Journey 180 Planner Changemaker Scholarship

From a young age, I viewed attending school as a privilege because neither of my parents finished their education. Both of my parents left school in Mexico due to expenses and living in poverty. They came to the United States with nothing but the support of family. Who knows if I would have continued my education in Mexico, but one thing I do know is that I will obtain my degree in Secondary Math Education at Davenport University. I have attended school my whole life. I am transferring from Grand Rapids Community College to Davenport University to earn my Bachelor's in Education. I aspire to work in the education field as a middle or high school math teacher. My middle and high school math teachers made the subject easy for me to learn. Although some problems take forever to solve, math never bores me. I am aware that there are few teachers of color, as most of them are white. As a first-generation Mexican-American student and a person of color in the education field, I can serve as a role model for students in underrepresented communities. I can make a significant impact on students who share a similar background to mine, as having commonalities encourages students to trust and open up more easily. As a teacher, I aim to empower future generations to succeed both in my classroom and in life. Volunteering at my local library influenced me to study education. For a short period, I volunteered to help bilingual students with their homework after school. Being bilingual in Spanish and English allowed me to assist a few high school students who had recently arrived in the United States from Guatemala and knew very little English. These Hispanic students came to me after school to receive the help they needed to complete their English homework. Despite the language barrier, they never gave up on reaching out to me when they needed help. If I was not there to help them, they mostly relied on Google Translate. This experience showed me the importance of eliminating barriers that prevent students from being successful in their education. Teachers make a significant impact on students' lives. Most of the time, they are the ones creating a safe place for their students in the classroom. They also help students overcome the different and unique challenges they encounter on a daily basis. I look forward to providing a supportive and welcoming environment to all students who come from different backgrounds in my future classroom.