Hi! I'm Sasha, an Economics major with an Education Equity minor at Union College in New York, with plans to pursue public policy and law. I tutor and mentor children with diverse needs, including twice-exceptional students. As someone with twice-exceptional traits myself, I understand what it feels like not to be fully understood. My goal is to show kids that their differences are not flaws but strengths to embrace. I've volunteered at a center for children with special needs and an after-school program for underserved students, where I see the power of encouragement and inclusion. My love of art shapes my perspective, and I incorporate creative expression into my work with children. I'm passionate about closing gaps in services for children with disabilities, righting funding inequities, and improving special education teacher pipelines. I'm pursuing this through an honors research project on IEP fulfillment for underserved children in NYC, cross-cultural fieldwork on community-driven inclusion models, and advocacy at the city and state level. I’m also interning with the New York State Unified Court System, deepening my interest in how law can help close those gaps, and with the New York State Education Department, where I identify, evaluate, and synthesize research for a newsletter for policymakers. Growing up, I witnessed my mother battle breast cancer and supported an aunt with chronic migraines. This taught me deep empathy and a commitment to helping others feel understood. Beyond my work, I rock climb and ski, activities that fuel my determination and creativity.