In my 8 AM Agricultural Education class, I rubbed my eyes awake as my judging coach and professor explained that as a teacher, you have the power to impact lives. In these moments, my thoughts went from my missed coffee this morning to my agriculture teacher, Mr. Schnitker. From a young age, I was terrified of the very stern man, but over the years, I found that he strived to push his students to the next level. Mr. Schnitker and I have been through almost everything together. He was there for me during my parent's divorce, he helped me when I was stressed about furthering my education, and it was made known his barn was always open to me. On the other side of things, I was there to eagerly follow him from school to school as he grew his career, assist the various chapters we worked with to ensure they would heave high-quality showmen and animals, and attempt to make every learning experience a positive one. To put it simply, my agriculture teacher positively impacted my life in more ways than I can even admit. The ability that one educator has to impact a whole generation is uncanny. I hope to follow in his footsteps and ensure the best possible outcome for each of my future students. It is my goal to provide my future students with quality show animals and showmanship skills, while also working in the classroom to improve public speaking abilities, as well as the ability to advocate for their futures and their farms. I am so thankful for all of the experiences I gained through my short time in the FFA, and I cannot wait to give them back to the youth. I am passionate about the impact animal agriculture has on everyone's lives, and I cannot wait to share the lessons learned. Agriculture is not just about producing food and fiber, but also about learning important life skills such as hard work, discipline, and responsibility. These skills are not only applicable in the field of agriculture, but also in daily life. It is important for students to understand the value of these skills and how they can be applied to their future careers and personal growth. I also hope to instill a sense of environmental stewardship in my students. Agriculture and the environment are deeply intertwined, and it is important for future generations to understand the relationship between the two. By teaching sustainable farming practices and the importance of preserving natural resources, I hope to create a generation of environmentally conscious farmers and consumers.