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Arden Thompson

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Teaching
  • Mathematics
  • Snowboarding
  • Field Hockey
  • Track and Field
  • Tutoring
  • Education

Bio

I am a dedicated student at the Cato College of Education and North Carolina Teaching Fellow at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and a former student at the College of Education and North Carolina Teaching Fellow at North Carolina State University, where I am studying Special Education (K-12) and pursuing a career in this field. After completing my undergraduate studies, I plan to pursue a Master's Degree to gain a further and more in-depth perspective on the education field.

Education

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Bachelor's degree program

2025 – 2028

Majors:
  • Special Education and Teaching

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Bachelor's degree program

2024 – 2025

Majors:
  • Education, Other

Weddington High

High School

2020 – 2024

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
North Carolina State University at Raleigh, University of Florida-Online, University of South Carolina-Columbia
Majors of interest:
Special Education and Teaching
Medical school interest:
No

Career

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Special Education
Work experience:
0 years
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
Wesley Beck Memorial Scholarship
Winner
When I started as a peer tutor during my junior year, I had no idea how profoundly the students would change my life and purpose. Every day, I had the privilege of working with multiple special needs students and some remarkable educators. There is no more excellent feeling than knowing I made a difference in the lives of others by simply showing up. The enthusiastic smiles and the warm hugs that were generously given were priceless. While in class, I helped teach valuable life lessons such as spreading kindness, respecting each other, and persevering. I provided encouragement and support at social events. When our peers’ families get together off campus, I am always there to share in the fun and laughter. I have built unbreakable bonds while making lifelong friends. The students have changed how I interact with others and enriched my life in ways I never imagined, showing me the true fulfillment that comes from being a Peer Tutor. The TTA students changed my perspective on the world. They helped me become more well-rounded and taught me to love unconditionally. I am deeply grateful for these transformative experiences and the relationships I've formed. They have shaped our community and me, and I am honored to have been a part of it. But most importantly, they guided me to my dream passion of pursuing a career as a special education teacher. I plan to be a special education teacher. I will make a difference by constructing a welcoming environment where each individual feels included. Inclusivity, collaboration, and connections are the keys to a classroom’s success because an inclusive climate will make students feel valued. I will implement inclusion in the classroom by recognizing diverse backgrounds, religions, and stories of my students while encouraging celebrations, enforcing inclusivity practices, encouraging effective communication, and connecting with colleagues, parents, and, most importantly, students. Connections and relationships are one of the most important factors in creating a welcoming classroom. I want every student to feel loved and heard. In my classroom, each student will be accommodated and supported while having equal educational opportunities. To me, being a teacher means prioritizing students' needs and interests, encouraging respectful behavior, influencing good change, and most importantly, enjoying helping young minds. I will influence students in many ways, like being a role model, brightening the students' day, and supporting them. I want my students to become respectful and intelligent members of our society while being prepared for their bright futures. With the financial help of scholarships from the Weddington High School TTA scholarship award and the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Forgiveness loan, I will continue my college education as a devoted North Carolina Teaching Fellow at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC, as a Special Education major. As I venture through life, I will continue to be inspired by my dear friend, Wesley Beck, and his amazing friends and use the motivation to fuel my passion and love for my dream career as a special education teacher.
Arden Thompson Student Profile | Bold.org