"I didn't choose teaching; teaching chose me." During her preadolescence, against the backdrop of many harsh realities in her life, Robin Hawk became aware of her passion for teaching. Her innate ability to lead and her compassion for humanity ignited an early desire to create change through educating others. Her life experiences have paved the way for teaching practices that amplify strong foundations in social and emotional learning. The role of a teacher in Appalachia extends beyond the delivery of standard content; it must place strong emphasis on the development of self-efficacy and resilience in our youth. Robin Hawk is a fifth year teacher at Federal Hocking Secondary School in Stewart, Ohio. She graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor’s degree in Middle Childhood Education Language Arts and Social Studies and a master’s degree in Reading Education. As a adolescent aware of her adversity, both degrees were commitments to fostering change within her community. Robin is the oldest of five siblings and was raised by her mother in Chauncey, Ohio. She has been married to her highschool sweetheart, Waylon Hawk, for 8 years. Robin’s most desired role in life is mom. She spends her time outside of the classroom as a dedicated mother to her six year old son, Treyson. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx