Becoming a teacher at 21 is probably the best thing I've done so far in my life. As of June 2025, I just finished my first year as an Apprentice Teacher at Great Hearts Arlington. I teach kindergarten and it is such a bittersweet moment seeing my students grow up to become first graders. I am so proud of my class and how far they have come. They are the light in my life and are the ones who have had the most profound impact in my life to encourage me to work in education. I've always wanted to become an elementary teacher since I myself was in kindergarten. I have a picture of myself holding up a sign saying "elementary teacher" for what I wanted to be when I graduated from 5th grade. However, what made me realize that I am truly where I belong was my first class I taught with my lead teacher. They gave me strength to keep going forward every day. Their bright smiles and hearing their sweet voices call out "Ms. Gonzales, look what I made!" or "Look Ms. Gonzales at what I learned!" made me the happiest I've ever been. The first day of school was a hot mess! None of our students knew how to read or write, and it was up to us to teach them. Throughout the year, I got to teach lessons and sit one on one with my students to work on different assignments. When it got towards the end of the year, I realized that they knew how to do all these things such as read, write, climb the monkey bars, count to 150, and more. I'll never forget when I was reading with one of my students who had no idea how to read at the beginning of the year. He was sounding out the words in the book we were reading together and read the book to me. I was so proud of him and during my break I cried tears of joy from the fact that I just taught someone to read and gave them the gift of knowledge. It was that moment I knew I was where I belonged. If I were absent, my students would pile up the next day hugging me and saying how much they missed me. The funny thing is I always missed them too! I loved teaching lessons like the parts of a plant and reading books like Winnie the Pooh to them. It made me happy knowing they enjoyed learning because I was able to provide it in a safe, happy way. When it came to behavior, I didn't want to be someone to push away their feelings. Instead, I talked to them and reassured them that their feelings are valid and how we can improve our choices. I bonded with many students this way. I am still full-time at Great Hearts, and I plan on becoming a lead teacher after I graduate from Western Governors University next year. I cannot wait to bring more happiness and wisdom to the upcoming kindergarteners this year!

When people ask me, "Where do you work?", I always proudly respond with "I'm a teacher!". When they give me a gasp of surprise, they then proceed to ask, "what grade level?". This is my most favorite part, and it never gets old for me. I always respond with Kindergarten. I am always told either "good luck" or "bless your heart". That's when I have the biggest grin on my face because words cannot express my great passion for teaching the younger ones. I am first-generation latina, and although I am not becoming a doctor or lawyer, I believe being a teacher also has some of the best rewards like other career paths. For my elementary school graduation, my fifth grade teacher had us write on chalkboards what we wanted to be when we grew up. I still have the picture of my 11 year old self holding up the words "elementary teacher". I am now currently an apprentice teacher at Great Hearts. Everyday I wake up at 5 in the morning. I am always jumping up to start my day. I spend all day helping my students and forming relationships with them. Hearing these kids excitedly call out "Miss Gonzales" makes me smile. When I'm teaching math or phonograms and they don't get it, I keep going until I hear that "Oh! I get it now". I cannot wait to graduate and become a full-time lead teacher. I strive to be a teacher that my students and others can rely on. I want to be there for my team as well. I am excited to create lesson plans and activities that encourages the children to participate and yearn for more knowledge. Teaching the future generations of society is a great responsibility and it is my biggest goal in life. These children will be the walking path for our communities when they grow up. Being a teacher means I play a role in who they will become. As someone who went to a low-income school, I want to teach kids like me and my fellow peers who I grew up with. The community I grew up in deserves more education, so I plan on returning to teach in my hometown. My friends and I grew up together and we all had that one teacher who we were always excited to see that day because of how they taught the class. I want to be the cause for that sparkle in my students eyes too. I look forward to fulfilling my dream goal in changing lives and teaching kindergarten!

I will never forget October 22nd, 2023. I still remember the strong smell of fumes, the ringing in my ears, and the blood dripping out of my mouth. I had gotten into a car accident and had adrenaline pumping through my veins. I got out of the car and realized my car had tipped over and was totaled. That day I ended up in the hospital with my partner who was in the car with me. During this time, I had just started my new job as an afterschool teacher at the school in my neighborhood. It has always been my dream to become a teacher. However, I was beaten up with scars, bruises, and a severe concussion. I would forget things sometimes because of the impact to my brain from the force of the big SUV that ran into me. The first person I called at the hospital was my boss to let her know I wasn't going to be able to go in the next day as I was hooked up to saline from all my blood loss. I couldn't drive. I couldn't eat. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't even walk by myself. I couldn't stop crying for days after what had happened. The memory of the crash kept playing in my head over and over. I was terrified to go into a car which made travel hard, even to work. However, I knew I had to overcome this obstacle to achieve my dream of becoming a teacher. I worked extremely hard to overcome the trauma I had. I've been recently diagnosed with PTSD, not just from this incident, but this was a major factor. Because I pushed myself to keep going forward and not break down every day, I am now an Apprentice Teacher at my neighborhood school. I tell my students every day that they can do hard things because they are capable. They are smart, loved, and kind. This is what I had to remind myself of when things were so rough after the accident. Now I lead by example and show my students that if I don't give up, they shouldn't either. Although this experience was horrific, I would not go back in time to change this obstacle and take it out of my course. I am who I am today because of it. It makes me love more and care more for everyone, especially my students. I tell them how strong they are and how they can overcome anything. I am glad that I can give them advice from first-hand experience of having to go through such a scary thing.

