Jackie Hawkins, 61, has been a teacher for nearly 32 years and currently teaches third grade at Jennings Creek Elementary School in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Her classroom is decorated with dozens of flags, each representing a country that her students are from. Many of her students are immigrants and refugees who have faced difficult circumstances, and helping them discover their interests and realize they can be anything is one of the main reasons why she does this job.

"I want them to understand that they can do anything they want to do, and that brings me so much enjoyment in this job," Hawkins said. "I just want to try to bring empowerment and joy to kids when they feel like, sometimes, there are lots of hopeless things out there."

At this stage in her life, Hawkins' love for learning continues to fuel her passion and motivates her to keep going. She feels like she has never stopped learning, and believes that we can all learn forever.