Becoming a teacher was always ingrained in my mind, ever since I could remember (though I once toyed with the idea of becoming a veterinarian!). My dilemma, however, was what to teach; I was torn between History and English. I loved both subjects dearly, but my love of language, especially having grown up speaking both English and Romanian, ultimately won. Even as a child I remember being fixated on finding the right words for things. 

Thus, I pursued language studies at Rutgers University in New Jersey USA, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and German, and a Master’s Degree in English Education. I taught English to grades 9 through 12 in New Jersey from 2016 to 2021. It was then, during the pandemic, that I decided to try living in Romania. Even though I was born and raised in the United States, I had never felt like I truly belonged there. At home, I spoke exclusively Romanian (to the point where my parents ignored me if I spoke in English!) and I had always dreamed of living in Europe one day. The pandemic made me realize that life is short, and if I didn’t take a risk now, I never would. I moved to Bucharest in July 2021 and I haven’t regretted it one bit. 

As a member of the Avenor community, I hope to create a classroom environment in which students can learn the language skills necessary to navigate this increasingly technological world. I too strive to grow and improve as an educator and as a person through the various professional development opportunities offered here. While it would give me great joy if every student became passionate about English, my ultimate goal is to instill an appreciation of language in my students, regardless of what avenues they may pursue later in life. As Ludwig Wittgenstein said , “The limits of my language are the limits of my world.” I strongly believe that language is a skill that is useful in any domain or subject. With the advent of AI, like ChatGPT, being able to master and manipulate and navigate language is a powerful tool, one that can open an infinite number of possibilities. 

In my spare time, I enjoy many creative pursuits, including reading, singing, and playing violin. I am an avid writer and currently submitting poetry and short fiction to various magazines in the United States. One day I will finally finish the 300 page draft of my novel! Most of all, I spent a lot of time cuddling and walking my cat, Tchaikovsky.