My drive to become a teacher comes from wanting to influence and support younger generations in the same way that my teachers have supported me. I have had some incredible teachers though out my years in school. Because of their example I have always wanted to be a teacher. I started wanting to be a teacher when I was 10 years old in 5th grade. My teacher, Mrs. Cowley, is one of the kindest women I have ever met. At the start of 5th grade I had no friends in my class and was quite lonely. Through out the year I continued to struggle with friends and fitting in. Mrs. Cowley was always a friend to me. She supported me in my struggles, while also helping me succeed academically. Her support stuck with me long after I left her class and inspired me to be a teacher. I looked up to her and wanted to be the kind of teacher she is. I have had many more teachers who have pushed me to continue a pursuit of education. My 7th grade English teacher who reinspired my love for reading. My 7th grade theater teacher who believed in my abilities. My 9th grade art and geography teachers who I currently student teacher for through a program in my high school that let me practice teaching. My 10th grade English teacher who let me sit in her office after I came out to my parents. My 10th grade history teacher whose lecture style and passion for the subject made me want to teach social studies. All of these teachers have had a incredible impact on my life. I wouldn't be the same person I am today without their influence in my life. The teacher who has had the most impact on my life has been my sociology teacher and debate coach Mr. Gilman. He has had the biggest impact on my life. He has supported me and put so much trust in me. He trust me to be the president of my schools debate team. He has shared with me books and information about sociology and history that fascinate me and push my bounds of knowledge. His classroom has been a safe space for me as I have grown into my own person throughout high school and have gone through some of the hardest things in my life. Without this I don't think I would still be wanting to be a teacher. Because of Mr. Gilman I know exactly what I want to teach and the type of teacher I want to be. I know that their will be students who need a safe space and a teacher in the same way my teachers have helped me. So my drive to teach is inspired by that. I want to be able to support, inspire, and influence younger generations. I can do this through teaching. I am for ever grateful for my teachers who have inspired this drive I have.

Pretty much since the moment I could walk, my parents have instilled the value of serving others in me. Because of this, and the fact that I'm chronically an older sister, I have always enjoyed serving those in my community. My heart aches when I see people in need whether that be a friend who has had a bad day to those experiencing homelessness. It is especially difficult when I see my younger siblings hurting. I am a protective big sister and when my siblings are upset I will do almost anything to try and make them feel better. This was the case when I was about ten years old and my sister, Laynie was grieving. One of my sister's close friends' family was in a fatal accident. This car crash left several family members dead and left my sister's friend in the hospital in a coma. Not sure if her friend would be okay or knowing what to do she felt helpless. Seeing my little sister upset and knowing that my neighbors were struggling I had to do something. The crash had left the family with hefty hospital bills and funeral expenses. Knowing this I had an idea. I would hold a bake sale to raise money and hopefully ease some of the burden for the family. I got all of my friends and family together to help. We baked, passed out fliers, and spread the word hoping that people would feel generous and buy our baked goods. On the day of the bake sale, we were ready with five wagons filled to the brim with sweets. We split into groups and went around the neighborhood knocking on doors. Almost every door was answered with people ready hands full of cash. Even if they didn't want to buy anything people donated. Some of my neighbors even donated double or triple of what we were charging for the sweets. Neighbors whom I had barely spoken two words to handed me $50 and $100 bills. In the end, we raised over $900 for the family. This experience taught me two very valuable and impactful lessons. First, being that serving others can help you feel good. Organizing this bake sale and being able to help this family brought me joy. But it had a bigger impact on my little sister. As she raised the money alongside me I watched a burden lifted from her shoulders. She seemed happier and less helpless. The second lesson I learned is the power of community. Seeing my whole community rally around those in need had a lasting impact on me. It has inspired me to make a difference in my community and to continue serving others.

One of my fondest memories is in 2014 was driving to Target with my mom to buy the new Taylor Swift album 1989 on CD. I was bubbling with excitement and when we got home I ran to my little red CD player and hit play. I listened to it 3 times in a row. First I just listened to it, then sang along reading the lyrics in the lyric book, and finally, I made up dances to each of the songs that I forced my family to watch. At the time, my favorite song was Style it was catchy, upbeat, and the dance I created would put professionally trained dancers to shame. But as I have grown up a new song has become not just my favorite song in 1989 or my favorite Taylor Swift song but my favorite song ever and that song is Clean. I have had lots of friends leave me throughout my life the most painful being my best friend of 6 years. This person that I cared so much about and would take a bullet for turned into someone manipulative, and toxic. She was jealous when I would talk to or hang out with other people. She would use the threat of suicide to keep all of my attention on her. When I finally cut things off I was happier. Clean by Taylor Swift is about letting go of past relationships and moving on with your life. My connection to this song while not about a romantic connection is deep. It is my favorite because it reminds me of this friendship that I have moved on from. The chorus says "The rain came pouring down/When I was drowning, that's when I could finally breathe". The rain to me symbolizes the process of cutting off the people that hurt you. Having to cut off this friend who had been such a big part of my life was one of the hardest things I have done. I was drowning just like the song says not in water but in how I felt. It was such a big mix of emotions. From sadness to relief I felt it all. I had lost the person I would go to when I felt these big emotions. Even though I felt like I was sinking it was such a relief to cut this person out of my life and like the song says I could finally breathe. Clean is a song I listened to during this very difficult time and it gave me comfort. It gave me the hope that someday this person would not have such an effect on me and that I would be ok without them in my life. This is why Clean by Taylor Swift is my favorite song and will always have a special place in my heart.