Lydia began her professional career as a high school teacher in San Antonio. During her teaching career, Lydia learned first-hand that most students who struggled academically would have benefitted from earlier interventions in reading and an emphasis on developing strong reading skills. It is difficult for students to capitalize on academic opportunities when underdeveloped reading skills hinder them. Currently, Lydia is a psychotherapist in private practice in Austin. She works with children, adolescents, and adults. Working with families reminds Lydia daily that life can stack the deck against you when you least expect it. Having skills of resilience and stamina can serve us all, and taking care of our community benefits us all. Why do I serve? BookSpring’s mission is a living, breathing way to serve a fundamental need in out community and across the state of Texas. I am honored to volunteer to help in this mission. Favorite Children’s Books: The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats; Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion; Cookie Monster and the Cookie Tree by David Korr; Island Born by Junot Díaz; and, Sonia Sotomayor; A judge grows in the Bronx/la juez que creció en el Bronx by Jonah Winter.