I began teaching because I knew I would be good at it. My philosophy was simple: show up every day; read books; talk and write. Maybe even enjoy summers off. Hopefully, my students would learn and even like me or my class. A decade later, I realize how wrong I was. There was never a specific reason why I began teaching English language arts, but I know for certain why I continue. As teachers, we have the power to change the world. My journey began by going through the motions, but eventually my purpose became clear by listening to others more and engaging in issues I once believed did not affect my daily life. Despite a great conversation that day, I stayed mostly within the curriculum for the next few years. I avoided discussions about Trayvon Martin and the Ferguson riot and unrest in class. Those tragedies felt so far away from Columbus, Ohio, and my everyday life.