I began my own sojourn into the field of teaching , by of course, being a student first. I recall from a very young age, my father reading to me regularly from Shel Silverstein poetry books, and my mother leading me on visualiztions when I had a hard time sleeping. I first went to a Montessori preschool as a toddler and loved it--exploring through play was just what I enjoyed most . As a young child, I relished working with my hands and dug paths in the deserts of Arizona with my twin sister creating kingdoms among the palo verde trees and saguaros which  we would later drag my mother on, to appreciate all our hard work. I have always been a visual and hands-on learner. That curiosity and hands-on approach carried me through my youth. I worked on a dairy farm in New Zealand for a short time and attended a school which integrated real-life learning into everyday academics which continues to influence me today. As an adult, when I began taking classes on educational philosophy, I quickly came to realize that I was a reformist at heart--willing to keep what I felt like was good from the past --and examining how certain practices may need to change to accommodate for new student needs. My vision for a future class is one that is both holistically nurturing to the students and academically rigorous  as well as relevant. I hope to help students become life-long learners with a passion for discovering new ideas that interest them and enrich their lives. I am also very pragmatic and hope to instill in the students those things that will help them to succeed as well as develop skills for problem-solving so that when difficulties arise they will know how to climb those mountains and not give up or give in. This vision is one that is forever morphing into a more clear objective, and new ways of thinking as I am exposed to new strategies for teaching.