I lived and worked in Louisiana for 5 years after college. I had visited New Orleans several times before — my first real solo trip included — and felt pulled to it. I was in graduate school studying sociology at the time — after majoring in political science in undergrad — and never once imagined myself as a teacher. Definitely not a middle school math teacher 😂. But on one of those trips — more than 15 years ago somehow — I visited a college friend who was teaching in the city. Went out with their friends who were also all teachers. And I felt their passion. I have always been a very curious person that loves to learn, but I also kind of kept going to school because I had no idea what else I would do. I was good at school. But I never felt that passionate about any possible career. Until I saw these teachers. And I thought, maybe that’s something I should try. So I did. I interviewed for an alternative certification teaching program in New Orleans. They had a waiting list for...