My journey to learning UX and UI design began in 2020, when I volunteered to teach the online kindergarten unit at the school where I was working. With no infrastructure in place for the transition other than a blank learning management system and a number of app integrations purchased by our district, I set about creating an online learning environment for a group of users with specialized needs: none could read yet, many were not computer literate, and they would be assisted by adults unfamiliar with the platform. With only 3 weeks before launch, I rapidly learned the basic structure of the Canvas Learning Management System, gathered and created assets to design my pages, and outlined the architecture and flow of my site. My goal was an online environment that could not only be quickly learned by parents and caregivers to assist their children, but eventually operated independently by the students themselves before the end of the year.My journey through that year of e-learning allowed me to draw on many of the skills I had already possessed as an educator-- rapport with stakeholders, backwards planning, and consideration of individual needs-- as well as develop new skills, such as creating audio and video content, conducting live webinars on Zoom, and getting regular feedback from both students and parents to improve the online leaning experience.Since that time, I've continually grown my skills to improve my capabilities as a designer. I had used Canva to obtain graphics and PowerPoint to design interface components for my site, but knew that I needed more tools to become proficient as a designer. That led me to learning Adobe Illustrator, Lightroom, Premier Pro, InDesign, and other programs that would give me a range of sources for creative work.Eventually, I was ready for a career change and pursued my professional certification in UX/UI Design from the University of South Florida. My certification program helped me to learn Adobe XD, Figma, Miro, Invision, and other tools that support the UX process. I am excited that UX is a field in which I can use my research background, communication skills, well-developed empathy, and knowledge of good design to create and improve interfaces that meet their objectives (and delight the user!).