I have always taken a path that may be considered a little unorthodox from the typical teenage experience. Since childhood I have wondered where I will be in five years? For the longest time I longed to "grow up" so my answer to this question was traditional, only consisting of having a family and caring for my children. While that dream will always bring me immense joy, I realized that my path includes being a caring and devoted educator as well. My work with children began at thirteen when I became a certified childcare provider and shortly after a nanny to five where I still work today. From that young age, I realized I had stepped into a role that required leadership, devotion, and perseverance. Although often-times I struggle, I know I can succeed at resmbling these traits because I have grown up watching the strong women in my life be entrepreneurs, business owners, educators, all while building lives centered around service, sacrifice, dedication, as well as their families. Their examples have taught me that giving your time and effort to help create real change is far more fulfilling than anything else in life. Over time, my calling grew, my heart became more nurturing and is now what I hope to be full of patience, love, and kindness. One of the most meaningful experiences came from my internship at Woodland Montessori. I worked closely with teachers from both public and private backgrounds and supported students who were experiencing hardships. I tried my best to help a child who was struggling emotionally but often struggled to understand the best way to help students who need more support. After a long day I felt drained and questioned if I was meant to be a teacher. I felt lost and answerless but, on that drive home, a stranger in the next car smiled at me and waved. It lasted only a second, but that small gesture changed everything. I paused, and deeply reflected on the many amazing opportunities I had, and began to understand the importance of a grateful giving heart. The smile reminded me that teaching is not about having all the answers. It is about showing up, offering kindness, and creating a safe space. That stranger had no idea the impact his smile made in my life. I often still think of him and am reminded that small gestures can carry great weight. I want to be that for my students. I want to be someone who helps them feel seen when the small or big problems feel overwhelming. One of the largest factors to making someone feel seen is having compassion. Compassion has been part of my story for as long as I can remember. My parents raised me to be kind and understanding. They ensured that my brother and I learned how to give empathy and grace. While I have not experienced many hardships myself, I have seen others who have. That understanding has helped me grow into someone who supports children through both academic and personal challenges. My work at Woodland Montessori as well as my experience providing childcare has allowed me to see many different learning styles and family dynamics. I learned that all children deserve a classroom where they feel safe, encouraged, and valued. My non-traditional experience continued when I took on the responsibility of funding my own education. I have worked multiple jobs at a time, while finding purpose in community service. I learned early that if I wanted to pursue higher education, it was up to me to make it happen. Every paycheck I earned helped support my goals. I saved while paying for my living expenses like insurance, car payments, gas, and clothing. I learned to balance work, school, and volunteer commitments. Through this, I learned resilience and perseverance. I learned that leadership grows from patience and a willingness to show up, even on difficult days. My work as a childcare provider, tutor, ballet instructor, classroom assistant, as well as my work for local small businesses have solidified my decision to live a life of service walking out the philosophy of service above self. As I look toward the future, I will continue my undergraduate studies at the University of Montana Western (UMW) pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. UMW is the only public university in the United States to use block scheduling and is the most affordable university in Montana. I am deeply passionate about the Teacher Education Program (TEP) and its dedication to create dedicated, innovative, and creative educators. I plan to teach in a rural community similar to the ones I grew up in and the TEP program has been designed to help prepare future educators on how to best teach in these untraditional environments. As an educator I want to help children feel capable and supported. I want to encourage them to grow academically, emotionally, and personally. After receiving my bachelors I plan to attend a graduate program where I will earn my masters in Children's Speech Pathology which will help me be able to support children with disabilities and language delays. My journey may not have followed a traditional path thus far, but it has been and will continue to be driven by kindness, perseverance, compassion, and service. I plan to be the best educator I can be while also still prioratizing my traditional values and creating a family. The charactoristics of Andrea Worden resonate deaply with me and they will continue to guide me forward. I hope to make both big and small differences in the lives of my future students and to be the teacher who sees them, supports them, and helps them believe in themselves.

From the moment I wake up, I strive to live out the qualities of leadership, resilience, selflessness, and focus, while also demonstrating a strong work ethic in everything I do. These five traits have shaped who I am and guide me as I prepare for my future career as an educator. I believe that the way we conduct ourselves in daily life, as well as how we respond to challenges, and treat others reveals our true character. Leadership and communication are the heart of my everyday routine, especially through my work with children. Whether I’m teaching a lesson at my local elementary school, helping teach a group of homeschool children, or simply being there for a hard time, I make it a priority to connect with every child and listen to their needs. Strong communication is the foundation of good leadership. It has allowed me to create a space where children feel safe, understood, and encouraged to express themselves. Leadership is not about authority, it’s about service and guiding others with patience, empathy, and confidence. Leadership comes with its difficulties, that is where resilience comes in. Balancing work, school, and the never ending responsibilities of adulthood has not always been easy, but I’ve learned to push through challenges while maintaining a grateful heart. I come from a long line of first responders, one of which being my dad. He has been my greatest example of resilience and courage. His job demands physical strength, emotional stability, and the ability to stay calm in the most difficult situations. Watching him dedicate his life to helping others, no matter the risk, has taught me what it truly means to persevere. I often reflect on the sacrifices he makes and the strength he shows every day. His example motivates me to stay strong, maintain a positive mindset, and face challenges head-on. Part of being resilient means displaying a level of selflessness. Having a giving heart is something that can be shown in both big and small. Working with children requires patience and a willingness to put their needs first. I believe that teaching is a profession not merely about academics, they are about shaping confident, compassionate, and contributing adults. Being selfless also means contributing to my community in meaningful ways, helping where I’m needed, and giving my time to others without expecting anything in return. In order to be resilient you must be focused and determined. Qualities that have guided me through paying for college independently and pursuing scholarships. I’ve set clear intentions for what I want to achieve, and I stay committed to those goals even when the path becomes uneven. I know that earning my degree in Elementary Education will take hard work and dedication, but I’m passionate about my efforts. My determination stems from a deep passion for education and a belief that teachers can make an incredible difference in a child’s life. Finally, my strong work ethic is what ties all these traits together. I approach every task with a strong commitment. I believe that excellence is built through consistency, not convenience. I intend to become a teacher who inspires curiosity, confidence, and kindness in every student. I want to create a classroom where children feel seen, supported, and excited to learn. I am pursuing a degree in Elementary Education because I believe education is one of the most powerful tools for shaping the future. Teaching to me, means using my strengths to uplift others, leading by example, and showing through my actions what it means to care deeply about the people around me.

