When I imagine the life of my dreams, I see a vibrant yet peaceful future; one that balances purpose, passion, and presence. I see myself living in Belize, surrounded by the rhythmic sounds of the ocean, raising a family and continuing to teach. This life is not just about escaping the chaos of the world; it’s about building something grounded in joy, connection, and meaningful contribution. Belize, with its crystal-clear waters, lush landscapes, and laid-back culture, represents more than just a beautiful destination. It symbolizes freedom, simplicity, and intentional living. I envision a modest home nestled near the beach, where I wake up each morning to the soothing crash of waves and the warm embrace of the sun. My days begin with family breakfasts on the patio, fresh tropical fruit on the table, and the laughter of children in the background. While the beach provides serenity, my passion for education keeps me energized. Even in this tranquil paradise, I am still deeply connected to the classroom, whether virtual or local. I continue to teach, mentor, and inspire students from around the world. Technology allows me to work remotely, and I use that to my advantage, bringing fresh ideas and diverse perspectives to my teaching practice. Education is my calling, and I believe it’s a lifelong commitment. It’s important to me that I keep challenging young minds and shaping future leaders, no matter where I live. Raising a family in this environment means instilling values of curiosity, compassion, and resilience. I want my children to grow up with an appreciation for nature, culture, and community. They’ll learn to swim in the sea, speak multiple languages, and develop a global perspective. They’ll see their parents living with purpose and authenticity, which I hope will inspire them to do the same in their own lives. My dream life is not about having everything, but about having what truly matters, peace of mind, meaningful work, and loving relationships. I envision a lifestyle that prioritizes health and balance. Afternoons might be spent volunteering in the local community, reading under a palm tree, or exploring the coral reefs as a family. Evenings would be filled with shared meals, deep conversations, and stargazing on the shore. Ultimately, my dream is to create a legacy of love, learning, and impact. I want to live in a way that honors both my professional purpose and my personal joy. In Belize, with the ocean as my backdrop, I see a future that is both grounded and expansive, where I am not only living my dream but also helping others realize theirs through the power of education.

Obtaining my PhD has always been my ultimate educational goal, and for a long time, it truly felt like a dream. However, that dream began to waver when I reached the dissertation stage. Initially, I was both apprehensive and excited about being assigned my first mentor, particularly because he looked like me. While this felt promising, I knew he came from a different culture, and based on past experiences, I anticipated potential challenges. Despite my concerns, I prayed for a harmonious working relationship even before our first meeting. To my surprise, during our initial Zoom call, he seemed positive and frequently mentioned Jesus. I felt safe and reassured knowing he was a fellow believer in Christ. However, as the quarter progressed, his attitude toward my success shifted. He began missing deadlines for reviewing my work and failed to provide the timely, constructive feedback I needed. When I sought help from higher-ups, his response became spiteful, sending unhelpful emails while withholding feedback entirely. By the end of the first quarter, I was still stuck at stage one, with no formal progress due to his negligence. Matters worsened when, in retaliation, he submitted my incomplete work to the committee without proper review. He often described the dissertation process as a "rite of passage," but his actions felt more like hazing than guidance. When I requested a new mentor, I was told I had to continue working with him for another semester to rule out misunderstandings. Determined to persevere, I prayed, fasted, and documented every issue. God answered my prayers by bringing a classmate into my life who was experiencing similar struggles. With their support, I could corroborate the patterns of ill intent. By the end of the second quarter, I was still at stage one, but I now had tangible evidence of my mentor’s actions. During Christmas break, I sought God’s guidance for change. On January 5th, I received the breakthrough I had prayed for: not only was I assigned a new mentor, but I was also reimbursed for the two quarters I had lost. My classmate also received the same news. I was ecstatic knowing that God had not forsaken me or my request. Since then, working with my new mentor has been a completely different experience—everything has run smoothly, as it should. This journey reminded me of the power of prayer, perseverance, and faith, even in the most challenging times.

