WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.350 align:middle line:90%
[MUSIC PLAYING]

00:00:02.350 --> 00:00:05.620 align:middle line:84%
My "why" was not just to teach
reading, to teach writing,

00:00:05.620 --> 00:00:06.490 align:middle line:90%
to teach math.

00:00:06.490 --> 00:00:09.520 align:middle line:84%
I do all those
things, but my "why"

00:00:09.520 --> 00:00:13.390 align:middle line:84%
was to help students see they
belong here in this world

00:00:13.390 --> 00:00:15.830 align:middle line:84%
and they're a valued
person in this world,

00:00:15.830 --> 00:00:18.380 align:middle line:84%
really let them know
I see you, welcome.

00:00:18.380 --> 00:00:21.180 align:middle line:90%
I'm glad you're here.

00:00:21.180 --> 00:00:28.410 align:middle line:84%
I was diagnosed with stage IV
breast cancer in April of 2022,

00:00:28.410 --> 00:00:33.450 align:middle line:84%
and it was a life-changing
moment, to say the least.

00:00:33.450 --> 00:00:35.110 align:middle line:90%
It is terminal cancer.

00:00:35.110 --> 00:00:36.440 align:middle line:90%
It will not be cured.

00:00:36.440 --> 00:00:39.520 align:middle line:84%
I had the opportunity
to stop teaching.

00:00:39.520 --> 00:00:44.110 align:middle line:84%
My doctor said, you can stop and
spend time doing what you love.

00:00:44.110 --> 00:00:48.280 align:middle line:84%
And that, to me,
didn't make sense.

00:00:48.280 --> 00:00:52.170 align:middle line:84%
I'm going to spend whatever time
I have left, whatever time I

00:00:52.170 --> 00:00:57.690 align:middle line:84%
have in my future, doing this,
because these students are

00:00:57.690 --> 00:00:58.660 align:middle line:90%
my life.

00:00:58.660 --> 00:01:00.720 align:middle line:84%
They are the reason
that I'm here,

00:01:00.720 --> 00:01:02.790 align:middle line:84%
and they are the reason
that I keep being here

00:01:02.790 --> 00:01:06.220 align:middle line:84%
and will continue every
single day for them.

00:01:06.220 --> 00:01:08.100 align:middle line:84%
I really think that
being a teacher

00:01:08.100 --> 00:01:11.250 align:middle line:84%
is about shaping
human beings that

00:01:11.250 --> 00:01:15.150 align:middle line:84%
are going to help create
a kinder and more loving

00:01:15.150 --> 00:01:16.540 align:middle line:90%
world for the future.

00:01:16.540 --> 00:01:17.770 align:middle line:90%
They belong here.

00:01:17.770 --> 00:01:18.910 align:middle line:90%
They belong at Mount View.

00:01:18.910 --> 00:01:20.200 align:middle line:90%
They belong in my community.

00:01:20.200 --> 00:01:24.830 align:middle line:84%
They belong in this world
because they make a difference

00:01:24.830 --> 00:01:26.420 align:middle line:90%
and because they're important.

00:01:26.420 --> 00:01:27.945 align:middle line:84%
I know that's my
purpose in life.

00:01:27.945 --> 00:01:32.916 align:middle line:90%
[MUSIC PLAYING]

00:01:32.916 --> 00:01:40.000 align:middle line:90%