To: You From: Us

This has been one of the most surprising years ever and we are just short of a few weeks to close it. For starters, I traveled to the Pacific Northwest, the site of all things Hallmark. WOW, simply WOW. I fell in love with the San Juan Islands, Bainbridge Island, and parts of Seattle. I watched my daughter give her presentation upon her successful completion of the Island Wood Graduate Program in Outdoor/Environmental Education - Natalia is a natural public speaker and a lover of all things fair and equal; a real change-maker. She re-writes history and provides a voice to everyone around her.

I saw OWLS up close and personal; as a result, I love them more and more each day. I completed a Master's Degree in Creative Writing in Spanish while working full time, between my role as a Voice Artist for Garbanzo, teaching part-time and for a short while at a secondary school in Virginia, teaching three courses at Christopher Newport University, participating in several book fairs here and Puerto Rico, promoting literacy at the wonderful Second Sunday Arts Festival in Williamsburg, Virginia and writing a novel, written as a memoir in second person, perfect for the adults and young adults in your life who are seeking a self-help book to help re-route the pain from losing a loved one while re-discovering the joy of a life well lived. This beautiful book, my thesis project, will soon be published in 2025!

Transitioning to college-level teaching has been an outstanding experience, filled with peace, joy, and lots of "Let's TACO about it" conversations in the classroom.

Never, and I mean never, did I think being Profesora Reed was a goal, much less an achievable goal, as I saw myself as a secondary school teacher, or as my students call me: Maestra Reed. But, even I failed to realize that we constantly pivot, reroute, and repeat. One thing that has always been at the forefront of my work as an educator is to be the best cultural ambassador possible, and represent my Latin American - Taino - Boricua culture everywhere I go. Authenticity is essential IF we want to be seen, heard, and respected. Being in the "college classroom" has not changed who I am, but rather afforded me the freedom to be who I am, and to make a meaningful connection with my students.

As educators, we give, share, and pull from everywhere to give some more. But we also receive. We receive in unexpected ways, and in the moment, can bring us to our knees from the immense joy and love that is given to us - so much and so deep - that it seems almost too much to be real. But let me tell you: IT IS REAL. Last week, on the last day of class, the students in one of the courses I taught this semester, showed up to class with a beautiful Poinsettia, two boxes of donuts for all to share, and a beautiful card inside the envelope signed: To you, From us. The card was filled with messages of gratitude, joy, laughter, and hope. It seemed unreal that I was the recipient because, in the end, I was "just doing my job" - teaching Spanish to three groups of university students. But you see, as educators we teach students. We work with students. We share with students. The subject is just the venue. Our authenticity in the process is at the heart of our work and love for our students. So, in this holiday season, I give you my heart, my admiration, my best wishes, and a brilliant star to light your path in the new year. Feliz Navidad y que Dios los bendiga.