I've always loved building new relationships with others. While earning my Bachelor's in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing, I volunteered with the international student program at Corban University. I was 20, and my job was to help students settle into American life while learning English alongside them.

Watching them go from nervous and unsure to confident and at home completely opened my eyes. I fell in love with understanding different cultures and ways of life, and realized the best way to connect with people around the world was to help them find their voice in a new language.

I lived in Italy and Austria for a summer, staying with host families who taught me their language and way of life. Being the student instead of the teacher for once only deepened my passion. I felt firsthand what my own students feel every day.

I earned my TEFL certification and began teaching adults from all over the world - Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Moroccan, Brazilian, German, and many more. Seeing each of them grow more capable and self-assured, no matter where they started, sealed my future. I'd now taught every age, and loved watching every one of them succeed.

Fast forward to now: I live in Japan! I moved here to teach children and adults and to start creating content for teachers and students alike. Learning Japanese and Italian myself gave me a front-row seat to the everyday struggles language learning brings - and it's made me a better guide for the students going through it now.

I'm so lucky to have a job built entirely around other people's growth. It doesn't even feel like work.