Growing up I noticed that I viewed things differently from others. I worried and cared so much more than I should've, and I repeated steps over and over until it felt right to me. This led to me being teased a lot in school and even by my own family. When I was 6, I had one of my very first panic attacks. I felt like I was dying and was scared and confused. Then, when they continued, my parents took me to the ER where I was diagnosed with severe anxiety. When I was 13, everyone called me a moody teenager. I couldn't hold onto relationships like I wanted to because I worried too much and cared more than they did. I always believed something was wrong with me. I went on through high school struggling with my faith and friendships. I became anorexic and suicidal when I felt all was lost. I've attempted suicide twice, and both times failed. I felt like no one was able to understand my emotions. I felt everything so much more than others and I hated it. I had quit theater, band, and wasn't sure of what I wanted for myself. However, one thing I was always certain of was what I wanted to do when I graduated. I've always wanted to be a teacher. I wanted to make my students feel welcome and loved no matter what they were going through. Here I am at 21, working at a school and having my own students as an Apprentice Teacher. This is what I use my big feelings for. I feel more than others, so I have so much love and care for my students. I have worked up the courage to go to therapy so I can be the absolute best for myself and my students. They give me strength every day! After deciding to take a further step in healing my mental health, I went to a psychiatrist to help me out alongside therapy. I have been diagnosed with OCD, severe anxiety, major depression disorder, and borderline personality disorder. These are the things that do not define me but affect my perspective on life. I've reconnected with my faith and have the absolute best friends ever to support me through these hardships. I am glad that I am alive today to make a difference in the world. It all starts with the future generations of society, and not only am I here to teach them english and math, but I am also here to teach them that they are invaluable to this world and will always be loved no matter how hard things may be. I aspire to become the teacher I needed when I was younger.

When people ask me, "what are you majoring in?", I always proudly respond with "Bilingual education". When they give me a gasp of surprise, they then proceed to ask, "what grade level?". This is my most favorite part about being in college, and it never gets old for me. I always respond with elementary. I am always told either "good luck" or "bless your heart". That's when I have the biggest grin on my face because words cannot express my great passion for teaching the younger ones. I am first-generation latina, and although I am not becoming a doctor or lawyer, I believe being a teacher has the best rewards apart from any other career path. My favorite time in school was fifth grade because of my amazing teacher. Her name was Mrs. Breece. I remember her constantly encouraging my peers and I to keep doing our best. Since we were not from a highly-funded school district, she would use her own money to buy us prizes and school supplies. I will never forget her lessons and how much fun she made them. This greatly inspired me. For my elementary school graduation, Mrs. Breece had us write on chalkboards what we wanted to be when we grew up. I still have the picture of my 11 year old self holding up the words "elementary teacher". I am now currently a substitute teacher and a part-time afterschool kindergarten teacher. When I get that call in the morning asking me to come in because a teacher is out, I am always jumping up to the task as soon as possible. I spend all day either getting to learn new names and new faces, or returning to a class that I've been in before. Hearing these kids excitedly call out "Miss Gonzales" makes me smile. When I'm teaching cursive or phonograms and they don't get it, I keep going until I hear that "Oh! I get it now". It makes me happy when I am able to reach my students like Mrs. Breece did. I cannot wait to graduate and become a full-time lead teacher. I strive to be a teacher that my students and others can rely on. I want to be there for my team as well, and create lesson plans and activities that encourages the children to participate and yearn for more knowledge. Teaching the future generations of society is a great responsibility and it is my biggest goal in life. These children will be the walking path for our communities when they grow up. Being a teacher means I play a role in who they will become. As someone who went to a low-income school, I want to teach kids like me and my fellow peers who I grew up with. The community I grew up in deserves more education, so I plan on returning to teach what I've learned in life to my future students. Me and my friends I grew up with all have that one teacher who we were excited to see that day because of how they taught the class, and I want to be the cause for that sparkle in my students eyes too.

When people ask me, "what are you majoring in?", I always proudly respond with "Bilingual education". When they give me a gasp of surprise, they then proceed to ask, "what grade level?". This is my most favorite part about being in college, and it never gets old for me. I always respond with elementary. I am always told either "good luck" or "bless your heart". That's when I have the biggest grin on my face because words cannot express my great passion for teaching the younger ones. I am first-generation latina, and although I am not becoming a doctor or lawyer, I believe being a teacher has the best rewards apart from any other career path. For my elementary school graduation, my fifth grade teacher had us write on chalkboards what we wanted to be when we grew up. I still have the picture of my 11 year old self holding up the words "elementary teacher". I am now currently a substitute teacher and a part-time afterschool kindergarten teacher. When I get that call in the morning asking me to come in because a teacher is out, I am always jumping up to the task as soon as possible. I spend all day either getting to learn new names and new faces, or returning to a class that I've been in before. Hearing these kids excitedly call out "Miss Gonzales" makes me smile. When I'm teaching cursive or phonograms and they don't get it, I keep going until I hear that "Oh! I get it now". I cannot wait to graduate and become a full-time lead teacher. I strive to be a teacher that my students and others can rely on. I want to be there for my team as well, and create lesson plans and activities that encourages the children to participate and yearn for more knowledge. Teaching the future generations of society is a great responsibility and it is my biggest goal in life. These children will be the walking path for our communities when they grow up. Being a teacher means I play a role in who they will become. As someone who went to a low-income school, I want to teach kids like me and my fellow peers who I grew up with. The community I grew up in deserves more education, so I plan on returning to teach what I've learned in life to my future students. Me and my friends I grew up with all have that one teacher who we were excited to see that day because of how they taught the class, and I want to be the cause for that sparkle in my students eyes too.

