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Born in Burnsville, MN to a mother and father, joining a family with an older sister and dog.
*By 1996, I also had a younger sister and 2 younger brothers -
Began preschool and made my first 'school friends.' Prior to this, I had mostly imaginary friends. -
Joined my first dance class and made my first 'dance friends.' -
I had my haircut very short (because I didn't like having it brushed). I had friends who started making fun of me--this is my first memory of feeling like I don't belong because of the way I look. -
4th grade - The attacks on 9/11 are my first memory of watching the news and marked a major shift of what I viewed as part of my 'world' and what could happen in it. -
I started competition dance and continued until graduation. I dedicated most of my time outside of school to dance. -
In middle school, my friend group became more defined and rather cliquey. I lost some friends while trying to protect my place. -
By the time I started high school, I was struggling with anxiety and depression, exacerbated by tension, fights, and fear in my friend group. -
After a particularly challenging friend event and seeing how the toxicity was impacting a specific friend I cared deeply for, I changed my entire friend group. This also helped my mental health stabilize in an extremely important way. -
After high school graduation and moving onto a college campus, my concept and understanding of the world grew rapidly with the help of many new friends and experiences. -
More new friends, this time from around the world. -
My first job was at a high school as a special education teacher. I continue to work in this position at the same school today. -
I joined my school's Shared Leadership Team and the new Social-Emotional/PBIS Team. Involvement on these teams expanded my understanding of school systems and motivation to advocate for and support development of full inclusivity within school systems. -
I married my husband after we had been dating for nine years, largely long-distance. We learned side-by-side about the larger world and how it works while talking through our experiences during our 'new adult' phase. -
I graduated with a Master's degree in Education, with an emphasis on differentiation, in 2022. I chose this program to improve my ability to serve students with diverse and higher needs in inclusive settings. -
When my daughter was born, what I think about most and how I shape my days greatly shifted. -
As I begin this program working towards administrative licensures, I think about my past, my present, and my future.