How did you discover your passion for what you do, and what opportunities have helped shape your career?

I always knew I wanted to work with kids; they have always been my passion. After college, I worked at a Rape Crisis Center as a school-based educator. I loved working with those students, but the person who brought me into the schools was usually the school counselor, and I quickly learned that I loved everything about their job! I then went to grad school to be a school counselor.

Reflecting back on 2020, how did you adapt to so many aspects of life moving virtual?

When my school first shut down, we were told we would be shut down for two weeks at the start – and then that turned into maybe we’ll come back in a month, and then it turned into we’re virtual for the rest of the school year. I was so stressed out, thinking about all my students that I knew didn’t have food at home, who didn’t have internet at home and those whose home wasn’t a safe or loving place. Immediately I worked out a plan to still get our weekend food bags out to students, driving around to deliver them house to house. I also jumped into learning everything I could about different virtual platforms to engage with my students.