I’m often asked how I came to write books for a living. One of the most important reasons is that my teachers encouraged me.
In junior high, I wrote an essay and my teacher said I had a knack for words. In high school, my teacher called my poetry descriptive and thought-provoking. Teachers challenged me to push myself to know my characters when writing short stories. The care and passion of my teachers instilled the confidence and skill required to be a career author.
Across the state of Washington, teachers have been on strike. A lot of people think it’s about more money, but for the teachers I know, it’s about more than a paycheck. It’s about fairness, justice, respect, and doing what’s right. Teachers deserve a fair wage. It should be an easy decision for the administration to make. Instead it has turned into a nightmare. Money, specifically set aside for teachers’ salaries is not being used in that way. If our teachers aren’t a priority in our school systems, where does that leave us?
For myself, I can answer that question. If not for the amazing teachers throughout my school journey, I probably wouldn’t be living my dream today.
