The other day, I was talking with some speech and debate coaches. We were all mentioning how long we had been coaching and how crazy it was for us to stay with an event that demands so much time and energy. One coach said, “There must be something that makes us stick around.” And immediately, without hesitation, I knew what it was for me: I love words!

My three main professions are author, English teacher, and speech and debate coach. What do they all have in common? Words. I love that words can be combined and created in an infinite amount of ways. I love that words have the power to motivate, inspire, and create change. And I love revealing that power to the next generation.

Each of my jobs has a different role to play when it comes to words. As a high school English teacher, I teach students how to read and analyze words. I teach them how to treat literature like a puzzle or a mystery, to find the deeper meaning in those words and then determine their own thoughts and feelings about what they read.

As a speech and debate coach, I get to help students discover how to use their own words. I love helping them figure out what message they want to convey and how to combine words together in such a way that their message is heard, and that it is clear and beautiful.

As an author, I get to use words to create my own works of art. I can create emotions that range across the spectrum. I can teach new concepts in creative ways. I can paint a picture with my words, and that picture has the potential to last a lifetime.

And that’s why I’ll continue to devote myself to these professions, no matter how demanding they may be. Because at the end of the day, words are more than just symbols on a page or sounds in the air—they are tools for connection, understanding, and growth. Whether I’m guiding students through a great novel, coaching a young debater to find their voice, or pouring my heart into a new manuscript, I’m reminded of just how much potential lies in the words we choose. That’s what keeps me going, and what will always make me stick around. After all, we all need a little more meaning, a little more clarity, and a little more beauty in the world—and that’s something words can always provide.