A love for learning is developed when we are allowed to explore our curiosities.  Our passions are what lead us to our becoming.  -SER

My interest in technology has always been there. When I was a child, my passion was music. I would beg my mother to give me a cassette to put into my radio/cassette player so that I could record music from my favorite radio stations. That was in the early '90s. Flash forward 33 years later, I have every song I could ever want right at my fingertips via music subscription apps. What makes that possible? Technology.

I pursued my passion for music and found I only truly enjoyed the moments behind a computer. Whether I was recording music, creating electronic press kits for developing artists, or building websites, I saw the potential of tech and what would come in the future. That future is now. 

Eventually, I would switch careers. I found I was more passionate about learning. The "life-long learner" gene is deeply embedded within me. In my mid-20s, I had the opportunity to work for Apple at one of their New York City flagships and it change my life forever. Not only did I receive world-class training from experts in multiple disciplines, but I was also able to play and learn in an environment that thrived on creation and innovation. And what was I playing with all day? Technology. I quickly found I was at my happiest when I was hosting workshops for people with different levels of tech and life experiences. That one-to-one connection with someone else and the desire to help them with their goals solidify in me that the field of education would be my next step.

What intrigued me about working with people as they learned technology was how their minds processed information. When I worked with older adults of a certain age, it was a daunting, but incredibly rewarding, task. When I worked with kids, it was easy and fun! They were "wired" differently and I wanted to understand why. I decided that early childhood education was where I would start. Children born in the Age of Technology are DIFFERENT. How they see the world and the tools they use to navigate their worlds are amazing.  I felt driven to be the kind of educator that helps young students visualize what they want within their minds and then manifest it in this world. I wanted them to be happy and curious! A love for learning is developed when we are allowed to explore our curiosities. Our passions are what lead us to our becoming. 

As I continue "becoming," my vision and purpose become clearer. I have enjoyed working, playing, and creating with kids but there is another group of "children" I want to tap into. Another kind of child that I often see hiding inside the bodies of full-grown adults, who seem to long for the spark and "a-ha" moments that young children have. In the last few years, our mental health has been compromised. Technology has been used in both positive and negative ways and constantly ebbs and flows on that spectrum. It's no secret that Technology is a disruptor, but how one uses it determines if it will be an experience-enhancing tool or a destructive one. Today, my focus is to build a collective of educators from all kinds of disciplines, who know how to ignite others; whose own desire is to simply help others grow; lend their talents, give advice, care for the well-being of others, and support them in resourceful and meaningful ways; all through the use of technology. 

You may be thinking, "People are already doing that. There are networks and subscriptions for everything!" That's wonderful and I hope they continue their success. But, not every place speaks to everyone... and that is ok. So think of this collective as another safe space for you to consider when you just want to learn and grow.