At just eight years old, Norah Doyle already knows where her future is headed.

“I want to be a teacher,” she says confidently.

And it’s no surprise—after all, she doesn’t have to look far for inspiration.

Her mother, Jill, is a second-grade teacher at Vandalia Elementary, and this year, Norah gets to walk the same hallways as her mom every single day.

“She’s just across the hall,” Norah said with a grin. “It’s pretty cool.”

Norah is a natural learner, with a deep love for books, art, and storytelling.

She’s already an avid reader, devouring Magic Tree House books, American Girl stories, and Pig the Pug adventures.

Her favorite Magic Tree House book? "Abe Lincoln at Last."

“I read a chapter every night with my mom,” she said.

That simple tradition—mother and daughter, side by side, turning pages together—is part of what makes their bond so special.

And when she’s not reading or learning new things, Norah is often found drawing—especially dogs.

Her favorite subject? Arlo, the family’s Goldendoodle.

“He’s crazy,” Norah said with a laugh. “He gets the Zoomies, and he steals things just so we’ll chase him.”

If she had a magic wand, what would she wish for?

“Tons of dogs.”

And of course, they’d all be Goldendoodles.

Norah may love reading and drawing, but she’s also a tough competitor.

She’s a wrestler, a softball player, and a former Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu student.

“I started Jiu-Jitsu when I was three,” she said.

She transitioned to wrestling in kindergarten, making her one of the few girls on the team.

Her idol? Sophie, Vandalia’s standout female wrestler.

“She’s my favorite wrestler,” Norah said.

In fact, Sophie’s fame extends far beyond Vandalia. When her interviewer mentioned her name at another school 200 miles away, the response was immediate:

“She’s a legend.”

Norah dreams of following in Sophie’s footsteps, pushing herself harder every year.

“I wasn’t very good when I started,” she admitted. “I wish I could tell my kindergarten self to work harder.”

And now? She’s doing just that.

Norah lives in Mulberry Grove, but Vandalia is where she belongs.

“I feel proud to be part of Vandalia,” she said.

She’s surrounded by friends, family, and a school community that lifts her up.

Her class includes four Spanish-speaking students, and instead of feeling distant, Norah made an effort to connect with them in their own language.

She learned how to say:

“¿Quieres jugar conmigo?”

Translation?

“Do you want to play with me?”

That one phrase brought her closer to her classmates, proving that kindness and effort bridge all barriers.

Norah has a world of possibilities ahead of her, but for now, she’s enjoying being a kid—learning, wrestling, reading, and soaking up every moment with her family.

And one day, when she steps into her own classroom as a teacher, she’ll carry with her the lessons, love, and legacy passed down from her mother.

Because some family traditions aren’t just passed down—they’re lived.