I majored in Spanish Literature at Knox College in Galesburg, IL. I double minored, however, in both Religious Studies and Anthropology & Sociology. I guess you could say that I like to keep my studies well-rounded. Since then, I have taken some classes in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL). I was also certified with a Corporate English Training Specialization.

I have worked with a large variety of student populations. I taught swimming lessons to students aged preschool through adults for seven years. I worked as a teacher's assistant at Carl Sandburg College for my last two undergraduate years. After graduation, I worked for two years in the Adult Education department at the College of Lake County. I helped adult community members to learn English and earn their GEDs. At a high school near my home, I took over the classes of a Spanish teacher as she went on maternity leave. It went well enough that the district asked me to return when she had her second child, which I did. I also spent a year teaching Business English in Madrid, Spain. The experience developed my teaching skills as well as my language skills in both English and Spanish.