I knew from my first day as a high school teacher in 2002, that my life's work would be the reward of making a difference in the lives of my students and helping them appreciate the art of others and the art they would create.†Throughout my career, like many of my colleagues, I have felt the sting of being overlooked, underappreciated, and taken for granted. However, the Pandemic of 2020 changed everything in and out of the classroom. The ìfirstsî experienced by educators because of the pandemic was even more memorable and impactful than the first days of our careers. It was the first time risking my life at work; my first time risking my job for my life; my first time realizing that the nation looks at me as a daycare provider, and my first time considering the possibility that at times I may be more concerned for the physical health of my students than others making decisions about their fate and mine. One shocking revelation after the other forced me to retreat into my artwork.