? Based on that conversation, some days began with meditation, some began with a game, and some just began with a “how are you doing…really”. From this practicum, as well as from Mimi, I have learned perhaps the most important lesson in education. Joy is contagious. When students are having fun, and the teacher is engaged, it is proven that students are more engaged in material and class work. Of course, as I graduate, substitute teach, student teach, and beyond, I will bring sunshine and joy to the classroom. I will participate in class games, discussions, and even assignments. I will do what Mimi would do, but I will also do what feels right within my pedagogy. Education does not stop after graduation, knowledge is power, which is why eventually I would like to take this lesson, and legacy outside of the classroom. Eventually, I would like to gain my doctorate and work in administrative education, aiding in helping and teaching other teachers, as well as dismantling the stigmas that surround the school system. Beyond this, I would love to one day give a TedTalk on education. I would like to write a book. Many books. I would like to conduct research. I know it may sound like a lot, but the women in my life have never failed me, and I am not about to fail myself now.