I have been a registered nurse for 29 years. I am currently the Director of the Georgia Healthcare Science Technology Education Foundation. I taught 12 years as a secondary school nurse educator. I was named the Jasper County High School Teacher of the Year in 2018 which led to me becoming the 2018 Jasper County Charter System District Teacher of the Year in 2018. Even though this was an honor for which I am humbled by, I feel that I was led to become an educator for a bigger purpose. Working with our future healthcare professionals was a small part of that purpose. In 2019, I, along with three colleagues, received an Award of Valor from our county Sheriff's Office, an Outstanding Georgia Citizen proclamation from the Georgia Secretary of State, and a Commendation from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. All were given for stepping into a critical life-threatening emergency of a student that resulted in the student's life being saved. I had often wondered why I was being led to teach, and on that day, I received my answer. I don't take credit for saving the student's life; I thank God that I have been blessed with the talents of being a nurse and an educator allowing me to use those talents for the good of others fully. I also have experience in the hospital working in the areas of medical/surgical, outpatient, and pain management. I have worked as a nurse manager in a pain management clinic as the nurse manager of our county health department, and the ADON in my community nursing home. Almost half of my career has been spent as a nurse educator.