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I graduated from Central Bucks High School South in 2013, after growing up in the CBSD for the majority of my life. Prior to entering Mill Creek Elementary (our public elementary school) back in second grade, I went to a private school, Twin Spring Farm, for pre-first (aka kindergarten) and first grade. This is a photo taken with friends on graduation day at South in our main hallway.

Growing up, I always gravitated towards writing and reading. I loved writing stories about dirty soccer cleats that came to life, about the leprechaun living in my grandparents' house. Over the years, those stories turned into poems about the angst that comes with being in middle school, and short stories about navigating relationships with your parents as you grow up. While I don't make nearly enough time for creative writing today, I've taken up some recreational writing courses and love to read while on the subway.

Looking back, many of my favorite teachers and professors over the years have been those from my English classes. Ms. Reisinger, Ms. Perry, and Mrs. Esris are a few that come to mind when I think about teachers who pushed me and made learning exciting, but of course there were countless others along the way who shaped how I learned to learn.

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I graduated in 2017 from Penn State University with a Bachelor's degree in Public Relations and minors in English and Business and the Liberal Arts. I am so fortunate for the professors I had -- they challenged me, created opportunity for me, and supported me through every twist and turn. I keep in touch with a few of my College of Communications professors -- while they didn't necessarily teach me the subjects of English or education, they taught me critical communications skills, the art of storytelling, and how to make language accessible and understandable for the masses. I am forever Penn State proud!

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I love this quote for a lot of reasons -- but mostly, I love it because I believe in it. Words have always been sacred to me. I grew up with a love for reading and writing -- learning new words, identifying motifs, honing my writer's voice. Even today, working at a PR agency, my job is all about words: emails, crafting company stories and mission statements, writing pitches to reporters with potential article ideas. As I pursue my degree to become a secondary English teacher, I hope I can pass on that love of words -- or at the very least, the skills of communication -- to students.

When I think about what interests me most about being an English teacher and what I hope to achieve as a teacher, it's this -- the ability to bring passion and skills to life in other people, and help show them why words, communication, and reading matter.

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My dad is a math teacher at Wissahickon High School teaching AP Statistics and Algebra -- but that wasn't his first career. Before becoming a teacher, my dad ran a family bakery in Philadelphia (worth noting he was the donut maker, hence my backdrop) and had a career in finance. He went back to school when I was a baby to pursue his Masters in education, and here is is, nearly 30 years later, figuring out how to virtual teach. My dad is one of the biggest inspirations for my career change into education -- I've seen the impact he's left on students as a teacher and long-time basketball coach at the school, and I see the way students have impacted him. It's because of him I know how powerful teaching and education are; he's the reason I want to be a part of it.

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I'm currently based in Brooklyn, New York, and I work as a public relations manager at an agency in New York City. New York is an incredible place to be -- but like many big cities, our education system is antiquated and benefits those who have always benefited from it. Seeing the kids on my block and reading and listening to podcasts about the lack of resources, teachers, and student programs they have in their schools makes me upset. It makes me want to do something, to try to make a difference, however small. Being in New York has opened my eyes to the injustices and inequity so many students face. This continues to be a large motivator in my decision to go into education.

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- Laughing. Being around people who make me laugh.
- Eating. Chipotle, pizza, and bagels, mostly.
- Exploring. NYC is the biggest playground. There is always a bar, restaurant, park, museum, activity to be seen or done.
- Cheering. I'm a huge Penn State football fan (despite the 0-2 start this year) and Eagles fan (despite this entire season).
- Going to concerts. I'm one of those One Direction / Harry Styles crazy people (but proud of it). Also love John Mayer, Maggie Rogers, Bleachers, Jack's Mannequin...
- Traveling. Everywhere and anywhere, really. COVID has obviously put big trips on hold, but I've taken a couple of weekend roadtrips to camp or just get out of the city. The photo below was taken after I graduated college, when my long-time friends and I went abroad on a backpacking trip.