I knew I was a linguist at a young age. I loved to spell and learn the meanings of words in English but that developed to other languages too. Learning Spanish became not just an elective class that I had to take but it became a lifelong learning passion. Growing up in the southwest of the United States, I started learning Spanish at age 9 in the classroom; went on my first student exchange at 10; continued taking Spanish throughout high school and completed a minor in my undergraduate degree. I went on to serve in the Peace Corps in Ecuador and then returned to teach Spanish to high school students as a long-term substitute teacher. I enjoy speaking Spanish and tutoring others to grow to enjoy the language too.