In January 2024, I made a decision to start showing up for myself. As a teacher, coach, mentor, and friend, I had spent years pouring my energy into the people around me. My students. Their families. My coworkers. The people I love. Somewhere along the way, I realized I had become incredibly good at caring for everyone else while neglecting my own physical and mental well-being.
 

What started as a commitment to improve my health quickly became something much bigger. Running has reinforced the belief that I am capable of hard things. It taught me discipline when motivation disappeared. It taught me confidence when self-doubt crept in. It reminded me that growth rarely happens inside our comfort zones. Most importantly, it taught me that when I take care of myself, I am better equipped to show up for the people who count on me every day.
 

As a middle school educator, I spend my days helping young people recognize their own potential. I tell my students constantly that they are capable, resilient, and stronger than they think. I challenge them to embrace growth, persevere through setbacks, and believe in themselves even when things feel difficult. Running has forced me to practice what I preach.
 

From nervously walking into my first run club at Cap City Runners knowing absolutely no one, to crossing finish lines I once thought were impossible, the running community has transformed my life. It has provided friendship, accountability, support, and joy during seasons when I needed it most. That is why I am honored to be running the Chicago Marathon as part of Team Chicago Run. Chicago Run's mission is rooted in something I deeply believe: that movement has the power to change lives. Through youth programming, mentorship, and access to running opportunities, Chicago Run helps young people build confidence, develop healthy habits, and discover the same lessons that running has taught me—that they can do hard things, that they belong, and that their potential is limitless.Those lessons matter.

I've seen them firsthand as the coach of a Girls on the Run team. I've watched young girls who doubted themselves cross a 5K finish line surrounded by cheering families and teammates. I've seen the pride in their faces when they realized they were stronger than they ever imagined. That moment—the moment someone discovers what they're capable of—is powerful. It changes people.
 

Running the Chicago Marathon will be one of my biggest challenges yet, but this race is about much more than 26.2 miles. It's about helping create opportunities for young people to experience the confidence, community, and joy that running has brought into my life. It's about investing in programs that empower the next generation to believe in themselves. It's about proving, once again, that we can do hard things.
 

I am raising $3,000 for Team Chicago Run, and I would be incredibly grateful for your support. Every donation, no matter the size, helps provide life-changing opportunities for youth and brings me one step closer to the starting line in Chicago. Thank you for believing in this mission, for supporting this journey, and for helping me turn miles into meaningful impact.
 

See you in Chicago <3