I grew up right here in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Other than a brief 8 months in Conway when I was little, I am proudly able to say that I have lived in this town all of my life.
After I graduated from Jonesboro High School, I began pursuing my undergraduate degree at Arkansas State University in the Fall of 2015. I decided to study abroad in Canterbury, England for a semester during my junior year of college. I received my Bachelor's of Science degree in Global Supply Chain Management in 2015. Yes, you heard that right! My undergraduate degree is in business. I decided to follow my heart for teaching a little later in the game, and I completed the Master's of Arts in Teaching Program in 2020!
I developed quite the bug for traveling after studying abroad. I have a running list of countries I would like to visit, and an African safari trip may or may not be at the top. I would also love to do more domestic travel. After traveling so much in Europe, I realized how little I have seen of our homeland! I would love to be able to show my students a little part of the world. Gardening is also one of my favorite things to do in the spring and summertime. Greenery makes my heart happy!
This should be under the "free time" category because I love some good food! Chips and dips have to take the cake for being a top favorite for me. Have you ever had the guacamole from Cantina Laredo? Let me just tell you that it is legendary. I also have a huge love for candy!! Sour Patch Kids, Skittles, Sour Gummy Worms, seeing a trend here?
I never knew exactly what profession I wanted to pursue growing up. Many people know from the beginning what they want to do in life. Many people can picture themselves in their career from a young age. That was never me. Sure, I pictured different options from time to time. But nothing ever felt right and nothing ever lasted. I even made it through three full years of college before I realized I was working towards a degree in the wrong field. Kids were the only constant source of joy I had ever known. I was always the babysitter. I was always the "favorite" cousin of the little ones in our family. I grew up volunteering to lead 20 something kids around Vacation Bible School every summer. And my first job was working in the daycare program at our church. I am not sure what made it click for me, but I finally realized my senior year of college that kids brought me so much joy because THAT is what I was meant to be doing. After I made that connection for myself, it was easy to start picturing that career of mine that I had always wondered about.