I am interested in becoming an educator because I believe that it is the most impactful way that I will be able to make a difference in the world. I have always found joy in helping others learn but over the years I have discovered that teaching isn't just about helping kids learn, it's being a person they can lean on in times of hardship and challenge. As I reflect on my own education journey I realized the years I have thrived overall have correlated with the years that I have had the most loving, caring, involved, and kind hearted teachers. The reason I am going into teaching is in hopes of being as amazing as those who came before me. those who pushed me, comforted me, and guided me through those tough moments when I needed not only a mentor but also a friend. I owe my career and my academic success to the following; Mrs. Kate Wilson, Mrs. Molly Freese, Mr. Micheal Pederson, Mrs. Ashley Hadley, Mrs. Kaylee Knust, Mrs. Maddison Amsler, Mrs. Caitlan Heuscher, and Mrs. Ellie Connell. I knew in my heart that I was meant to teach young children. A quote from Dr. McHazlett, La Grange ISD Superintendent, resonated deeply with me: "Kids who are loved at home come to school to learn, kids who aren't come to school to be loved." At that moment, I knew teaching was my purpose. As i peruse a career in education I have been able to intern at Woodland Montessori school in Kalispell MT to experience the day to day procedure of an alternative school while also working closely with teachers who have worked in both public and private schools. I have also received the opportunity to observe my nanny kids transition into a homeschool co-op program locally run in our community and have been able to sit with them, tutor them and cater too their different learning styles to help them flourish. I have done this all within the past year and have loved every second of it. I am more certain now than ever before that teaching young children is my life's purpose. Shortly after settling on teaching elementary age children I discovered Montana Western. A number of my teachers, friends, and peers have attended UMW and have had nothing but positive and unforgettable experiences. Western really stood out to me due to the affordability along with the more than ideal scheduling since I will be working through college. I felt immediately drawn to UMW. I will be paying for my education out of pocket from the money I have saved up over the past two years and I knew with the amazing opportunities Western offers, I could pursue my passion without being in debt. Having the opportunity to gain scholarships would allow me to focus more heavily on my education. I have developed a strong passion for teaching and am confident that I can and will make a difference in numerous children's lives by demonstrating the care, love, compassion, and patience that has been given to me by the teachers who have come before me. Now that I have completed my high school career, I see the desperate need for kind, caring, compassionate, thoughtful, and dedicated teachers. I am far from perfect but I know this is my calling, this is my purpose, and some child is going to need the love, care, and kindness I can provide and I will be there ready to help them learn and grow in every way I can.

From a young age, I’ve always found myself drawn to the joy of helping others learn. What began as a simple love for caring for children grew into a deeper calling, a desire to become a teacher who not only educates but uplifts, supports, and inspires the next generation. For me, teaching is more than a career; it’s a way to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children every day. The decision to pursue teaching solidified during my seventh-grade year, one of the most challenging times in my life. I was navigating personal struggles, social change, and the emotional toll of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the chaos, one of my teachers consistently showed up for me offering encouragement, and compassion. Her belief in me helped me believe in myself, and I realized I wanted to be that person for someone else. Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to gaining hands-on experience with children. I’ve worked as a nanny for five years, interned at Woodland Montessori School, and supported students in a local homeschool co-op. These roles have shaped me into a patient, empathetic, and resourceful ‘educator-in-training’. I’ve seen first-hand how small gestures, like a smile, a listening ear, or a word of encouragement, can impact a child’s confidence and sense of belonging. In the fall of 2025, I will attend the University of Montana Western in Dillon to pursue a degree in Elementary Education for grades K-8. I chose UMW for its strong education program, affordability, and flexible scheduling that supports working students. While attending, I plan to participate in their unique Rule-School program, where upperclassmen gain experience leading local classrooms on Fridays. This opportunity will help me grow into a confident, capable teacher before I even graduate. My ultimate goal is to teach in a small-town or rural public school, much like the ones I attended. I want to create a classroom that feels safe, welcoming, and full of possibility. I believe all children deserve a teacher who sees them for who they are, who values their voice, and who challenges them to grow, not just academically, but emotionally and socially as well. Teaching is my purpose. I want to be the person a child remembers not just for the lessons I taught, but for the way I made them feel. With every student I meet, I hope to be a source of stability, encouragement, and belief, and in doing so, make a lifelong impact.