I was a figure skating coach to begin my workforce experience and, like all rookies in all industries, I started out with small projects and even smaller students. I taught 3- and 4-year-olds who were stepping on the ice for the first time. I loved watching and helping them grow from struggling toddlers to confident young adults. I loved seeing them finally master each skill and progress to the next level. It was gratifying.That first job led me to a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education. Again, I felt a sense of satisfaction knowing I played a small role in shaping my students’ lives. Over my tenure as a high school teacher, I came in contact with nearly a thousand students. That’s a lot of lives. I know I didn’t reach all of them, but I’m confident I made a connection with some. And that is part of what defines a successful teacher.Fast forward six years through a wedding, a dog, two houses, two states, a daughter, and a six-month pregnancy. That's when I was laid off due to budget cuts in my district. That was a tough blow.I turned that disappointment into an opportunity to be home with my daughters. I had marketing writing experience and I was pretty darn good at resume writing so I freelanced in the evenings. During the days, I dug in the sand, built play-doh cakes, and took my time with everything because we all know toddlers stick to their own pace. It turned into the most difficult and best three years of my life. During that time I finished my Master's in Curriculum and Instruction Development where I enhanced the method of instructional delivery, improved data analysis through implementing needs assessments, and utilize learner-centric environments.