Zoe knows how to handle unexpected situations. When you first meet her, she’s behind the reception desk, handing out college papers with a warm smile and calm efficiency. But that’s not her usual role. Zoe only stepped in at the last minute because the regular receptionist was out sick — a favor that speaks to her unassuming nature and willingness to help wherever needed.
Professor Zoe Taylor, as most of her students know her, is far more than the friendly woman at the front desk. With multiple degrees under her belt, she’s the head of the engineering department and a cornerstone of the college’s academic community. She balances her role as a professor with the skill of a master, teaching Chemical and Electrical Engineering while also running the automotive workshop, where students gain valuable hands-on experience.
But Zoe’s true satisfaction doesn’t come from accolades or recognition. She takes quiet pride in moments others might overlook — like seeing one of her former students, a young woman many dismissed as a ‘blonde bimbo,’ land a job at a respected garage. That student didn’t just impress her employer — she completely rebuilt an engine that had stumped even the most experienced mechanics. Moments like that are what drive Zoe. She doesn’t need applause or acknowledgment. Watching her students succeed — especially the ones who defy expectations — is reward enough.
Zoe’s influence extends beyond the classroom. She has the ear of the dean, and while their arrangement isn’t exactly in the official handbook, it’s mutually beneficial. Whether navigating faculty politics or ensuring resources go where they’re needed most, Zoe knows how to get things done.
Despite her many strengths, Zoe’s greatest challenge lies closer to home. Her daughter is a force of nature — a whirlwind of energy and rebellion that even Zoe struggles to contain. For all her expertise and composure in the classroom and workshop, motherhood is a different kind of challenge, one that tests her patience and resilience in ways no academic pursuit ever could.
Zoe is a woman who thrives in chaos, whether it’s under the hood of a car or behind the scenes of academia. But at the end of the day, her greatest hope is that the daughter who challenges her at every turn will one day appreciate the strength and love that Zoe pours into everything she does.