The very origin of my name means “advisor,” so I kind of feel like it was destiny that I became a social worker. Or maybe it was when they made me a Conflict Manager in 5th grade and gave me a cool hat and sash to wear at recess that gave me the authority to mediate conflicts that arose on the playground... Either way, I have always had a propensity for helping others, particularly the underdog. I believe in the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity and that resilience isn’t just something we’re born with, but is something we can learn. That being said, sometimes social workers all get bunched together as idealists and social warriors and there might be social workers who wear these labels with pride (no judgment here). However, I would define myself more as an optimistic realist who chooses to fight her battles by educating future generations of social workers rather than taking to social media to share my opinions.Lastly, something I’m acutely aware of is that I am not everyone’s cup of tea and THAT’S OKAY! I totally respect that some people prefer coffee or fizzy water or a margarita while sitting on a beautiful beach watching the sunset. But if you do like tea, I think I’d say I’m like a chai latte with honey...strong, spicy, sweet, and soothing.