I choose education because I knew my own passion for learning. Early on, I started my path through music. I knew I wanted to teacher music. Then, I had a geology class, and that changed my whole perspective. The idea that there are these processes so much bigger than ourselves occurring all around us captivated me. I had never experienced a class like geology before, and I knew I needed to provide this type of experience for other people. I decided to stay on track for becoming a teacher, but I changed my major to become a science teacher. Once I became a teacher, my district gave me the opportunity of returning to school to get a master's degree. Naturally, I choose geology as my area of concentration. When I completed my master's, it was actually my students that encouraged me to keep going. I knew I wanted to continue, but they were the ones that looked up to me and thought it was amazing that I was teaching and going to school. I would practice my own college presentations with them, saying how I was nervous myself to present. This is turn gave them the courage to present in class and show me that it was ok to be fearful in those types of experiences. Through teaching my students to pursue things they cared about, even if they were scared, I was able to find my own courage to apply for a PhD program.

My mom and husband have also always been such great influences and motivators in my life. My music teachers, my college professors, and my friends have all contributed to my own confidence to pursue higher education. They showed me that whatever I did, they would be proud. I choose to be a teacher and PhD student in Geology because I believe in something bigger than myself. There is so much beauty in this world and I want to be able to not only understand that beauty, but to share my understanding with others as well.