I appreciated the culture of respect, intellectual rigor, and challenge to growth at Wellesley. I credit Wellesley with building my integrity and fostering my confidence. Once I discovered my calling to teach, my Wellesley education actually helped me to embrace it rather than dismiss it because it was too traditional or disparaged. The same self-assurance enabled me to persevere on a personal mission to volunteer in education however possible despite disadvantage, disrespect, and pervasive anti-intellectualism.