^{By: Kaiya Bernard, Community Education Coordinator}
I always dreamed that after finishing school and starting my career, I’d be able to change lives, and every day, I feel like I’m making that dream a reality. When I first started teaching health education to young people, covering topics like boundaries and consent, anatomy, and social media safety, I thought I was simply stepping into a classroom to inform and empower. I had the lesson plans, the materials, and the facts. What I didn’t expect was how deeply this experience would transform me, both professionally and personally. Each class, I’ve learned, is more than just a group of students, it’s a room full of energy, stories, curiosity, and real-life struggles. As educators, we show up to share knowledge. But what I’ve found is that the students teach me, too. They challenge me to be better, more compassionate, more present.

Talking about sensitive topics requires a level of trust, and once that trust is built, what follows is incredibly powerful: honest conversations, thoughtful questions, and moments where you can see that something really clicked for someone. It’s in those moments that I realize we’re not just teaching, we’re planting seeds. Seeds of self-worth, confidence, safety, and awareness. Some of those seeds sprout right away, in the form of “aha” moments or powerful discussions. Others might take weeks, months, or even years to grow. But we plant them anyway, with hope and intention, and as we teach, we grow alongside them. Every question they ask, every reflection they share, every time a student makes a connection they water the seeds in us, too. Teaching becomes less about delivering a message and more about nurturing a shared journey of growth.

After all of our classes, we hand out notecards so students can write down any thoughts, feedback, or reflections, anonymously and without pressure. I always look forward to reading them, but I never expect the depth and honesty they often hold. Many students write that they’re grateful we came to their class, that they learned something important, or that they finally felt comfortable asking questions they’ve been too nervous to bring up before. One message really stuck with me: “Thank you for spending time with us and educating us, I hope you have an amazing day”. That one line reminded me why this work matters so much, and why I’ll keep showing up. Teaching health education has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It’s helped me grow not just as an educator, but as a human being. Every class reminds me that the work we do is needed, and that the next generation is listening, learning, and ready to make positive change. And as much as I hope I’ve helped them... they’ve helped me, too.