About me

I grew up in Northern New Jersey as the oldest of two kids. At an early age, I became passionate about both music and sports. I grew up playing basketball, softball and lacrosse and was a proud member of my high school varsity lacrosse team for four years. My family heavily influenced my love of music and I was eager in learning to play the drums, piano and most of all, guitar, which I still play whenever I can. After my schooling, I traveled to Paris, Amsterdam and Barcelona, with money I had saved from babysitting and waiting tables, where I had wonderful life experiences and met new people who I still call friends to this day. When I returned home, I began working as a Teacher's Assistant at a daycare in Maplewood, New Jersey.

Growing up with a younger brother five years my junior, I learned responsibility and the joy of caring for and protecting someone you love early on. I spent my high school years babysitting, tutoring, assisting teachers in summer school programs, and volunteering at programs designed for elementary school kids on the spectrum. After high school, I worked at the South Mountain YMCA Preschool as a Teacher's Assistant, where I cared for children three months old to five years old in several different classrooms. I would change diapers, warm breastmilk bottles, put children down for nap time, administer snacks, oversee lunchtime, get everyone ready for outdoor playtime, read during story time, and organize creative, social and developmental activities. I was lucky enough to form meaningful and rewarding bonds with every child I worked with and still hold them very close to my heart.

All children deserve to be treated with kindness, shown compassion and demonstrated patience. I understand the importance and beauty in letting children express themselves by creating a supportive and nurturing environment that fuels their creativity and builds their confidence as well as their social and cognitive skills. My goal is to have each child I care for feel safe, seen, understood, and happy.