When I was a young child in Preschool, I had a purple dress that I refused to share with others and was very sensitive. I have been blessed to have teachers who treated me like a person and took time to know and understand me. It’s helped me realize that it’s so important for teachers to see children as a whole, not just their “problem”. Young children are complex, constantly developing skills and learning to interact with others; teachers make all the difference in that development. I recognize that it’s not only important as a student to have a teacher who is willing to accommodate, but also to have a teacher who is passionate about their job. As I’ve grown older, I’ve seen many teachers who’ve lost their passion for teaching, which solidified my belief that passion is essential for being a teacher. I love working with children despite the many challenges that it poses. I hope that my students can look back on my classroom and think about how they felt safe, motivated, and comfortable. In addition to the importance of passion, my identity as a Latina has shaped my goals for teaching. As a Latina in the United States, I understand how important it is to have programs that integrate Spanish for the benefit of the large Spanish-speaking community. I see students struggle to keep up academically because their primary language is Spanish, yet there aren’t enough teachers equipped to bridge that gap. It’s an honor and a privilege for me to have learned English and Spanish. I want to be able to provide that opportunity for others in my community. Teaching, for me, is not just a career; it’s the chance to create spaces where students feel valued, supported, and capable of succeeding no matter their background or language. A teacher that I feel has been an amazing example of this was my fourth-grade teacher, Mrs.Simpson. She was incredibly attentive to all of her students and was always willing to change her plans around to accommodate a single child. She was lively, caring, attentive, and passionate. A single specific memory I have of Mrs.Simpson is when our class was reading "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick. I had already read the book and watched the movie multiple times with a friend, and during class, we were growing bored with the repetition. Instead of scolding us, she gave us another task. I remember her coming to us as if it were our own secret mission to deliver papers to the other teachers. That small act of flexibility helped me continue to feel engaged and seen. In another fond memory, I had ordered the wrong lunch for the day and was incredibly hungry. After lunch, I was acting differently than usual, and she overheard me complaining to a friend. Later, she pulled me aside and asked me if I'd like a snack. We went to her desk, and she pulled out a little drawer with some graham crackers and fruit snacks. I was incredibly grateful for this small act of kindness. Mrs.Simpson never made me feel overlooked. When one thing wasn't working, she willingly jumped in to try something new, so school was somewhere of fun and interaction rather than boring and repetitive. She encompasses everything I'd like to be as a teacher, and I'm forever grateful for her.

Community is the most important component of being alive; we weren’t made to do life alone. Through the Bridge Church, I have had numerous opportunities to serve, but one that stands out is the Shoe Giveaway. At this event, hundreds of shoes and socks were given to families in need, accompanied by the humble act of washing their feet. The point of the day was to provide socks and shoes, but also to humble oneself and truly be of service to others. Sitting at the feet of another person, taking the time to care for them and make them feel seen, reminded me that service is not just about fulfilling a need, it’s about making someone feel recognized and valued. Many families arrived expecting simply to receive a pair of shoes and leave. But by engaging with each person, learning their names, their stories, their aspirations for the week, we created connections that went far beyond a physical gift. One memory that will stay with me forever is of a teenager who hesitated to ask for his size, ashamed that he might not find what he needed. We took just a few extra minutes to ensure he left with a pair of shoes that fit him, and in doing so, he left feeling seen, respected, and cared for. Service to others doesn't always have to be a grand act that is publicly known. Sometimes it looks like bringing in breakfast for a student, providing socks for the community, or just offering a safe place to rest. I carry this lesson into my vision for myself as a teacher. Beyond helping students become academically capable, I want to create a classroom where each student feels recognized, supported, and empowered to grow. I want them to know that they are valued not only for their achievements but for who they are. I want them to know I care about them both inside and outside the classroom, no matter what support they might need. I want them to know that their voices matter, that their struggles are heard, and that their victories, whether big or small, are always worth celebrating. Teaching, like volunteering, is about showing up for others and leaving a space better than you found it. No child should feel overlooked or feel like their needs are too much. If I can offer my students even a fraction of the support and recognition that was seen at the shoe drive, then my impact as a teacher will be everlasting.

