I was born and raised in a small Northern California city surrounded by farmland. My family was there because of the military--my father was in the Air Force. My family background is Italian on my mother's side and English/French on my father's. My childhood was enjoyable, though not without its turbulence, and I grew up in the same place I was born until I moved away to go to college. I was fortunate to attend UC Berkeley for college, which was the most gratifying educational experience of my life. I moved to Tucson in the summer of 2004 seeking to continue my professional development. I have been working in healthcare to support myself as I pursue a teaching credential for secondary Engli