Minecraft was a game that holds a special place in my heart for a number of reasons. It was a game that brought me and my family together in times of desperation and anguish. Minecraft led me to experience a joyous and fulfilling world that could keep me company for hours on end. Yes it was a bit addictive, but it also took me away from my childhood problems. I first discovered Minecraft in 2010 through my uncle who was an avid PC gamer. I remember the game still being in its early stages due to the fact that the hunger bar next to the hearts were yet to be added. It was a unique gameplay experience that I'd had never seen before so it deeply intrigued me and led to inquire about it. I watched videos learning about the new mobs and new settings like the nether and the later addition of the end and how to navigate through them as well as the different sets of bosses and equipment i could get through the game. I started playing a lot more when my cousins introduced me to online servers through the PC. Our PCs were really old at the time so looking back it serves as notable nostalgia and reminds of how far I've developed. My cousin learned how to set up servers by tying each of our IP addresses together which I still have no clue how to do. Later down the line online play became readily accessible to everybody so it became a lot easier to set up servers which prompted us to play even more. For a time, I let the game go because I had completed everything there was to complete like killing the ender dragon with full enchantment stacks on my armor, killing the wither and making beacons with the nether star it drops, and the most fun of all, using the elytras i found to fly around the world and explore places I would've been too lazy to venture to. I recently picked it back up in 2020 when I heard about the release of a new and improved ore to diamonds called netherite. I started playing a lot more that year specifically due to the Covid-19 lockdown which reignited my passion for the game which made me even more excited for the cave update that was being rumored to come out the following year. All in all, Minecraft has and will hold a dear place in my heart for the abundant amount of memories and experiences and I will continue to play as new updates come along.

When people ask me, "what are you majoring in?", I always proudly respond with "Bilingual education". When they give me a gasp of surprise, they then proceed to ask, "what grade level?". This is my most favorite part about being in college, and it never gets old for me. I always respond with elementary. I am always told either "good luck" or "bless your heart". That's when I have the biggest grin on my face because words cannot express my great passion for teaching the younger ones. I am first-generation latina, and although I am not becoming a doctor or lawyer, I believe being a teacher has the best rewards apart from any other career path. For my elementary school graduation, my fifth grade teacher had us write on chalkboards what we wanted to be when we grew up. I still have the picture of my 11 year old self holding up the words "elementary teacher". I am now currently a substitute teacher and a part-time afterschool kindergarten teacher. When I get that call in the morning asking me to come in because a teacher is out, I am always jumping up to the task as soon as possible. I spend all day either getting to learn new names and new faces, or returning to a class that I've been in before. Hearing these kids excitedly call out "Miss Gonzales" makes me smile. When I'm teaching cursive or phonograms and they don't get it, I keep going until I hear that "Oh! I get it now". I cannot wait to graduate and become a full-time lead teacher. I strive to be a teacher that my students and others can rely on. I want to be there for my team as well, and create lesson plans and activities that encourages the children to participate and yearn for more knowledge. Teaching the future generations of society is a great responsibility and it is my biggest goal in life. These children will be the walking path for our communities when they grow up. Being a teacher means I play a role in who they will become. As someone who went to a low-income school, I want to teach kids like me and my fellow peers who I grew up with. The community I grew up in deserves more education, so I plan on returning to teach what I've learned in life to my future students. Me and my friends I grew up with all have that one teacher who we were excited to see that day because of how they taught the class, and I want to be the cause for that sparkle in my students eyes too.

When people ask me, "what are you majoring in?", I always proudly respond with "Bilingual education". When they give me a gasp of surprise, they then proceed to ask, "what grade level?". This is my most favorite part about being in college, and it never gets old for me. I always respond with elementary. I am always told either "good luck" or "bless your heart". That's when I have the biggest grin on my face because words cannot express my great passion for teaching the younger ones. I am first-generation latina, and although I am not becoming a doctor or lawyer, I believe being a teacher has the best rewards apart from any other career path. For my elementary school graduation, my fifth grade teacher had us write on chalkboards what we wanted to be when we grew up. I still have the picture of my 11 year old self holding up the words "elementary teacher". I am now currently a substitute teacher and a part-time afterschool kindergarten teacher. When I get that call in the morning asking me to come in because a teacher is out, I am always jumping up to the task as soon as possible. I spend all day either getting to learn new names and new faces, or returning to a class that I've been in before. Hearing these kids excitedly call out "Miss Gonzales" makes me smile. When I'm teaching cursive or phonograms and they don't get it, I keep going until I hear that "Oh! I get it now". I cannot wait to graduate and become a full-time lead teacher. I strive to be a teacher that my students and others can rely on. I want to be there for my team as well, and create lesson plans and activities that encourages the children to participate and yearn for more knowledge. Teaching the future generations of society is a great responsibility and it is my biggest goal in life. These children will be the walking path for our communities when they grow up. Being a teacher means I play a role in who they will become. As someone who went to a low-income school, I want to teach kids like me and my fellow peers who I grew up with. The community I grew up in deserves more education, so I plan on returning to teach what I've learned in life to my future students. Me and my friends I grew up with all have that one teacher who we were excited to see that day because of how they taught the class, and I want to be the cause for that sparkle in my students eyes too.

