About me

I grew up in Portland, Oregon as the oldest daughter to a younger brother. Living amongst so much natural beauty provided me with an immense love for the outdoors and the many different ways to appreciate and experience it. My main hobby growing up was playing the piano and singing loudly, much to my brother's chagrin. I also grew up with a mother who committed to reading to me for an hour every single night, and surely enough sparked a passion for literature in me. It was no surprise when I left Portland for Lawrence, Kansas to attend the University of Kansas that I entered the scene as an English major. Upon moving back home to Portland in 2018, I continued my classes at Portland State University and furthered my English major while setting my sights (and hours) on an Early Childhood Education master's.
So much of what I love about being alive has led me to the profession of childcare, upon moving home to Portland after college I continued the babysitting business I had built up throughout high school around age 14. I worked for families of all sizes and types, some with infants some with up to 6 children of all ages. I had a family, in particular, I worked with often, around three days a week. I was responsible for taking their children to their various sporting events, supervising playdates with friends and neighbors, cooking meals, and staying over for the occasional overnight when the parents were out of town. Eventually, this family referred me to a job as a teacher's aid at their children's preschool where a teacher was leaving on maternity leave. Here, I primarily worked with children ages three to five. My responsibilities included: helping out with potty training, leading small group activities, preparing sensory and motor skill activities, making and serving snacks and meals, playing and supervising outdoor play, going on nature walks, reading countless books, and singing many songs. After the school year ended so did my time at the preschool. I continued babysitting for many of the families from the preschool, and eventually was asked to nanny for a couple with a 7-month-old infant for a month of the summer. I changed his diapers, warmed and prepared his milk and baby foods, managed his sleep schedule, put him down for naps, took him on many walks to the park, cleaning up after myself and the child (dishes, laundry, picking up around the house), facilitated tummy time, and took lots of pictures for his parents. Finally, I entered my second position as a preschool teacher in 2021. This time the lead teacher of the wobbler room, for children ages one to two. I changed diapers, read books, planned gross and fine motor skill activities as well as art projects for the class, organized the classroom, fed the children three meals a day, supervised outdoor play, and communicated with parents through an app where I was able to post photos and live updates of their children's daily life as well as bowel movements, and sleep patterns. Currently, this summer I have become responsible for summer camp, available to children ages five to eleven. I plan a new itinerary for every day alongside my co-teacher, in which I drive a school bus to various local parks for exploration as well as supervise field trips to museums, the movies, the pool, and other fun outings!
All my experiences in childcare have taught me the importance of protecting children's curiosity and creativity. The opportunity to learn through song, dance, books, abundant laughter, and exploration comes with the territory of spending time with kids because it is what comes so naturally to them. My goal is to not only embrace but encourage that energy. Children look to us to set an example of how to move through the world, and I set the intention every day to demonstrate patient and active listening, compassion, and a healthy sense of adventure!