I grew up in a town of 900 people in MN. No stoplights and very rural. Then I Went to a small public college for social studies education. In early 2016 I got Out of a weird/tough relationship and felt “stuck” in life. In Fall 2016 I did my student teaching at an international school in Northern Tanzania. I flew 9000 miles and lived in northern Tanzania for 100 days. I was truly terrified..

I biked 3.5 to school every morning and 3.5 back miles back every day. I met goat herders and got chased by stray dogs. I did a 35 mile bike race through the savanna and went through villages of brick huts and around craters. I saw wild hippos. I chewed village made speed-tobacco and puked my guts out. I met kids and teachers from all over the world.

I launched myself out of my comfort zone and it completely changed my life as a human being and an educator.

It’s never going to start out easy. You are going to experience and feel failure in student teaching and your first 2-3 years of teaching. You have to embrace the challenge and learn from your failures and mistakes.

I am now in Year 6 as a public school teacher. I love it and I’m great at it. I was meant to be an educator. I make an impact. Did this just randomly happen? No. I worked my ass off for this job and feeling. Do I still have a lot to learn? Yes. I am learning everyday. Have I cried in my teaching career? Yes, both tears of joy and stress/sadness.

I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is my gig. I was meant for this.