When I was a senior in HS, I signed up for a year long class called Health Occupations because I had some interest in the medical field and a couple of my friends were pretty sure they wanted to become doctors. As a part of that class, for 12 weeks in the spring I got to do a job shadow in the Athletic Training room at the University of Oregon. It didn't take long for me to be hooked on this occupation as something I wanted to do as an adult. As I navigated college my other passion, running, morphed into a desire to teach about fitness and healthy lifestyle choices. I also met a teacher at Tigard HS that gave me the picture of the job I wanted to find; teaching PE/Fitness classes and working as an athletic trainer. This combo seems like a natural, but it is rare for schools in the NW to have this combined position available.

After 2 years at Centennial HS in East Portland, I applied for a job at this school I had never heard of called Oregon Episcopal School. I did land the job and it is here that I have had the opportunity to work as a PE and Health teacher, track coach, and athletic trainer. Even though the hours are long some weeks, I enjoy the variety in my daily schedule and I feel lucky to work with great colleagues and awesome students. With the recent addition of the Farris Hall Fitness Center, I have this amazing opportunity to work in a great setting where I get to encourage a lifelong commitment to physical activity. Physical activity is often challenging, but it should provide a level of satisfaction that feeds our internal motivation to do it tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, and hopefully for decades to come.

Education:

• B.S. Portland State University

• Graduate studies in Exercise Science and Athletic Training