In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with two of my former students from six years ago, Kyler “Ube” and Francisco “Chamoy.” Back then, I was just a long-term substitute teacher still figuring out if I even had what it took to be in the classroom full-time. We clicked right away though, and reconnecting with them now in front of microphones felt surreal. We talked about how much we’ve all changed, the lessons we’ve picked up along the way, and the impact we’ve had on one another.

This episode is full of laughs, honesty, and reflection. It brought back memories of those early teaching days, reminded me why I keep doing this work, and gave me motivation to push forward with my dreams. Out of all the conversations I’ve recorded so far, this one stands out as a favorite — a reminder that growth is real and that sometimes the best help you get really does come from helping others.