When people ask me, "what are you majoring in?", I always proudly respond with "Bilingual education". When they give me a gasp of surprise, they then proceed to ask, "what grade level?". This is my most favorite part about being in college, and it never gets old for me. I always respond with elementary. I am always told either "good luck" or "bless your heart". That's when I have the biggest grin on my face because words cannot express my great passion for teaching the younger ones. I am first-generation latina, and although I am not becoming a doctor or lawyer, I believe being a teacher has the best rewards apart from any other career path. For my elementary school graduation, my fifth grade teacher had us write on chalkboards what we wanted to be when we grew up. I still have the picture of my 11 year old self holding up the words "elementary teacher". I am now currently a substitute teacher and a part-time afterschool kindergarten teacher. When I get that call in the morning asking me to come in because a teacher is out, I am always jumping up to the task as soon as possible. I spend all day either getting to learn new names and new faces, or returning to a class that I've been in before. Hearing these kids excitedly call out "Miss Gonzales" makes me smile. When I'm teaching cursive or phonograms and they don't get it, I keep going until I hear that "Oh! I get it now". I cannot wait to graduate and become a full-time lead teacher. I strive to be a teacher that my students and others can rely on. I want to be there for my team as well, and create lesson plans and activities that encourages the children to participate and yearn for more knowledge. Teaching the future generations of society is a great responsibility and it is my biggest goal in life. These children will be the walking path for our communities when they grow up. As someone who went to a low-income school, I want to teach kids like me and my fellow peers who I grew up with. The community I grew up in deserves more education, so I plan on returning to teach what I've learned in life to my future students. Me and my friends I grew up with all have that one teacher who we were excited to see that day because of how they taught the class, and I want to be the cause for that sparkle in my students eyes too.

When people ask me, "what are you majoring in?", I always proudly respond with "Bilingual education". When they give me a gasp of surprise, they then proceed to ask, "what grade level?". This is my most favorite part about being in college, and it never gets old for me. I always respond with elementary. I am always told either "good luck" or "bless your heart". That's when I have the biggest grin on my face because words cannot express my great passion for teaching the younger ones. I am first-generation latina, and although I am not becoming a doctor or lawyer, I believe being a teacher has the best rewards apart from any other career path. For my elementary school graduation, my fifth grade teacher had us write on chalkboards what we wanted to be when we grew up. I still have the picture of my 11 year old self holding up the words "elementary teacher". I am now currently a substitute teacher and a part-time afterschool kindergarten teacher. When I get that call in the morning asking me to come in because a teacher is out, I am always jumping up to the task as soon as possible. I spend all day either getting to learn new names and new faces, or returning to a class that I've been in before. Hearing these kids excitedly call out "Miss Gonzales" makes me smile. When I'm teaching cursive or phonograms and they don't get it, I keep going until I hear that "Oh! I get it now". I cannot wait to graduate and become a full-time lead teacher. I strive to be a teacher that my students and others can rely on. I want to be there for my team as well, and create lesson plans and activities that encourages the children to participate and yearn for more knowledge. Teaching the future generations of society is a great responsibility and it is my biggest goal in life. These children will be the walking path for our communities when they grow up. As someone who went to a low-income school, I want to teach kids like me and my fellow peers who I grew up with. The community I grew up in deserves more education, so I plan on returning to teach what I've learned in life to my future students. Me and my friends I grew up with all have that one teacher who we were excited to see that day because of how they taught the class, and I want to be the cause for that sparkle in my students eyes too.

When people ask me, "what are you majoring in?", I always proudly respond with "Bilingual education". When they give me a gasp of surprise, they then proceed to ask, "what grade level?". This is my most favorite part about being in college, and it never gets old for me. I always respond with elementary. I am always told either "good luck" or "bless your heart". That's when I have the biggest grin on my face because words cannot express my great passion for teaching the younger ones. I am first-generation latina, and although I am not becoming a doctor or lawyer, I believe being a teacher has the best rewards apart from any other career path. For my elementary school graduation, my fifth grade teacher had us write on chalkboards what we wanted to be when we grew up. I still have the picture of my 11 year old self holding up the words "elementary teacher". I have a plethora of teachers that I remember from heart. I aspire to incorporate their teaching styles and methods into mine. Their words are what always got me going. Two teachers who inspired me the most were my JROTC Senior Army Instructors. They allowed me to express myself in our classes and sometimes let me lead discussions. This is what helped me get a kick start on my confidence and teaching skills. I enjoyed helping my peers learn about the things we were doing in class. It was my favorite part about high school. I continued to ask for advice from my two teachers about what I could do to improve my skills and I continued to incorporate that into my teaching. I still remember the things they've taught me so I can better myself for my students. I strive to be a teacher that my students and others can rely on. I want to be there for my team as well, and create lesson plans and activities that encourages the children to participate and yearn for more knowledge. Teaching the future generations of society is a great responsibility and it is my biggest goal in life. As someone who went to a low-income school, I want to teach kids like me and my fellow peers who I grew up with. We all have that one teacher who we were excited to see that day because of how they taught the class, and I want to be the cause for that sparkle in my students eyes too. I am now currently a substitute teacher and a part-time afterschool kindergarten teacher. When I get that call in the morning asking me to come in because a teacher is out, I am always jumping up to the task as soon as possible. I spend all day either getting to learn new names and new faces, or returning to a class that I've been in before. Hearing these kids excitedly call out "Miss Gonzales" makes me smile. When I'm teaching cursive or phonograms and they don't get it, I keep going until I hear that "Oh! I get it now". I cannot wait to graduate and become a full-time lead teacher.

