A Lil' More About Me & My Mission:
I come from a family, a legacy (if you will) of teachers. My mom, paternal grandmother, aunts, uncles, etc. have made their marks in their communities through their special charisma in the classroom. Not only is teaching in my blood, but growing up through the school system, it was teachers who naturally became my heroes. The best of them had captivating personalities, modeled a strong devotion to their students, and showcased a contagious love of learning.
Looking back at my high school days, I honestly can’t recall one complicated geometry equation, but I can share almost verbatim how beautiful the Christmas markets are in Germany, with the chorus of carolers, the glowing white lights, and the warmth of the paper cup of Glühwein in my German teacher’s hands. Her other stories included how in Germany, mittagessen (lunch) is the biggest meal of the day. And that during her first shopping spree in the U.S., she was shocked that the amount she had to pay did not match how the price tags added up (thanks to sales tax). With these little anecdotes, my German teacher ultimately inspired me to see more of the world and to observe these fascinating comparisons between cultures firsthand. She also reinforced how when it comes to educating young minds, personal storytelling truly is effective.
It’s been a winding path to becoming a teacher myself. I’ve dabbled in the film industry and copywriting before ultimately tapping into my familial trade. Through the certification process, I discovered a real passion for working with students and being part of the classroom community. A bonus was that my heroes suddenly became my co-workers! My fellow teachers, in Texas and around the world, are some of the most devoted, generous, and enlightening people I've ever met.
The global demand for English learning has granted me the privilege of becoming a traveling teacher. My aim is to continue learning about the world (and the ways the world learns), all while sharing various skills, knowledge, perspective, and stories with my students, to help them discover their own love of learning in their own unique ways,
on their own beautiful, winding paths.
The Path Continues...
Through my travels, exposure to diverse cultures, and the development of my own education and Yoga practice, I've gained priceless physical and mental health benefits. I feel driven to share what I'm learning with the school communities I meet along the way.
Here are some of my reflections: throughout every era of human existence, there has been a confluence of tremendous pain and suffering, as well as profound beauty and joy. This same yin and yang of darkness and light is ever-present in our modern technology, which inherently impacts our modern existence for better and worse. We now interact daily with tools that help us connect more globally than ever before. These devices help to propel us around the world while staying ever-connected to our communities and support systems back home and everywhere we’ve ever been. We’ve also gained information and insight into current events; wars, catastrophes, pandemics, that help to shape our perspectives and guide our daily actions. We’re also treated to unlimited educational resources that help to expand our consciousness and capabilities at a rate we’ve never experienced before.
Meanwhile, our daily/hourly use of these devices disconnects us from our present realities, and takes a physical toll on our bodies; our eyes, shoulders, back, neck, etc. And of course, with the information comes the misinformation (and/or information overload) which actively warps our perspectives and guides us to lives of fear, isolation, and immobility. This reality deeply affects our physical and mental health as adults, and it severely impacts the health and well-being of young students.
As a budding Yoga instructor, my goal is to help bridge the divide between darkness and light, isolation and community, and our virtual and natural realities. Making myself, my time, resources, and skills accessible in the virtual format, in order to forge real moments of connection, mindfulness, gratitude, and togetherness, ideally outside in nature. As a classroom TEFL teacher, my goal is to provide kids and teenagers around the world with simple tools and techniques that will help to ease anxiety, be in tune with their bodies, open up their curious minds, and gain a little English vocabulary while they’re at it. This would ideally be while sharing real space with their peers, forming strong connections, fun memories, and a sense of mutual respect. As an online private tutor, my goal is to utilize these exciting digital tools to best serve my students, while also delivering a warm, authentic human connection.
Whew! Enough about me! Now what can I offer YOU?