I grew up in Mauston, Wisconsin, a small, rural town of about 4,000 citizens. I have lived in Madison since I began college at UW-Madison in 2001. When I came to Madison, I found myself in a larger city with diverse people and diverse opportunities and fell in love with the atmosphere and community.

I spent the spring semester of my sophomore year (2003) studying in Santiago, Chile (a modern city of 5.5 million--a big change from the town of 4,000 where I grew up!)

In Chile I lived with a host family for five months and then I ventured out on my own for the last month and lived with both American and Chilean friends that I met while in Santiago. Both living experiences were great and game me many insights into a different culture than my own. I had a great time in Chile and even went back to visit in 2004.

One of my life-long goals is to visit each of the twenty-one countries whose official languages in Spanish; I've already got four checked off: Spain, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family.  I also love to travel, cook and bake, read, exercise, go dancing, and "putz around" online social networks and "teacher sites."

The 2009-2010 school year marks my 4th full-time year at MGHS.  Time flies!