Winning the Presidential Award allowed me to believe that I could use my passion for teaching and learning to impact others. It opened my mind to all the amazing, hands-on, real-life experiences that teachers were sharing with and providing for students all over the United States. The trip to Washington DC and the PAEMST Award Week exposed this small town girl to the beauty of our capital city. I will never forget all the places I saw and all the people I met. I am still proud to be an educator.