Being an educator has been my passion since a very early age. I have been in front of classrooms for the last 17 years teaching students from kindergarten to university level. Having taught such a vast age group gave me the opportunity to understand the needs and wants of students in a very intimate way. This not only benefited the students but also gave me a great understanding of life as a whole.

 

I taught French, Spanish and English in Toronto, Buenos Aires and Salamanca, Spain. This has been a true gift to my career. Teaching languages became more than just vocabulary and grammar, but a profound understanding of culture and diversity that has made each and every class a memorable experience for myself and the students. These cultural experiences were taken to a deeper level of learning where students were able to understand the value of communication as a combination of the spoken language and the culture being discussed, connecting each other in this universal bond.

 

After having my third child I decided to take a break from formal teaching and enjoy motherhood. Being with my kids has been a beautiful learning experience. I never lost my passion for teaching, but being a mom awakened a deeper passion of mine. I realized that working with children is one of the most gratifying jobs there is. Learning from their wisdom and teaching them different ways of viewing the world, is truly what drives my passion.

 

Over the past few years, my mission has been to inspire children to become more aware of their feelings, their passions, and the importance of compassion for themselves and others. Through motivational talks and through my books with valuable morals, I have been able to spark a new level of communication. It wasn't until my family was faced with dealing with a struggle, that we converted the situation into a positive initiative. It was then that I realized the power and necessity of supporting one another.

 

Back in March 2015, my son underwent brain surgery to remove a tumour that was causing debilitating seizures. This was his second surgery in attempting to remove the tumour to stop the seizures. This time around, my son requested that we tell the world of his surgery in the attempts of raising awareness and most importantly creating a circle of support for me and the family. He requested that everyone give each other a hug on the day of his surgery and thus send positive vibes into the air and helping us get through the surgery successfully. So I granted his request and put a video out on YouTube.

 

We never anticipated the speed at which this hug started circulating the world. Within a week of the post, the hug had reached all media and had started to circulate the world. The day of his surgery his wish came true. I was so supported by the community and abroad that I had no time to sit a worry as my son was in surgery. The outpour of hugs and messages of hope were surreal. The power of the hug worked. Undeniably, the curing and powerful energy of a hug were sent to my son. The surgery went well and he was released from the hospital only two days after!

The power of a hug is real! I am constantly finding creative ways to create kindness and teach the importance of compassion.