In my freshman year of college, I was at physical training for Army ROTC when I found out my aunt had passed away. We were extremely close; she was my best friend, and her sudden death devastated me. I became severely depressed, and even getting out of bed everyday was a struggle, let alone going to my classes. Because of this, my grades suffered, and I finished my freshman year with a GPA of 2.05. I lost my Bright Futures scholarship, quit ROTC, and decided to take a year off of school to get a handle on my mental health. I stayed home, and started seeing a therapist. In September of 2021, I got a job at the elementary school I had gone to as a kid. I was working for the Boys and Girls Club, the after school care program. I loved it, and I loved the kids. Knowing that I was making a positive difference in the lives of children, many of which were from unstable homes or in the foster system, meant so much to me. In January, the school asked me to work as a substitute, and I agreed. I have now been substituting for the ESE facilitator for the school while she is on maternity leave. I work with fourth and fifth grade students who have an IEP, (individualized education plan), and help them with their work so they don’t fall behind, making sure they understand the content and complete their assignments. I love being able to help the kids that struggle to learn the way everyone else does. They remind me so much of myself growing up, and helping them succeed in school is the most fulfilling thing I can imagine. Last week, all of my fifth graders tested out of their SIPPS program (a phonics and sight words program) and it brought me to tears because I was so incredibly proud of the progress they had made. I love these kids like they’re my own, and I can’t wait to see the amount of progress they make. I am applying for this scholarship because I want to continue to make a difference for these kids. I want to get my degree and become a teacher, or an ESE facilitator, and continue working in the education field. I never imagined that I’d want to work with kids for the rest of my life, but since taking these jobs, I have realized that it’s what I want to do with my future.