When my dental appointment reminder card arrived in the mail, at age two, I insisted to my mother that I needed to write back to my dentist. He kept my letter, filled with X's and O's - not hugs and kisses - just the only letters I could write, and showed it to me when I turned 18.

At age 9, I started my first newspaper. I collaborated with a friend by having her mail me her columns, which I then laid out beside mine. My mom was our typist, very generous of her considering the pay was abysmmal.

In high school, I was the editor of my school paper and learned a fancy graphic design layout to usher us into the modern era, taking us from a traditional paper layout to a computerized system. I was the president of the drama program and vice-president of National Honor Society, a cheerleader, and on the yearbook staff. I maxed out the opportunities provided by my small town school in the Ohio River Valley.

And while I dabbled in biology (before realizing the limits of my dyscalculia), I changed majors to Communication, my natural habitat. It's no wonder I thrived here. With internships in event planning and film/television, I saw where my strengths lie and have continued in much the same vein throughout my career, vaccillating between jobs that are strictly communication, and those involving education and public service.

Having spent the bulk of my career in education, I can say without hesitation that I love being a teacher. There's nothing so thrilling as seeing students make connections and create something entirely new because of what they've learned in my classroom. While I

Where I can best serve the organization of my employ is by acting formally or informally as a leader and a strong collaborator and communicator who helps diffuse conflict diplomatically and thoughtfully and who brings people together, galvanizing a team to reach a common goal by building consensus and support.

I'm considerate and meticulous in my work, pushing the boundaries of my knowledge and abilities. This week, I taught myself to build a website using a new platform, and to "float" a wall to repair drywall damage. I'm not perfect at either yet, but I jumped in fearlessly and completed both. I bring that same initiative, capability, willingness and positivity to all of my endeavors.