I come from a long line of teachers. My father, sister, grandfather, aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces all chose teaching as their life's work.

Even at a very early age it was becoming apparent that teaching would become a large part of my future. I remember sitting in on one of my father's classes. I was so proud of my dad as I watched him interact with his students. It was obvious the class loved him as they hung onto every word from his mouth. I hoped and dreamed to be just like him one day.

At 15 it became more clear that the teaching profession would become an integral part of my future. I was a gymnast and inevitably I would gravitate over to one of my teammates who was struggling with a new trick. I would spend my practice time teaching my teammate how to get that new trick and it occurred time and time again. I actually got as excited as my teammate was when they got that new skill.

That excitement just continued to grow as I was offered a free masters degree program (plus compensation) at West Virginia University when I agreed to assistant coach their women's gymnastics team and teach classes. The team had never made it to regionals before I got there. By my second year not only did the team make it to regionals but WON regionals then went on to Nationals and ended up being the third best team in the U.S.A.

There were several more success stories during my two decades of teaching/coaching and counseling. I opened my own private gyms and developed numerous national and international level athletes and champions.

Teaching continues to make me happy and proud of what I've accomplished and the 100's of student's lives that I've touched.

Looking back, sitting in my dad's class as a 12 year old helped me make one of the most important and fulfilling decisions of my life. becoming a teacher.