Occupation: I’m an elementary school counselor. I started out eight years ago working in Stamford and this is my sixth year in Newtown. I always knew I wanted to work with kids. In high school I would volunteer in the kindergarten classes in my town. In college, I initially went for education to become a teacher then I switched halfway through my freshman year to psychology. I decided I wanted a more direct line of communication with students. I went to grad school for school counseling and determined I like the elementary age level the best. There is a lot of resiliency there.

Family: My husband, Ed, and I live in Newtown. He’s an accountant and commutes to Stamford. We are both originally from upstate New York. We moved to Connecticut 5½ years ago.

Pets: We have a 5-year-old rescue dog, Milo. He’s from Arkansas.

How long have you lived in Newtown? We’ve lived in Newtown for a year and a half. Before then we had been living in Ridgefield for four years.

What do you like to do in your free time? I have a lot of different side hustles. Primarily I like to make things — I’m a maker. I have a side business called Fiercely Kind where I sell personalized gifts for all occasions. Also, recently I tried to merge my two passions of creating and children, so I started a group called Kind Minds in Ridgefield. I meet with a small group of 8- to 10-year-old girls and it’s a place to have an artsy, creative outlet; to make friendships; and to build their confidence. There’s also a mindfulness component where we practice different mindfulness techniques. I also do birthday parties.

Do you have a favorite book or author? I’ve been really liking Kristin Hannah. Her book The Nightingale is one of my favorites right now. I also just read Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and that was really good.

What is your favorite travel destination? Europe. Last year, we went on our honeymoon to Italy, France, and Switzerland. I can’t wait to go back. Tuscany was my favorite. I felt an immediate ease over my body. It was beautiful, the people were nice, and the food was so delicious. In Switzerland, I really liked Interlaken. It has the most beautiful landscape.

What is the best part about Newtown? I think there is a sense of community here that you don’t get everywhere. People connect with each other in a really positive way and are willing to go the extra mile for each other. There’s also a lot of empathy.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? My parents, Karen and Pat. My mom is the reason I went into the career path. She is a special ed paraprofessional in New York. She also ignited my crafting passion early on. My dad instilled in me strength, motivation, hard work, and determination. He was recently diagnosed with cancer, fought really hard, and overcame it. He did it valiantly. He sets a good example for how to be your best self.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? Ellen DeGeneres. She’s very giving, kind, and goes above and beyond to help those around her who need it.

Who is your favorite musical artist? Carrie Underwood. I feel like she has an energy I can really get on board with. She’s fierce, tough, strong, and I love her music. She’s gone through struggles in her life and overcome them.

Do you have a favorite TV show? Friends. I can watch it on repeat and never get sick of it.

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? To leave a place better than you found it. I always try to do that.

What is something you cannot live without? My Cricut machine. After a long day, it’s a stress reliever for me to do some work and channel my energy into something positive.

What is your proudest accomplishment? Getting to where I am now has taken a lot of stepping out of my comfort zone and trying new things. I can’t pinpoint one specific accomplishment, but I’d say overall the place that I am in now with my life. I’m proud of the person I’ve been able to become.