May 3rd, 2019, was the best day of my life. I had worked hard and tried to succeed for my whole life because my biggest dream was to go to the University of Georgia. In my senior year of high school, I was stressed out at least five out of seven days per week. I had taken the ACT 5 times, I was applying for any and every scholarship, I had club meetings every week, and worst of all, I was on the waitlist for admission into the University of Georgia. I spent months praying, manifesting, hoping, and thinking to myself..." I have done so much- yet have I done enough?" But on May 3rd, I received my acceptance, and everything came into place at the last minute. One thousand five hundred students were waiting patiently with me for three months to see if we would get denied or accepted; in the end, the University welcomed 150 students, and I am so blessed to be one of them. I am passionate about receiving my education because teaching has been my dream for as long as I can remember, and in order to pursue this dream, it is crucial to receive higher education! In my sophomore year of High School, I learned about the wonders of Spanish, and I realized that teaching Spanish was my true passion. I have a major in Spanish Education at the University of Georgia and a Dance minor. My future goals include receiving a Master's degree, potentially a Doctorate, and becoming a Public High School or University Teacher. I am blessed to come from a family of educators. My grandmother, grandfather, three of my aunts, two of my cousins, and mother are or have been educators. I am excited to share my love of Spanish with my future students. More importantly, I want to build strong relationships with them to reach their full potential. I realize that my class will be a stepping-stone to another career for most of them. They may not become Spanish teachers like me, but I want them to know that they can achieve their dreams. As stated by Michelle Obama, "When you've worked hard and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity..you do not slam it shut behind you..you reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed". I want them to know that I care about them as people and as students! I feel that my calling is to shape the future and make the world more inclusive and equal for all! I wish to pursue a career in world language education at the University of Georgia because this has been my dream for as long as I can remember. I have taken every step necessary to pursue education. This includes field work, classes, volunteer opportunities and service, and a passion for education. I look forward to my journey in education and hope to make a positive impact in the lives of my future students, and this scholarship will help me do so.

I want to inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more. My parents taught me that to make my dreams a reality, I must have faith that they will come true, work hard, and be nice! I have learned to have integrity, be positive, flexible, committed, and appreciate the gifts of others, collaborate with others, and inspire them to become better. Teaching has been my dream for as long as I can remember! In High School, I learned about the wonders of Spanish and realized that teaching was my true passion. I plan to utilize my education, and achieve success by majoring in Spanish Education and becoming a Georgia Public High School Teacher. This scholarship will support me in fulfilling my dream of being a teacher and provide me with the financial assistance that I need to graduate college next year. I am excited to share my love of Spanish with future high school students. More importantly, I want to build strong relationships with them so they can reach their full potential; I realize that for most of them my class will be a stepping-stone to another career. They may not become Spanish teachers; but I want them to know they can achieve their dreams. I feel that it is my calling to shape the future and I am excited to be a part of this most noble profession!

Nelson Mandella once said, "It always seems impossible until it is done." My parents taught me that to make my dreams a reality, I must have faith that they will come true, work hard, and be nice! I have faith and have been encouraged by many, which is why I have made it this far in pursuing my dreams of becoming an educator. I want to inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more. I have taken advantage of several opportunities to develop my leadership skills. For example, I have participated in the Suwanee Youth Leadership Program, the UGA NAACP, the UGA Red Cross as an Executive Board member, and the National Honors Society. I taught Advisement to freshmen as a part of the High School Ridge Leadership Team, and I served as president of the National Honors Society of Dance Arts. Currently, I serve in my community as a Vacation Bible School teacher, I teach choreography, I serve as a community helper for Girls on the Run, and I love supporting the Junior League of Gwinnett and North Fulton's annual Girls Workshop. I love teaching, and my current jobs demonstrate that! In the summer and during holidays, I teach for Georgia Gymnastics. While at UGA, I teach and monitor group fitness at the Ramsey Student Center while maintaining a 3.6 GPA. I have integrity! I am optimistic, flexible, and committed. I also appreciate the gifts of others, collaborate with others, and inspire them to become better! Teaching has been my dream for as long as I can remember! My kindergarten teacher was so kind to me, and encouraging. She made me feel smart and that I could do anything. She was a black woman, and very strong. Naturally, I wanted to be just like her: an educator who makes a difference. In my sophomore year of High School, I learned about the wonders of Spanish, and I realized that teaching Spanish was my true passion. My Spanish teacher helped me fall in love with the language; I aspire to pass this love on to other students. I plan to utilize my education by majoring in Spanish Education and becoming a Georgia Public High School Teacher. Gwinnett County Public Schools has already given me a Promise Letter if I choose to work for their system once I finish my Bachelor's degree! This scholarship will support me in fulfilling my dream of being a teacher and provide me with the financial assistance that I need. I am blessed to come from a family of educators. My grandmother, grandfather, three of my aunts, two of my cousins, and mother are or have been educators. Education is important to me because I want to share my love of Spanish with my future high school students. More importantly, I want to build strong relationships with them to reach their full potential; I realize that my class will be a stepping-stone to another career for most of them. Like me, they may not become Spanish teachers, but I want them to know they can achieve their dreams. I want them to know that I care about them as people and as students. It is my calling to shape the future, and I am excited to be a part of this noblest profession!

I met Lyrical when I was 2 years old. She was, and is, very special to me. The first time I held her hand, she spun me. She moved from town to town, but I always managed to keep in touch. I could dance with her even if it was a long journey to her. She was aloof, waltzing from place to place -sometimes close, sometimes far. She required me to do more; stretch myself, comit, and not just be a friend to play with once or twice a week. Her companionship became costly, however, I always found ways to be with her. She was pushy. Twice a week became everyday and one hour sessions became four. I was spinning like the first time, but now out of control. Careening, wheeling, spiraling - Inside turns. Outside turns. I needed to learn balance. Finally, I found my center, landing in a new position. I worked harder and spent time with her. We would not always get along. I would bend to her whim then snap at her command, the shift making my body ache. But I loved it. The thrill of another day with it. I loved it most in high school where I directed my will to the discipline of technique. In the process, I was introduced to even more friends that knew her as I did. Challenging. Formidable. Intimidating. Even though this relationship has demanded much from me, it has always been my inspiration. Lyrical is ballet. She is jazz. She is Contemporary. She is tap. She is dance. She is it. Dance is my art form, my hobby. It is the expression of my creativity through my body. My everyday struggles are diminished while spinning, leaping, and jumping. And my life continues to be enriched because of it.