My path to Bellevue College has been full of twists and turns, and it likely doesn’t “fit” what many expect from a college professor. I attended the University of Florida straight out of high school, but I left after my freshman year because my classes were dull. I struggled for a few years, trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I worked as a professional dancer. I waited tables and bartended. I tried various office jobs, from receptionist to file clerk to secretary. I even took night classes at a nearby university and earned a paralegal certification. But after working as a paralegal, I realized that it was not something I wanted to do long-term, and so I began taking night classes at a local community college. It was there – as an older, “nontraditional” student at a community college – that I began to really love college. I took my first sociology class (not really even knowing what sociology was, but hey, I needed the credit!), and I was pretty much hooked. For the first time in my life, I actually wanted to go to class. After receiving my A.A., I transferred back to the University of Florida, the same college I had left, uninspired, once before. But with more maturity and determination under my belt, my experiences there were amazing this time around. I made a point to get to know my professors, I studied very hard, and I was incredibly invested in what I learned. Within a short while, I decided that I wanted to be a sociologist. I had finally found my calling. I moved to Seattle to attend the University of Washington for graduate school, and the rest is history.
Besides my love of teaching and of sociology, I have a few other loves as well. I’m a diehard college football fan (Go Gators!), an avid reader, a beginning painter, a bit of a movie buff, and a “foodie.” I’m a pretty good cook too, although admittedly I hardly ever cook any more, maybe because I so despise cleaning the kitchen afterwards. I like trivia, board games, and video games – Zelda, Mario Kart, and Disney Dreamlight Valley are games I’ve enjoyed a lot. But my favorite part of life is spending time with my family and my dogs; I’m happy even if I’m just in the same room as them.
