Honoring the Journey

Mental health isn’t a side note in my story—it’s a central thread. Like many people, I’ve faced moments that challenged my sense of self, my confidence, and my path. For a time, I believed I had to hide those struggles to be taken seriously in professional spaces. I feared that being open would lead others to question my abilities.

But growth comes when we stop shrinking.

Through therapy, reflection, and community, I’ve come to see mental health as a crucial part of both personal and professional development. I’ve learned that being whole doesn’t mean being perfect—it means showing up with honesty, care, and courage. And I carry that philosophy into every space I enter.

A Trauma-Informed Educator

My experiences have shaped how I show up as a teacher. I approach education with a trauma-informed lens, understanding that students come into the classroom with their own lived experiences. My role isn’t just to teach content—it's to create a safe, respectful space where students can take intellectual and emotional risks.

We can’t learn if we don’t feel safe.

We can’t grow if we don’t feel seen.

Whether we’re discussing literature, writing personal narratives, or navigating academic stress, I make room for students to process, reflect, and share at their own pace. Education, to me, is just as much about self-understanding as it is about skill-building.

Embracing Wholeness

My growth hasn’t been linear—and that’s okay. I've moved through different academic and professional paths, exploring law, academia, and eventually returning to education, my first love. I’ve learned to embrace complexity, rather than explain it away. I'm trilingual. I’m a reader, a teacher, a deep feeler, a curious mind, a dog mom to Lulu (a redhead like me!), and someone who still believes in the magic of books like *Pippi Longstocking*.

I used to think growth meant proving I was unaffected.

Now I know it means showing up fully human.

For You, Too

If you’re reading this and navigating your own journey—know this:

You are not behind. You are not too much.

There is strength in softness. There is wisdom in the pause.

And there is power in growing at your own pace.

Let’s continue growing, together.