It’s difficult to say when my path towards becoming a teacher began. When I was little and played in my room, I pretended to be a teacher and would teach lessons to my stuffed animal students. In my 3rd grade yearbook, next to my photo I said I wanted to become a teacher. In school when I finished my work early, I enjoyed helping other classmates and I really wanted them to learn and understand the concepts. My parents are science teachers, which ironically is my least favorite subject, but I got to see how rewarding teaching was and what a great community can come from it. I always enjoyed seeing my parents reconnect with their former students when they became adults, whether it was hosting them at our house, getting dinner with them, or congratulating them on Facebook when they had children of their own. I saw how much time and dedication my parents and their colleagues poured into the profession. I spent a lot of time outside normal school hours at school. When I went to college at Chico State, I majored in nutrition. I kept waiting to love my classes, but apart from one (nutrition counseling and education), I never did. My senior year of college, my friend who was studying to become a teacher, encouraged me to apply to the program she worked at, which placed staff to work at an elementary schools in our college town. I applied and I loved it my experience! I decided to explore the possibility of becoming a teacher. In my last semester of college I took an education class called “Democratic Perspectives in K-12 Education” that I loved. My passion for working with children in an educational setting was growing, while my passion for pursuing a career in nutrition was dimming. I could see myself becoming a teacher, whereas I couldn’t see myself becoming a dietitian or having a career in nutrition. I tried various jobs throughout high school and college and realized the only fulfilling ones I had done involved kids, especially in an educational setting. After graduating college I moved back to San Diego, excited to find a job working at an elementary school. I applied to work as an academic coach at High Tech High Elementary Mesa. I was excited about this job because I got to be involved in the classroom as much as I possibly could without having my teaching credential yet. I felt so lucky to be able to work with an amazing team of 4th grade teachers in a supportive school community. I loved being in the classroom so I got my substitute permit. Experiences in those 4th grade classrooms along with subbing across various elementary grade levels gave me the confidence to become a teacher and I was eager to have my own classroom. I applied and was accepted to High Tech High’s Graduate School of Education's teaching credential and Master’s program. I am so grateful for being able to do my student teaching at High Tech High Elementary Mesa because I love the school and have built strong relationships with students and staff. I learned so much during my first year as an academic coach and have learned even more as a student teacher.