In my childhood home on Pasadena Street in South Bend, I learned Hoosier values at a very young age. Mornings always started early in my house. My dad left before daybreak to start his 24-hour shift at the South Bend Fire Station, and my mom prepared for her two jobs as a meat cutter and owner of our family's small appliance repair shop on the corner of North Miami and Indiana streets.

With my parents working full time, my brothers and I pitched in after school to look after the house and each other -- it was a team effort. My parents worked tirelessly to provide for our family, teaching us the value of hard work. Of course, we still found time for some fun, especially around this time of year. Growing up in Notre Dame's backyard, my uncle took me to football games every season to cheer on the Fighting Irish. I remember watching them win the historic championship game when Joe Montana played through the flu, drinking chicken soup on the sidelines from the team doctor.

When I was 18 I went to college, earning a degree from Taylor University. I landed my first job back in South Bend as a reporter for WSBT. Covering everything from crime to education, I saw the problems and strengths in our community firsthand. I took the stories I covered quite personally and felt obligated to make a difference.

Looking back, most of my jobs were invested in public service, whether I was securing funds for education at Indiana University South Bend, caring for orphans as a missionary in Romania, or serving the people of the 21st District in the Indiana General Assembly.

It wasn't always easy. When I first ran for the Statehouse in 2004, I knocked on 10,000 doors in my district and promised Hoosiers I would not raise taxes. Some voters were weary of political promises, and I had to revisit others to garner their support. But I had the chance to prove my true colors when I was elected to my first term in the Statehouse. I kept my word and stood up against tax increases.

In Indiana, we proved that by working together lawmakers could pass meaningful legislation to help Hoosier families. During my six-year tenure, I am proud to have a solid voting record, supporting 75 percent of bipartisan and passing bills. I voted for a balanced budget amendment that turned our $1 billion deficit into a surplus and restored Indiana's AAA bond rating in the face of a national recession.

I supported votes to cut spending and promote economic development through the establishment of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, which helped Indiana lead the nation in job growth. Recently, we were rated one of the best Midwestern states for starting a business, and we continue to attract new companies and create jobs.

I believe Washington could learn a few things from the Hoosier state. Our story is not based on political rhetoric; it is a true testament about how lawmakers can roll up their sleeves and work together for the sake of the American people. This is the experience I am eager to take to Congress to prove there is no obstacle our country can't overcome.

At the end of the day, it all comes back to the teamwork and homegrown values I learned from my family. Today I reside in Jimtown with my husband, Dean, a Mishawaka schoolteacher. My mom, Martha, now lives with us too. We are all still early risers, but the tables have slightly turned. Now, we help my mom the same way she helped our family back on Pasadena Street.

Our family was built on Hoosier values that shaped my life and career. I hope to bring these homegrown values to Congress as an independent voice to give Washington a dose of some Hoosier common sense.