 Hello. My name is Christina Avento, and I am an MLIS graduate student at the San Jose State University School of Information. Thank you Dr. Mayne, Dr. Stenstrom, and the Student Awards and Scholarship Committee for granting me one of the 2020 Louis C. Leppey scholarships. When I joined the iSchool in 2018, I was living in Dubai, UAE, and learning online was the best way for me to start my degree. I was unsure if I would enjoy the online format, but the iSchool made it easy and enjoyable to do so. The professors have been interesting and inspiring, accessible and caring. My first career has been as a high school teacher. What I really enjoy about teaching is helping students become independent learners and researchers. No matter what course of content I was teaching, my goal has always been for students to find their interests and pursue them. I have been fortunate to teach the Advanced Placement Capstone Research Course in which high school students conduct their own research at the college level and watch their passion for their topic, their research and writing skills, and their confidence as contributors to their field of study grow. I am excited to continue my interest in teaching and research as an academic librarian. I hope in particular to serve special populations, such as first generation students, a group to which I also belong. The LAPI Scholarship has made a huge difference in my ability to continue my studies at SJSU debt-free. Thank you Dolores Daniels and the rest of the LAPI Foundation for their generosity in continuing and shepherding this award.