When people ask me, "what are you majoring in?", I always proudly respond with "Bilingual education". When they give me a gasp of surprise, they then proceed to ask, "what grade level?". This is my most favorite part about being in college, and it never gets old for me. I always respond with elementary. I am always told either "good luck" or "bless your heart". That's when I have the biggest grin on my face because words cannot express my great passion for teaching the younger ones. I am first-generation latina, and although I am not becoming a doctor or lawyer, I believe being a teacher has the best rewards apart from any other career path. For my elementary school graduation, my fifth grade teacher had us write on chalkboards what we wanted to be when we grew up. I still have the picture of my 11 year old self holding up the words "elementary teacher". I am now currently a substitute teacher and a part-time afterschool kindergarten teacher. When I get that call in the morning asking me to come in because a teacher is out, I am always jumping up to the task as soon as possible. I spend all day either getting to learn new names and new faces, or returning to a class that I've been in before. Hearing these kids excitedly call out "Miss Gonzales" makes me smile. When I'm teaching cursive or phonograms and they don't get it, I keep going until I hear that "Oh! I get it now". I cannot wait to graduate and become a full-time lead teacher. I have a plethora of teachers that I remember from heart. I aspire to incorporate their teaching styles and methods into mine. Their words are what always got me going. Two teachers who inspired me the most were my JROTC Senior Army Instructors. They allowed me to express myself in our classes and sometimes let me lead discussions. This is what helped me get a kick start on my confidence and teaching skills. I enjoyed helping my peers learn about the things we were doing in class. It was my favorite part about high school. I strive to be a teacher that my students and others can rely on. I want to be there for my team as well, and create lesson plans and activities that encourages the children to participate and yearn for more knowledge. Teaching the future generations of society is a great responsibility and it is my biggest goal in life. As someone who went to a low-income school, I want to teach kids like me and my fellow peers who I grew up with. We all have that one teacher who we were excited to see that day because of how they taught the class, and I want to be the cause for that sparkle in my students eyes too.

When people ask me, "what are you majoring in?", I always proudly respond with "Bilingual education". When they give me a gasp of surprise, they then proceed to ask, "what grade level?". This is my most favorite part about being in college, and it never gets old for me. I always respond with elementary. I am always told either "good luck" or "bless your heart". That's when I have the biggest grin on my face because words cannot express my great passion for teaching the younger ones. I am first-generation latina, and although I am not becoming a doctor or lawyer, I believe being a teacher has the best rewards apart from any other career path. For my elementary school graduation, my fifth grade teacher had us write on chalkboards what we wanted to be when we grew up. I still have the picture of my 11 year old self holding up the words "elementary teacher". I am now currently a substitute teacher and a part-time afterschool kindergarten teacher. When I get that call in the morning asking me to come in because a teacher is out, I am always jumping up to the task as soon as possible. I spend all day either getting to learn new names and new faces, or returning to a class that I've been in before. Hearing these kids excitedly call out "Miss Gonzales" makes me smile. When I'm teaching cursive or phonograms and they don't get it, I keep going until I hear that "Oh! I get it now". I cannot wait to graduate and become a full-time lead teacher. I have a plethora of teachers that I remember from heart. I aspire to incorporate their teaching styles and methods into mine. Their words are what always got me going. Two teachers who inspired me the most were my JROTC Senior Army Instructors. They allowed me to express myself in our classes and sometimes let me lead discussions. This is what helped me get a kick start on my confidence and teaching skills. I enjoyed helping my peers learn about the things we were doing in class. It was my favorite part about high school. I strive to be a teacher that my students and others can rely on. I want to be there for my team as well, and create lesson plans and activities that encourages the children to participate and yearn for more knowledge. Teaching the future generations of society is a great responsibility and it is my biggest goal in life. As someone who went to a low-income school, I want to teach kids like me and my fellow peers who I grew up with. We all have that one teacher who we were excited to see that day because of how they taught the class, and I want to be the cause for that sparkle in my students eyes too.

When people ask me, "what are you majoring in?", I always proudly respond with "Bilingual education". When they give me a gasp of surprise, they then proceed to ask, "what grade level?". This is my most favorite part about being in college, and it never gets old for me. I always respond with elementary. I am always told either "good luck" or "bless your heart". That's when I have the biggest grin on my face because words cannot express my great passion for teaching the younger ones. I am first-generation latina, and although I am not becoming a doctor or lawyer, I believe being a teacher has the best rewards apart from any other career path. For my elementary school graduation, my fifth grade teacher had us write on chalkboards what we wanted to be when we grew up. I still have the picture of my 11 year old self holding up the words "elementary teacher". I am now currently a substitute teacher and a part-time afterschool kindergarten teacher. When I get that call in the morning asking me to come in because a teacher is out, I am always jumping up to the task as soon as possible. I spend all day either getting to learn new names and new faces, or returning to a class that I've been in before. Hearing these kids excitedly call out "Miss Gonzales" makes me smile. When I'm teaching cursive or phonograms and they don't get it, I keep going until I hear that "Oh! I get it now". I cannot wait to graduate and become a full-time lead teacher. I have a plethora of teachers that I remember from heart. I aspire to incorporate their teaching styles and methods into mine. Their words are what always got me going. Two teachers who inspired me the most were my JROTC Senior Army Instructors. They allowed me to express myself in our classes and sometimes let me lead discussions. This is what helped me get a kick start on my confidence and teaching skills. I enjoyed helping my peers learn about the things we were doing in class. It was my favorite part about high school. I strive to be a teacher that my students and others can rely on. I want to be there for my team as well, and create lesson plans and activities that encourages the children to participate and yearn for more knowledge. Teaching the future generations of society is a great responsibility and it is my biggest goal in life. As someone who went to a low-income school, I want to teach kids like me and my fellow peers who I grew up with. We all have that one teacher who we were excited to see that day because of how they taught the class, and I want to be the cause for that sparkle in my students eyes too.

