What a daunting task. Define yourself.
I could write a million words and tell you my whole life story, but here’s a snippet:
The Basics
Faith: I am loved and saved from all my human failures by Jesus Christ! I’m a daughter of the King.
I’m 24.
For the past 2 years, I have been an instructional assistant, teaching English as a New Language at Nora Elementary School in Indianapolis, IN. My students are sometimes brand new immigrants or refugees from Burma, Syria, the Congo, Rwanda, Mexico, Honduras who speak no English. Or sometimes they are second to third generation students with family from Vietnam, Mexico, Thailand, or Jamaica who speak some English at home. Nora has students from 29 different countries... I’m convinced my students teach me every single day…maybe more than I teach them. They’re my babies! So much potential! And my co-workers are absolutely stellar. God sent me to this school for a reason & I have learned SO much after college.
I’m also a Zumba & Zumba Kids instructor. 
I’m obsessed. I can’t get enough of it, and my car is often blasting the latest ZIN CD as I’m on my way to my next class to get adults or kids moving & having fun. It’s not a workout– it’s a party!
Family: I’m also the daughter of really selfless, patient, Christian earthly parents: David & Jan Woods. I’m so lucky to have had such a phenomenal childhood. And I”m sister to someone totally different from me- besides our curly hair. I love her and my brother-in-law SO much– a piece of my heart! Aaron & Karen Hurt. And my 14 year old, Wesley Woods 🙂
Passions: The biggest ones? International, biblical justice. Whether it is for indigenous groups in rural Guatemala, corrupt governments, disadvantaged students in Nicaragua, orphans in the Dominican Republic, refugees & immigrants in Indianapolis… We are to seek justice, long to give mercy, and I crave being a vessel for God to enact love and justice among the nations. There is something about telling the stories of the disadvantaged, of the helpless… to bring them justice, peace, and to meet their needs… to let them be heard, to share it with others who have the POWER to help! To encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ to SEE, HEAR, and SERVE those who are in need… I want to advocate. I fight for it with my English learners in the U.S., for my friends in Nicaragua, andI & thank God every day for opening up the World Race to me as a way to enact this new, deep passion!
I love
- travel
- teaching
- all things social, cultural, international
- kids! all the youths! (Zumba kids!)
- language
- music
- learning new things
- dancing (ZUMBA!)
- social & biblical justice
- service
- speaking Spanish
- personal growth
- Latin music
- writing
- cooking
- eating
- adventuring
- the Colts
- gymnastics, track, cheerleading, football
I really hate wet paper. Gross. Like wet straw wrappers? UGH.
I love elephants. And lions.
And kids. Love kids! Because I love being silly, and they just get it. 🙂
And really dark chocolate.
And COFFEE.
I’m really curious & love learning new things!
School
I went to Pike High School in Indianapolis, IN for K-12 (Go Red Devils!)
I had an amazing educational experience, with an incredibly diverse student body: racially, socio-economically, in their interests and talents, and in so many other ways. It touched my curiosity and interest in other nations, learning about people who seemed different from me, and having empathy & understanding for all. Pike also gave me a fierce love of education and fueled my desire to give this gift to the next generation!
COLLEGE: I went to a small liberal arts school in Bloomington, IL: Illinois Wesleyan University. What an amazing education I received… so many opportunities to travel to 5 different countries, meet new people that have shaped my life forever, learn to be a teacher in many settings, learn how to think & communicate, and begin to shape my passions for social justice, Latin culture, education, and international studies.
Double major: Interdisciplinary Education, International Studies.
Minor: Hispanic Studies/Spanish. (And competitive cheerleading.)
Some more things
I love curly hair. BIG curly hair.
I claim I’m a ginger, but really I’m a half-ging. Strawberry blonde is probably more accurate.
And COLORS. I’m very colorful.
Yo hablo español como si fuera dominicana 🙂 I speak Spanish, mostly thanks to studying in the Dominican Republic!
I stand at 5 foot 0. …some of my 4th grade students are taller than me…
I LOVE world music, especially merengue & bachata. Have I said that? Baila conmigo!
I have a LOT OF ENERGY!!!
I did competitive cheerleading & tumbling for 12 years.
(I can do a back flip. A few back flips 🙂
For two years in high school, I slept in a hammock instead of a bed. Guess I was preparing for the Race.
I left little pieces of my heart in:
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Pike Township
- Indianapolis
- Chicago
- Managua, Nicaragua
- South Africa
- Italy
- Bloomington
- Guatemala
I write poetry. It’s not very good poetry, but it’s another creative outlet besides dance.
I love Shakira. Part of it is because she made me feel cool & pretty even though I had curly hair, and she started to teach me Spanish… And that she uses her celebrity to build schools and is into early childhood education. And knows like 5 languages. Whaaaa?
There was a long time that I wasn’t in the church and didn’t really understand the Gospel…for about 10 years. Grew up in church and with loving parents, but I just was having none of it. There were some dark, rough times. But 2 years ago my ears were opened , some people never gave up on me, and I live in Jesus’ grace again. I am not my past! I am covered by grace.
I’m so not perfect.
I am SO loved, even though I don’t deserve it.
I am learning to trust Jesus completely, and it’s hard. But so so worth it.
If it has mango in it, I’ll probably eat or drink it.
I will always drink some coffee.
AND somehow, all of a sudden…
I’m GOIN’ ON THE WORLD RACE!!!!!
