“One thing they can never take from you is your education” are words that I heard from my grandfather, ever since I was a child. Those words have always stuck with me. I have made it my life’s goal to always learn. I have always been something of a “nerd” and I wear that badge proudly. I know that learning may not always come from a book. Learning can be big or small and come from many places. I have been a teacher for the past 8 years. My first year was very tough until I met an amazing educator who took me under her wing. This empowered me to be the best teacher with the resources that I had. It also allowed me to learn from my fellow educators and students that year. That next year, I became a mentor teacher! This showed me that I could learn from everything in life. While being a mentor teacher that year, I learned new and innovative ways to teach from my mentee. I am not a person who thinks that you cannot learn something new from someone who may not have as much experience. Creativity can be inspired from many places. I had taught English for 4 years, but it wasn't until I taught Special Education, specifically Autism, when I realized that children with unique abilities inspire me to be creative! I have learned that I was most creative when I saw my kido's every morning. My creativity blossomed when I could think of creative ways to impact my student's. Creativity was always found in a smile, after a student really grasped a lesson or when they had moved to another grade level and said, " this is what Ms. H taught me.” I have learned that it doesn't take much to be creative, you just need to be inspired! My 4th and 5th year of teaching I became a Special Education teacher. This is where I fell in love with teaching all over again. Teaching students with Autism allowed me to learn new ways of teaching every day. This motivated me to want to go back to school and get my Master’s in Curriculum Instruction with a focus in Special Education. I want to learn how to best cater to the needs of my students. Once I achieve my goal of Master’s in Special Education I will be able to apply what I know and have learned to be the best Special Education Educator that I can be in order to support the needs of all students. I know that learning never stops. I have learned not only from my fellow educators but from my students. I know that there will be challenges but I am willing to push through in order to reach my goal. I will keep what my grandfather told me “One thing they can never take from you is your education” in my head to give me the motivation that I need. I desire to be the light in the eyes of my students. I desire to encourage them to be the best version of themselves with the supports that I can give them to succeed in life.