When people ask me, "what are you majoring in?", I always proudly respond with "Bilingual education". When they give me a gasp of surprise, they then proceed to ask, "what grade level?". This is my most favorite part about being in college, and it never gets old for me. I always respond with elementary. I am always told either "good luck" or "bless your heart". That's when I have the biggest grin on my face because words cannot express my great passion for teaching the younger ones. I am first-generation latina, and although I am not becoming a doctor or lawyer, I believe being a teacher has the best rewards apart from any other career path. For my elementary school graduation, my fifth grade teacher had us write on chalkboards what we wanted to be when we grew up. I still have the picture of my 11 year old self holding up the words "elementary teacher". I am now currently a substitute teacher and a part-time afterschool kindergarten teacher. When I get that call in the morning asking me to come in because a teacher is out, I am always jumping up to the task as soon as possible. I spend all day either getting to learn new names and new faces, or returning to a class that I've been in before. Hearing these kids excitedly call out "Miss Gonzales" makes me smile. When I'm teaching cursive or phonograms and they don't get it, I keep going until I hear that "Oh! I get it now". I cannot wait to graduate and become a full-time lead teacher. I have a plethora of teachers that I remember from heart. I aspire to incorporate their teaching styles and methods into mine. Their words are what always got me going. Two teachers who inspired me the most were my JROTC Senior Army Instructors. They allowed me to express myself in our classes and sometimes let me lead discussions. This is what helped me get a kick start on my confidence and teaching skills. I enjoyed helping my peers learn about the things we were doing in class. It was my favorite part about high school. I strive to be a teacher that my students and others can rely on. I want to be there for my team as well, and create lesson plans and activities that encourages the children to participate and yearn for more knowledge. Teaching the future generations of society is a great responsibility and it is my biggest goal in life. As someone who went to a low-income school, I want to teach kids like me and my fellow peers who I grew up with. We all have that one teacher who we were excited to see that day because of how they taught the class, and I want to be the cause for that sparkle in my students eyes too.

When people ask me, "what are you majoring in?", I always proudly respond with "Bilingual education". When they give me a gasp of surprise, they then proceed to ask, "what grade level?". This is my most favorite part about being in college, and it never gets old for me. I always respond with elementary. I am always told either "good luck" or "bless your heart". That's when I have the biggest grin on my face because words cannot express my great passion for teaching the younger ones. I am first-generation latina, and although I am not becoming a doctor or lawyer, I believe being a teacher has the best rewards apart from any other career path. For my elementary school graduation, my fifth grade teacher had us write on chalkboards what we wanted to be when we grew up. I still have the picture of my 11 year old self holding up the words "elementary teacher". I am now currently a substitute teacher and a part-time afterschool kindergarten teacher. When I get that call in the morning asking me to come in because a teacher is out, I am always jumping up to the task as soon as possible. I spend all day either getting to learn new names and new faces, or returning to a class that I've been in before. Hearing these kids excitedly call out "Miss Gonzales" makes me smile. When I'm teaching cursive or phonograms and they don't get it, I keep going until I hear that "Oh! I get it now". I cannot wait to graduate and become a full-time lead teacher. I have a plethora of teachers that I remember from heart. I aspire to incorporate their teaching styles and methods into mine. Their words are what always got me going. Two teachers who inspired me the most were my JROTC Senior Army Instructors. They allowed me to express myself in our classes and sometimes let me lead discussions. This is what helped me get a kick start on my confidence and teaching skills. I enjoyed helping my peers learn about the things we were doing in class. It was my favorite part about high school. I strive to be a teacher that my students and others can rely on. I want to be there for my team as well, and create lesson plans and activities that encourages the children to participate and yearn for more knowledge. Teaching the future generations of society is a great responsibility and it is my biggest goal in life. As someone who went to a low-income school, I want to teach kids like me and my fellow peers who I grew up with. We all have that one teacher who we were excited to see that day because of how they taught the class, and I want to be the cause for that sparkle in my students eyes too.

