“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”—Robert Frost

I first heard the Robert Frost poem in my ninth-grade English class. The poem immediately resonated with me about my choices in life, but I would have never imagined that I would think about these last few lines, and find affirmation in them, again and again. They gave me permission to step out of my comfort zone and experience something new. When I reflect back on my choices, I can see how these words were catalysts for me becoming a poet myself, an English teacher, a professor, and a UX designer.

The choices I have made may not necessarily have been the easiest, but they were unique. For example, I could have chosen to do my student teaching at a blue ribbon school close to home. However, I had requested to work in the city capital at a lower-performing school instead. After college graduation, I could have applied for work in a setting that was familiar and affordable in the midwest instead of deciding to drive across the country to California where everything was different and more expensive. As a young teacher, I could have chosen to have more fun after school instead of attending long graduate school classes to earn my Ph.D. Once I became a tenured professor at an amazing school with constant sunshine and an ocean view, I could have just stayed there, but instead, I chose to move my family to Colorado so we could experience the seasons together. Once in a place with a lower cost of living, I could have retired early, but after 8 months I chose to work remotely because I wanted to enhance my tech skills. I wanted to learn more, so I completed a rigorous UX/UI certification program while still working. It takes hard work to forge a new road.

All the paths, choices, research, curiosity, desire for new experiences, and even poetry have led me where I am now… on the road to adventure.