I began my career witnessing firsthand the transformative power of education as a volunteer for the Amy Foundation in Cape Town, South Africa, and teaching English in Madrid, Spain, as a language and cultural assistant. I fell in love with the act of teaching — learning with and from others, watching each other grow, and building community inside and outside classroom walls.
Although the degree of economic injustices within Cape Town and Madrid was vastly different, I witnessed how trauma disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations. I've spent the last five plus years working for nonprofits that address barriers to education, including Pencils of Promise, where I assisted my manager, Allie Simmons, in developing and facilitating a 10-week social-emotional-learning course for the program team in Laos.
My internship provided me with a profound appreciation of Laotian culture and a desire to work and live in Laos. My master’s from Trinity College Dublin and internship also gave me the realization that I lack a robust and holistic understanding of education. I applied for the Fulbright ETA position in Laos to inform my approach to and understanding of education from a non-Western, ethno-centric, hegemonic culture. I believe there is no replacement for direct experience, and I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to work and live alongside my community in Laos.