The first time I ever experienced an anxiety attack I was 9 years old. I was playing with my little sister until I started to remember I had school the day after. For some reason, my mind wouldn't let go of the things kids would say to me when I would be in class. Whether it was making fun of my speech impediment or my teeth, I couldn't stop fearing what else they would say the next day. I felt like I couldn't breathe and I started to panic. I remember going to my uncle and trying to explain how I was feeling and we immediately got on the phone with my mom. I cried in his arms until I could get my breathing under control. The same thing happened again when we went out to eat a week later. I was taken to the hospital and evaluated by a doctor who diagnosed me with anxiety. From that day on, I've struggled with my mental health in many ways and it's affected everything around me. No matter how much I was struggling, I always felt like I couldn't speak to anyone about how I was feeling. I always came up with excuses to not go out in public just so I wouldn't have to deal with big crowds. Because of this, it was hard for me to make friends. I would isolate myself every day for months. Deleting social media accounts, staying in my room and not eating are things I've grown accustomed to. During my sophomore year of high school, I became severely underweight because of my mental health. It's difficult for me to sleep almost every night. My mind is constantly running with negative thoughts. I am always worried no matter what people tell me. When my friends don't respond, I get scared and think I've done something wrong to upset them. I sometimes fall into thinking my own family wants nothing to do with me because I feel like I'm a burden. For a while, it was hard for me to get along with my family because they couldn't fully understand. I lost so much time with them because of the battle I was fighting with myself. I am always worrying about school, finances, my future, my past, things I can't fix, and everyone around me. I couldn't help but lose confidence in myself at a young age. I felt like I was just living to survive. Kids would constantly spread rumors about me and bully me, and the worst part is most of my teachers would participate. I never felt safe in most classrooms I've been in, and I don't think anyone should feel this way. It wasn't until my senior year I met a teacher who stood up for me. It felt so surreal that someone supported me. Talking about things that were going on in my life, how I felt, and my worries were big changes for me. I finally felt safe. Because of his support, I made it to graduation and I am now in college. I believe that kids who struggle mentally should feel that they have someone they can talk to. No one should feel like they don't belong in this world because of their differences, what their mind is telling them, and how much they have on their plate. This is the main reason why I want to become a teacher. Being there for someone is one of the best things you can do, and I know that from first-hand experience.

The first time I ever experienced an anxiety attack I was 9 years old. I was playing with my little sister until I started to remember I had school the day after. For some reason, my mind wouldn't let go of the things kids would say to me when I would be in class. Whether it was making fun of my speech impediment or my teeth, I couldn't stop fearing what else they would say the next day. I felt like I couldn't breathe and I started to panic. I remember going to my uncle and trying to explain how I was feeling and we immediately got on the phone with my mom. I cried in his arms until I could get my breathing under control. The same thing happened again when we went out to eat a week later. I was taken to the hospital and evaluated by a doctor who diagnosed me with anxiety. From that day on, I've struggled with my mental health in many ways and it's affected everything around me. No matter how much I was struggling, I always felt like I couldn't speak to anyone about how I was feeling. I always came up with excuses to not go out in public just so I wouldn't have to deal with big crowds. Because of this, it was hard for me to make friends. I would isolate myself every day for months. Deleting social media accounts, staying in my room and not eating are things I've grown accustomed to. During my sophomore year of high school, I became severely underweight because of my mental health. It's difficult for me to sleep almost every night. My mind is constantly running with negative thoughts. I am always worried no matter what people tell me. When my friends don't respond, I get scared and think I've done something wrong to upset them. I sometimes fall into thinking my own family wants nothing to do with me because I feel like I'm a burden. For a while, it was hard for me to get along with my family because they couldn't fully understand. I lost so much time with them because of the battle I was fighting with myself. I am always worrying about school, finances, my future, my past, things I can't fix, and everyone around me. I couldn't help but lose confidence in myself at a young age. I felt like I was just living to survive. Kids would constantly spread rumors about me and bully me, and the worst part is most of my teachers would participate. I never felt safe in most classrooms I've been in, and I don't think anyone should feel this way. It wasn't until my senior year I met a teacher who stood up for me. It felt so surreal that someone supported me. Talking about things that were going on in my life, how I felt, and my worries were big changes for me. I finally felt safe. Because of his support, I made it to graduation and I am now in college. I believe that kids who struggle mentally should feel that they have someone they can talk to. No one should feel like they don't belong in this world because of their differences, what their mind is telling them, and how much they have on their plate. This is the main reason why I want to become a teacher. Being there for someone is one of the best things you can do, and I know that from first-hand experience.

For my elementary graduation, we were told to take a picture with a hand-held chalkboard that has what we want to do when we grow up written on it. To this day, I still have this picture. I love showing my 11-year-old self holding up the words "elementary teacher" on it since I am closer to the day I achieve that dream. I didn't go to a highly-funded elementary school, but I was taught by the greatest minds who gave me the education which I believe every child in this world deserves. I want to help kids who went through what I did growing up. I want to become a teacher because I want to be a part of the people who help this world become a better place. This starts with the next generations who will be shaping our society. It was very difficult for me to keep going in high school. In all honesty, I never thought I would be standing here today. There were many instances where I wanted to give up because people would tease me for many things such as my speech impediment, being very quiet, or simply 'trying too hard' in class. People would spread rumors about me that were insane just because I kept to myself, they made up stories about my private life. They would post on social media about me. Even teachers would join in, making fun of the way I dress or speak. For this reason, I stayed away from social media and was scared to talk to anyone or make friends with someone. I developed severe anxiety and paranoia from this, and I believe no one else deserves to go through this. It wasn't until my senior year I met a teacher who helped me believe in myself and supported me until I walked the stage for my diploma. His name is Captain Kip Briggs, my senior army instructor from JROTC. If it weren't for him, I would have lower confidence and still be in my shell. Because of this, I aspire to become a teacher who kids can talk to because they feel safe around them. This is what interests me the most about my chosen degree. Being a teacher gives you the ability to speak to the minds of children. You can teach them about kindness and be the first stone in their memory. It is an honor to be the person who advises the minds of the future. I am now attending the University of Dallas, majoring in Education. It has been my dream and aspiring goal to mold the great minds of the future because that is what these kids are. They are going to be here when we may no longer be and I believe it is my purpose to help them aid our world and society into something better than it is now. I want to go back to the area I grew up in and teach kids who grew up like me so they could have someone to relate to and feel safe. I aspire to teach as long as I can walk, along with creating a life for myself and having a family to inspire my own children to help others like I am. To be there for someone when they need it is one of the best things someone could do, and I can tell you from firsthand experience.