When I was a young child in preschool, I had a sparkly purple dress I refused to share with others. I was also very sensitive and cried many, many times. I was blessed to have teachers who treated me like a person and took time to know and understand me. It’s helped me realize that it’s so important for teachers to see children as a whole, not just their “problem”. I still remember teachers who cared about me outside of the classroom. They cared if I was eating, if I was sad, if I was feeling well, if I was in need of something. Being seen in that way as a child is so important. If a child has no one at home rooting for them, they should be able to come to school and know that their teacher is.  Young children are complex, constantly developing skills and learning to interact with others. Teachers make all the difference in that development. I recognize that it’s not only important as a student to have a teacher who is willing to accommodate, but also to have a teacher who is passionate about their job. As I’ve grown older, I’ve seen many teachers who’ve lost their passion for teaching, which solidified my belief that passion is essential for being a teacher. Teachers juggle lesson planning, classroom management, grading, and so much more.  Despite the challenges faced, it is all worth it to make a difference in the life of a young student. I hope that my students can look back on my classroom and think about how they felt safe, motivated, and comfortable.  In addition to the importance of passion, my identity as a Latina has shaped my goals for teaching. As a Latina living in the United States, I understand how important it is to have programs that integrate Spanish for the benefit of the large Spanish-speaking community, and to have a teacher who reflects your culture. Having a teacher who shares a cultural background fosters a sense of understanding and belonging. It creates a welcoming environment to reach out for help. I see students struggle to keep up academically because their primary language is Spanish, yet there aren’t enough teachers equipped to bridge that gap. I plan to earn my bachelors in Early Childhood Development and Education and teach at a bilingual level in Pre-K. It’s an honor and a privilege for me to have learned English and Spanish at home. I want to be able to provide that opportunity for others in my community. Teaching, for me, is not just a career; it’s the chance to create spaces where students feel valued, supported, and capable of succeeding no matter their background or language.

Community is the most vital component of being alive; we weren't made to do life alone. Through the Bridge Church, I have had numerous volunteering opportunities to make a difference in communities. The most impactful event I have been a part of has been the Shoe Giveaway. The event was hosted in the church, where hundreds of shoes are available for people in need. Families were able to come in and receive a washing of their feet, a new pair of shoes, and a new pair of socks. It was an incredibly humbling experience to sit at the feet of a person and take the time to wash their feet and make sure they feel seen as they receive their shoes and socks. But in these vulnerable moments with families, there were connections. As people, we've grown ashamed of asking for help and looking to a community for support. This increased sharply during and after COVID, due to the lack of interaction with others in our communities. Because this event took place in 2021, we didn't expect a big turnout. Unbeknownst to us, we would have hundreds. It's easy to start the event and just go through the motions, but as it continues, you learn how to connect with the people you are serving. Many families were expecting to be handed a shoe and leave. But, we were able to take the time to sit the family members down one by one and start off washing their feet, an extreme act of humility and vulnerability. This opened a door for connection as you got to know their name, their living situation, their favorite color, and what they aspired to do that week. Then, we gave them high-quality socks and let them try on as many shoes as they needed to find ones that made them feel good. Receiving shoes wasn't just about being able to walk without ripped seams or exposed soles; it was about feeling like a whole person again with dignity. The small acts of telling them they could try on multiple pairs of shoes or just giving them a thick, comfortable pair of socks meant everything to them. For me, it filled my heart knowing I'm making a difference by choosing to serve and volunteer. There are specific memories from this experience that will forever stick with me. One was of a teenager who came in with his family, standing off to the side. We engaged with him by bringing him into conversation and trying to connect in some way. When we asked him about picking out a pair of shoes, he revealed that he was doubting we would have his size and was very ashamed of it. We insisted he tell us his size anyway to check. Lo and behold, there were multiple men's size 14 shoes for him to pick from. It took us an extra 2 minutes out of our day to address him and do whatever we could to provide for him. In this moment, it was more than the shoes; it was about feeling recognized and feeling like someone cared enough to show up, to have something available for even the one. Kindness comes in all shapes and forms, but it is always selfless. Being a part of an event where I was gifted with the opportunity to bless families with shoes and socks was one of the best experiences I've had in community service. It was an environment that really exemplified what kindness can do for someone and how easy it is to give kindness like you're breathing.