While drafting emails to students, parents, and administrators, it really made me consider how it would feel to be on the receiving end of what I was writing. I feel like this is especially valuable to do when drafting emails since tone can be harder to convey. It’s important to choose your words thoughtfully because … Continue reading Approaching Emails with Empathy →

Something I love to do and would like to be able to spend more time doing is making art. I came home early from school the other day and painted, and it reminded me what I love so much about the process of creating something. I can lose myself and find myself all at the … Continue reading Making Time for Art →

It's impossible to go through life without being uncomfortable at some points. For such an inevitable feeling, we sure do go to great lengths to avoid it. We dodge potentially contentious topics, avoid crucial conversations, ignore clear examples of misogyny, racism, homophobia, etc. all so that we can remain comfortable albeit maybe a tad guilty. … Continue reading Growth in Discomfort →

For class I am reading a book called Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett, Ph.D., who is the director at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. It just so happened that I was already reading it when we were asked to choose from the list of selected books, so I knew it was relevant to … Continue reading Permission to Feel →

In 2019, I did AmeriCorps NCCC, a program for people aged 18-26 where you are put on teams of 8-10 people and sent around the country to do service projects with different non-profit organizations. My first round was in Pearland, Texas where my team and I did Hurricane Harvey restoration projects for homeowners. I found … Continue reading Construction Classroom →

When I consider what I know about being a good teacher, I only have the experience of the student perspective to go off of. I worked in a classroom for a couple months this summer and I did learn a lot by observing the teacher I was paired with, but I hardly think that makes … Continue reading New Teacher Advice →

Before this semester started, I was working as a summer school tutor for first graders. My job was to assist the teacher in the classroom and have fun with the kids. I was nervous when I started the job because I had never considered myself to be good with that age group. All my experience … Continue reading Lessons from Summer School →

When I was in middle school, my mom and teachers encouraged me to apply for a scholarship funded by Dr. Ben Carson, the famous neurosurgeon and (now) politician. I read his book called “Gifted Hands” and watched a movie about him and basically, he became a hero to me. I was 12 and it was … Continue reading No Knowledge is Ever Wasted →