Get to know Project Respect’s after-school presenter, Deana!

Q: When I was a kid, I wanted to grow up to be:
A: A landscaper. I always enjoyed helping in the garden, and loved planting my own flower and herb gardens and taking care of the flower beds.

Q:  How did you end up at Project Respect?
A:  I ended up at Project Respect when I saw a blurb in our church bulletin that they needed after-school presenters. Since I was still at home with our preschool-aged daughter, it was the perfect way for me to get to spend time with students and not have to get a babysitter for our her.

Q:  What do you love most about working with Project Respect?
A: The kids! I love being able to go into the schools and make connections with the students. It is so fun to get to relate with them in a setting that is a little more relaxed. 
 

Q:  Favorite ice cream flavor?
A: It’s hard to pick only one!! My new favorite at Nafziger’s is Key Lime Pie.

Q:  What food can you not go without?
A: I cannot start my day without my bowl of oatmeal and blueberries. I’m a creature of habit!

Q:  What’s one of your best memories as a child?
A: One of my best memories as a child was when I was around 5 years old, and my grandparents picked my sister and I up and took us to the movie theater. They bought popcorn for us–and then took us out for ice cream afterwards.

Q:  If I could go anywhere in the world:
A: I would want to visit South America. I would love to see the Amazon rainforest!

Q:  People might be surprised to know:
A: That I’m very competitive!

Q:  When I’m not in the classroom, I’m most likely to be found:
A: Spending time with my family.

Q:  How do you relax?
A: By reading! I love to read, and I sneak it in any chance that I get.

Q:  What was the last movie, TV show or book that made you emotional, cry or tear up?
A: When I read “Junkyard Wonders” by Patricia Polacco to my daughter. It just touched my heart how the children who were labeled “junkyard wonders” grew up to do amazing things and realized their dreams.

Q:  Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
A: I would love to have Ellen DeGeneres as a dinner guest. I think she is really funny, but also interesting–we would have a great dinner conversation.

Q:  Would you like to be famous? In what way?
A: If I were to become famous, I would want it to be because I have been a change for good–that it is because I have helped humankind.

Q:  What would constitute a perfect day for you?
A: A perfect day for me would involve getting to spend time together with my family seeing the sights at a national park, eating out for our meals, and getting a chance to read from a good book before going to bed.