If I could make a class that all students K-12 would be required to take, it would have to be a financial literacy class. While it may seem too advanced for the younger grades, it would be very easy to simplify it in a way they would be able to understand, and have games and activities that could simulate spending money. I believe that this would have a great impact on getting our next generations prepared for the economy and how to manage their finances. I remember that, as my high school did not even offer a financial literacy class, I was so confused when it came to paying my taxes for the first time. I was also confused when I began to apply for a credit card, never being taught what an APR is until college. There is information that supports the impact a financial literacy class would have on our society. In the article, "Teaching Kids to Manage Money Yields Big Returns, Research Says," written by Daniel Leonard, Leonard talks about how a study done in 2023 showed that students who received financial literacy education achieved better credit outcomes and managed their money more efficiently. Not only would financial literacy improve spending and credit, it could possibly bridge the socioeconomic wealth gap as students from all backgrounds would have access to valuable economic information. Again, as I stated earlier, the progression of financial literacy from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade isn't all that complicated. At the elementary level (K-5) the focus would be teaching the basics of money, basic budgeting, and distinguishing the difference between wants and needs. You can teach all of this through lessons, of course, math lessons probably being the easiest to incorporate financial literacy into; but you can also use a class rewards system to teach the basics of money, budgeting, and wants vs needs. Students can earn class "money" (which could be monopoly money or fake money) when they finish assignments or class activities--this mirrors the workforce, working and in turn being paid for completing work--and maybe once a week, students may purchase a reward. Students can learn budgeting by having to save up for the reward they may really want. You could implement the spending of class money to also teach wants vs needs by having students use their class money to "purchase" supplies they may have forgotten to bring (i.e. a pencil). At the middle and high school level, financial literacy is much easier to teach as the students have a more comprehensive level of understanding when it comes to the idea of money. At the middle school level, you would most likely focus on the topics of budgeting, emergency funds, and things like debt. Again, these can all be incorporated with math classes as well as FACS classes. At the high school level, we can begin to go into the more advanced topics of economics and financial literacy. The focus should dive into the idea of credit, taxes, investments, retirement plans, student loans, and other topics like rates and interest. I believe truly that requiring financial literacy to be taught at every level in the American school system will boost not only our students' comprehension of money and spending, but also improve the nation's economy.

One of my firmest beliefs in life is that empathy is the most important trait for a person to learn. Growing up, I didn't have the easiest time in school. I often got bullied, which was due to not having the best home life with my parents. However, I was raised primarily by my grandparents, with whom I spent every weekend. My grandfather is a preacher, and I was always taught about how Jesus loved everyone, no matter who they were or what their past was. My grandparents were key teachers in my life, and showed me how to be empathetic and kind to everyone, the way every good individual should. Every Sunday, we went to church, and while I was very shy when I was younger, as I got older, I began to help out and volunteer with events the church and my grandparents would host. My grandparents truly believed in helping the community, as well as communities that lacked access to the goods we can easily obtain here in America. I remember when I was about 10 years old, helping my grandparents collect funds during church revivals and conferences to help a couple they knew in Pakistan who were trying to build an orphanage. This is something that to this day they still help fund. Helping others was a significant foundation in my grandparents' philosophy. They have sent blankets and clothes to a small Christian village in India, where they are good friends with the pastor, and they send money every month to help out as well. My grandmother was a big advocate for women as well, especially women who have suffered from domestic and sexual assault/violence. Once a year, she helps host uplifting women's conferences where survivors can come share their stories, and meet other women who have gone through similar experiences--showing them they are not alone-- while simultaneously building a safe network for these women. A few summers I have gone to help her with these conferences, and as a survivor of sexual assault as well, these conferences move me. Growing up, I was taught to be kind to everyone. Having grandparents who showed me by example how to be kind and help anyone in need really helped develop my own morals and belief in just how powerful empathy can be. This is one thing I would love to be able to pass on to my future students. I hope to host fundraisers or clubs that can help people in need in my community, and it will help show students just how easy it is to be kind. Kindness is a skill that can be used in all aspects of life, and it is one of the most important lessons a teacher can pass on to their students. I hope that with my experiences of seeing all walks of life and being able to put myself in an individual's shoes, I will be able to create a kind and loving environment in my classroom, and be able to pass on that kindness to my students.

