Gracie is my 2-year-old Goldador (golden retriever/yellow lab mix). She is training to be a therapy dog for our school. When I was working on my master's degree, I became very interested in how students felt emotionally in school. I became more aware that being a teacher is so much more than helping a student write an essay or understand the context of a novel. When students are working with me, I want them to feel good about themselves. I want them to believe that even if they don't understand a concept yet, they will. Being a middle schooler is difficult. I want to help them feel a sense of comfort and joy every time they are learning with me. Gracie will be able to provide a sense of comfort for all who wish to enjoy her company.