I鈥檓 a Durango, Co native, and a junior majoring in elementary education and minoring in leadership at the University of Colorado Boulder. I recognized my passion for working with children at an early age and was active coaching nordic skiing and trail running, working as a camp counselor, and teaching at a regenerative school of agriculture. Growing up in Durango, I developed a love and respect for the environment through an outdoor lifestyle, exercise, raising animals, and being an active community member. I chose the CU School of Education because the mission statement embodies my goals as an educator. The commitment to excellence, diversity, humanizing pedagogies, a holistic view of bilingualism, multicultural education, and reframing the way we teach - using different lenses is crucial. I hope to be an inspiration to my students, just as my teachers, coaches, and surroundings have been for me, because I believe that teaching is more than a job.