“During COVID, I tried to lead by example in showing compassion for myself and especially for my students. I began by asking, ‘What might students be able to glean from my class now that literally everything has changed?’ In the face of the pandemic, I wanted to show leadership in the face of fear. While reminding students of their assignments, I made sure to ask them, ‘How are you doing? No, really, how are you?’ That question resonated with them and reminded me that while I was isolated at home, helping my students mattered more than ever. It was then that I realized the term ‘asynchronous’ did not reflect reality. When my students signed on to class, it is a synchronous moment for them. That realization changed my approach to teaching. Rather than providing canned lectures, I took inspiration from the Nike Run Club app, which provides guided runs - recordings that make you feel like a running coach is alongside you. Since no such resource existed, I built it myself, spinning up podcasts to guide students through the process of setting up a basic time management planner using a simple notebook. These included moments of humanity; to tell my students they were doing a good job, and I worked to keep humor and morale high in my classes. In doing so, I realized that teaching online is anything but remote – it is, at its best, a holistic realization of what education truly is: the practice of freedom.”