A biology classroom presents an ideal environment for students in which to hone essential life skills such as writing, data interpretation, and critical thinking. These skills transcend biology, and are thus important to the future success of all students, regardless of their educational or career trajectories. In addition to providing a setting in which to practice these vital skills, the core learning outcomes I seek for my students to leave with are foundational biological concept comprehension, and the ability to recognize the biological elements influencing daily life. My essential responsibility as an educator is thus to equip future generations with the skills to make informed decisions regarding the environment, public health, and personal wellness. Importantly, I believe each student that enters my classroom does so with a unique combination of life experiences and prior education. This diversity of backgrounds translates to a broad spectrum of learning strategies for processing and applying new information, and I believe that developing an intellectual environment in which students feel safe and engaged is critical to fostering student success.