I returned to college in January 2014, to complete an A.A.S. in Paralegal Studies at Georgia Piedmont Technical College. I graduated with honors, and I was named the Student of the Year by the Technical College System of Georgia. While I spent a year representing TCSG and technical education around the state, I transferred to Mercer University to complete my B.A. in Liberal Studies in 2017. I also started my first full-time job in more than a decade, working for the Attorney General of Georgia, where I remained for 8 1/2 years. I returned to Mercer and completed my M.S. in Criminal Justice and Public Safety in 2020 and then began teaching Paralegal Studies at GPTC in January 2021. During grad school, I developed a paralegal mentoring program, which I further developed into a paralegal intern program at the Attorney General's office. In April 2024, I began a new role as Paralegal Studies Program Coordinator for Atlanta Technical College. I am a firm believer in the role education plays in making better citizens, just as I am passionate about the role paralegals play in the American legal system. Similarly, I am driven to work in the public sector, where my talents can have an impact on others. Helping students transition into a new career--especially non-traditional students like I was--is personally and professionally fulfilling.