Growing up Hispanic for me meant watching telenovelas with your grandmother at eight o’clock at night. It means yelling “paletero” and running after the man selling ice cream on a hot summer day. Going to parties with all of the family attending, music blasting through speakers and playing with your cousins on their Nintendo consoles are the best memories to reminisce about. Knowing how to speak Spanish and Mayan because you were taught your roots every day is surprising to many. Wearing a necklace of La Virgen de Guadalupe that I received as a gift from my quinceañera is essential. My name is Angelina Estrella Gonzales and I am a first-generation student who is Hispanic/Latina. My mother’s side is from Yucatan, Mexico. My father’s side is Tejano, Texan-Mexican. My Hispanic family background has taught me a lot of things, such as never stopping in life. As a first-generation student, it is the best feeling when I achieve the things my family sacrificed so much for. Their sacrifices were hard to go through. “Asi es la vida, mija”, is what my grandma always says to me when I’ve come across a bump in the road. This has taught me that life is hard because of the way the world is. Everyone says this, but I was taught it meant more. It means that although you cannot change how hard it gets, you can always decide whether to support yourself or not. When I want to give up, I remind myself of what my grandma says. Life gets hard, but I need to keep moving forward in this world that does not favor anyone. Being Hispanic taught me to be cautious of the world. It was hard for me to do things other kids would do, but I was always kept safe. It was always safety first with everyone in my family. “Uno nunca sabe”. Being a Hispanic woman was very emphasized throughout my childhood. I had to always be aware of my surroundings because I was taught no one knows what could happen. I was taught to protect myself from a young age. Although the world is painted as dangerous in my mind, I was still also taught to give it my all, also known as, “échale ganas”. Going through struggles such as being in an unfamiliar place where not a lot of people look like you or speak like you is difficult. Going to a college where not many can relate to me reminds me that I may be different but I am happy to have my culture and blood. I see the world how my family does. If you are given the opportunity to build yourself a better life, you do everything you can to make sure you can survive in a world where many are against your happiness. I continue to move forward every day to pursue the career of my dreams, which is being a teacher. I want to help kids who are like me. I aspire to go back to my neighborhood school and teach children there who go through similar things I did growing up. I want them to feel comfortable in their skin and not let the world make them think it is not okay to be what they are. As my Tia would quote from her favorite singer, Celia Cruz, “La vida es un carnaval”. The world is something I cannot change alone, but I am in control of my own life living in it.

My name is Angelina Gonzales and I grew up in Lovefield, Dallas, Texas. I didn't go to a highly-funded elementary school, but I was taught by the greatest minds who gave me the education which I believe every child in this world deserves. I plan to give my future students all the knowledge and the best advice I have been given throughout my life. I want to preach to my students how they are their own individuals and their minds are the best and most useful tool they will ever use in their life. I want to give them the freedom to express themselves through their work. I truly look forward to being someone who these kids will look back to and remember, "Yeah, Ms. Gonzales taught me how to do this." It is my dream and aspiring goal to mold the great minds of the future, because that is what these kids are. They are the future and I believe it is my purpose to help them aid our world and society into something better than it is now.

My name is Angelina Gonzales, and I love helping others. I am a JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) cadet, ranking as the Executive Officer. This means I lead my own staff and I teach my battalion. From being able to teach students for four years in high school, I realized that I love spreading knowledge to others. I want to become a teacher because I want to be able to help kids who were like me. I grew up in Dallas, Texas so I didn't have the opportunity to go to fancy schools with tons of funding and advanced technology. Therefore, we did a lot of different learning methods. My teachers went out of their way and would take us outside, plan activites for us, and host events to make learning fun. The teachers who taught me really impacted my point of view on this world. They always hyped me up for college, and now the time has come. Everyday I spread peace and love to everyone I see because of those teachers, and I aspire to do the same for my future students. I've realized from a young age that teaching is my calling. I even have a picture from my graduation from elementary school, saying that I want to become an elementary school teacher. This shows I am so dedicated and extremely passionate about incorporating peace into my teaching. I also stay up nights looking for different ways to help teach everyone in my battalion so they can learn better. Whether it may be visual learning, hands-on, or studying for those kids, I am always ready with a plan for each day of the week. When I go to college, I hope to learn different kinds of techniques to help all of my future students I will come across. I hope to use this knowledge in order to help make learning fun and easier for my students. One of my biggest goals is to attend college, and the purpose is becoming a teacher. I know for a fact that no matter what comes in my way, being able to teach kids is what I will accomplish. Education is so important to me because I look forward to helping raise the next generations of kids to become loving human beings who know they can do anything if they put their mind to it. This world is small and life is short, so I want to leave this kindness to those who are the future of our Earth.