Although my educational background and career pursuits have primarily been in the field of criminal justice, they have ultimately led me to an unexpected yet fulfilling role as a professor. While I always envisioned pursuing this path after earning my PhD, God orchestrated events that placed me here much sooner than anticipated. Becoming a professor was always my second dream job after achieving my initial career goals. Earlier this year, my mentor, who was retiring, approached me with an opportunity to take over her courses. After seeking confirmation from God, I signed my contract to teach forensic health courses, and this first semester has been nothing short of a dream. Sharing my personal and professional experiences with college students has been deeply rewarding and affirming. I feel like I am exactly where I am meant to be. Every educational and professional step I’ve taken has prepared me for this moment, allowing me to be the mentor I once needed as a young scholar. Being part of this remarkable faculty has shown me how truly blessed I am—not only to hold this position but also to contribute to the growth of an already thriving program. Our forensic health minor is highly sought after, attracting students from various disciplines, though we currently limit enrollment to students within the program. This demand has inspired us to begin planning for a dual master’s and doctoral program, which I am thrilled to help develop. In this role, I look forward to integrating my criminal justice expertise into the forensic health curriculum and contributing to the program's future success. I firmly believe that educators have one of the most impactful professions, with the unique opportunity to shape and inspire their students’ lives. I am grateful to be on this journey and excited for what lies ahead.

Although my educational background and career pursuits have primarily been in the field of criminal justice, they have ultimately led me to an unexpected yet fulfilling role as a professor. While I always envisioned pursuing this path after earning my PhD, God orchestrated events that placed me here much sooner than anticipated. Becoming a professor was always my second dream job after achieving my initial career goals. Earlier this year, my mentor, who was retiring, approached me with an opportunity to take over her courses. After seeking confirmation from God, I signed my contract to teach forensic health courses, and this first semester has been nothing short of a dream. Sharing my personal and professional experiences with college students has been deeply rewarding and affirming. I feel like I am exactly where I am meant to be. Every educational and professional step I’ve taken has prepared me for this moment, allowing me to be the mentor I once needed as a young scholar. Throughout my previous roles, I often considered myself an educator in an informal capacity, sharing knowledge on topics I was passionate about. However, I had never been given the opportunity to teach in a formal academic setting. My only prior teaching experience was a brief stint teaching English to Chinese ESL students, which brought me immense joy. This semester, teaching material that comes naturally to me while simultaneously deepening my own understanding has been both challenging and exhilarating. Being part of this remarkable faculty has shown me how truly blessed I am—not only to hold this position but also to contribute to the growth of an already thriving program. Our forensic health minor is highly sought after, attracting students from various disciplines, though we currently limit enrollment to students within the program. This demand has inspired us to begin planning for a dual master’s and doctoral program, which I am thrilled to help develop. In this role, I look forward to integrating my criminal justice expertise into the forensic health curriculum and contributing to the program's future success. I firmly believe that educators have one of the most impactful professions, with the unique opportunity to shape and inspire their students’ lives. I am grateful to be on this journey and excited for what lies ahead. This journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I am profoundly grateful to be living my dream. The only thing missing now is a husband and children to share it with—but I trust that, too, will come in its own time.

Although my educational background and career pursuits have primarily been in the field of criminal justice, they have ultimately led me to an unexpected yet fulfilling role as a professor. While I always envisioned pursuing this path after earning my PhD, God orchestrated events that placed me here much sooner than anticipated. Becoming a professor was always my second dream job after achieving my initial career goals. Earlier this year, my mentor, who was retiring, approached me with an opportunity to take over her courses. After seeking confirmation from God, I signed my contract to teach forensic health courses, and this first semester has been nothing short of a dream. Sharing my personal and professional experiences with college students has been deeply rewarding and affirming. I feel like I am exactly where I am meant to be. Every educational and professional step I’ve taken has prepared me for this moment, allowing me to be the mentor I once needed as a young scholar. Throughout my previous roles, I often considered myself an educator in an informal capacity, sharing knowledge on topics I was passionate about. However, I had never been given the opportunity to teach in a formal academic setting. My only prior teaching experience was a brief stint teaching English to Chinese ESL students, which brought me immense joy. That experience showed me that it’s easy to take for granted something that is already easy for me to do. The students not only wanted to learn their lessons but also had an intense desire to learn as much as they could about where I was from. This semester, teaching material that comes naturally to me while simultaneously deepening my own understanding has been both challenging and exhilarating. Being part of this remarkable faculty has shown me how truly blessed I am—not only to hold this position but also to contribute to the growth of an already thriving program. Our forensic health minor is highly sought after, attracting students from various disciplines, though we currently limit enrollment to students within the program. This demand has inspired us to begin planning for a dual master’s and doctoral program, which I am thrilled to help develop. In this role, I look forward to integrating my criminal justice expertise into the forensic health curriculum and contributing to the program's future success. I firmly believe that educators have one of the most impactful professions, with the unique opportunity to shape and inspire their students’ lives. I am grateful to be on this journey and excited for what lies ahead.