One way I plan to give back to others is to donate my time to help tutor students for free after hours. This is something my high school offered that certain teachers would sign up for and I always found it admirable. I would love to do this as well for students if the future school I work at allows me to do so. I’m very skilled in social studies and english, so I would be able to help in an array of specialties that students may need help with. I would likely stay over time, two days a week to tutor students who need it, maybe more depending on my future schedules, no one knows what life may bring. While it’s not a monetary way of giving back to others, I do think it would be a big help to some students. I often was never close to any of my teachers. I was a very shy kid and teachers often never noticed me, and even counted me absent when I was present in class. I always felt overlooked, uncared for, and just ignored. That is until I met Mrs. Terhaar-Lyon, or Mrs. T. She was my PCC teacher in freshman year, and while I struggled often, Mrs. T never gave up on me. She always tried her best to make me feel included and to get me to open up. Mrs. T was the only one who ever reached out. I then went on to take the fashion classes, which she taught. She continued to bring me out of my shell and truly inspired me to want to become a teacher. I hope to bring the same energy into my teaching career. I want all students to feel included and encouraged to interact in the class, to make friends, and to be more extroverted. I feel if students feel more comfortable, included, and wanted in a space, they are more willing to put themselves into the learning environment. I find they are more interested in learning than classes where it’s strictly textbook, by the standards, and outright robotic! I feel if I include my students, talk to them, and leave no one behind, they will be more willing to explore my passion of learning, and hopefully they will feel the same. I think every teacher should try to build relationships like these with students, because when a student feels connected to the educator, they will listen to the lesson.

I honestly always had a hard time sitting and reading books. It took an uber interesting book to make me really feel immersed, and I hadn’t had that experience since reading the Geronimo Stilton books back in elementary school! Being on Tiktok though, I’ve seen countless booktok videos on my FYP that have made me reconsider my views on reading. It started with the book Icebreaker by Hannah Grace. I wasn’t always one for juvenile romance novels, as my books of choice in high school and middle school were historical fictions, but I have to say this one pulled me in so much. Reading about the back and forth of Anastasia and Nate, an ice skater and a hockey player, both drastic opposite ends of ice skating related sports. The constant twists and turns and enemies to lovers really enticed me and brought me back to a love of reading. Since then I have bought Hannah Grace’s second book in the same series, called Wildfire, which I am about halfway through and loving! I also went on to read more booktok books such as Twisted Love, Haunting Adeline, and I recently bought A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR). I’ve also went on to now indulge even more books that aren’t too popular on booktok. I’ve found a huge love for society critiques/philisophical books. I have read Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche, and thoroughly enjoyed the novel, especially as a history nerd. I also really enjoyed the poetic ways in which it was written. I have two more books of the same nature I am starting to read that are definitely on my booktok bookshelf. These books would be The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath by Sylvia Plath, and Lolita by Vladimir Nobkov. I love a piece that critiques the harsh aspects of our society that others often find too taboo to talk about, even when it is to criticize! That’s why I have a real appreciation for Lolita, a book meant to make you feel ill, written from a perverted perspective of a pedophilic man. People are often afraid to bring up the subject of this, and so many believe this book glorifies pedophilia (as the movies kind of do). But when reading the book you truly do feel sick to the stomach and it shows you just how awful some people in our society can truly be, and how we’ve almost, normalized, this. In a gist, I’ve read SO much more in the past year! Reading so many different genres has really opened me up to a whole new world. I’ve read romance, fantasy, philosophy, and so much more! If I had to pick some books for my bookshelf, I would pick these; Icebreaker and Wildfire by Hannah Grace, Haunting Adeline by H. D. Carlton, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath by Sylvia Plath, and lastly Twisted Love by Ana Huang. These books have been my favorite reads so far, and I cannot wait to explore the literary world more.