I have had ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) for as long as I can remember. ADHD often has comorbid conditions such as OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and anxiety. As a student attempting to function in the classroom with these conditions has provided me with many challenges as well as the opportunity to grow. As a student, athlete, friend and family member, my ADHD has given me opportunities to be creative and an out the box thinker as well as the many symptoms that affect me and my everyday functioning, from distraction, excessive energy, forgetfulness, procrastination, to a nervous feeling that accompanies different situations. Everyday has its own challenges and I use coping skills to function at my best. I have had amazing teachers and counselors who have helped me grow and maintain coping skills to excel but continue to struggle everyday. Coping skills such as using highlighting while studying, listening to audiobooks while reading, having organized binders and daily routines have helped me excel in school and sports but the daily struggle continues. As each day begins, I have created a routine to set me up for success. Getting up, showered, dressed, bags packed and breakfast made start my day on a positive note, being late or unprepared will create a nervous feeling that I try to avoid. Preparing things the night before helps my morning routine flow. I have learned these routine skills over my high school years and they have made me more successful. During each class, I keep my binders, notebooks and folders neat and organized, because with ADHD and the nervous feeling I get when things are not organized or I am late, I make every attempt to avoid being unorganized or late. Outside of the classroom, whether on the field, track or court, I use skills to maintain my attention and be the best teammate I can be. It can be difficult to maintain my attention in an unorganized situation so open communication with coaches helps me find success on the different teams I am on. As a daughter, sister, niece and granddaughter, my forgetful manner often leads to a disorganized home situation, but with help from the adults in my family, I can manage daily. I plan on attending college to study Special Education, with a concentration in Math. I want to use my experience with ADHD to help students build a skill set to be successful in the classroom and their everyday life. Being able to relate to students and the everyday struggle they may be experiencing will give me the opportunity to pay it forward. As a teacher, I will have the opportunity to make a positive change for students and their families. All students can benefit from the skills I have used to find success in school.

I have had ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) for as long as I can remember. ADHD often has comorbid conditions such as OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and anxiety. As a student attempting to function in the classroom with these conditions has provided me with many challenges as well as the opportunity to grow. As a student, athlete, friend and family member, my ADHD has given me opportunities to be creative and an out the box thinker as well as the many symptoms that affect me and my everyday functioning, from distraction, excessive energy, forgetfulness, procrastination, to a nervous feeling that accompanies different situations. Everyday has its own challenges and I use coping skills to function at my best. I have had amazing teachers and counselors who have helped me grow and maintain coping skills to excel but continue to struggle everyday. Coping skills such as using highlighting while studying, listening to audiobooks while reading, having organized binders and daily routines have helped me excel in school and sports but the daily struggle continues. As each day begins, I have created a routine to set me up for success. Getting up, showered, dressed, bags packed and breakfast made start my day on a positive note, being late or unprepared will create a nervous feeling that I try to avoid. Preparing things the night before helps my morning routine flow. I have learned these routine skills over my high school years and they have made me more successful. During each class, I keep my binders, notebooks and folders neat and organized, because with ADHD and the nervous feeling I get when things are not organized or I am late, I make every attempt to avoid being unorganized or late. Outside of the classroom, whether on the field, track or court, I use skills to maintain my attention and be the best teammate I can be. It can be difficult to maintain my attention in an unorganized situation so open communication with coaches helps me find success on the different teams I am on. As a daughter, sister, niece and granddaughter, my forgetful manner often leads to a disorganized home situation, but with help from the adults in my family, I can manage daily. I plan on attending college to study Special Education, with a concentration in Math. I want to use my experience with ADHD to help students build a skill set to be successful in the classroom and their everyday life. Being able to relate to students and the everyday struggle they may be experiencing will give me the opportunity to pay it forward. As a teacher, I will have the opportunity to make a positive change for students and their families. All students can benefit from the skills I have used to find success in school.

I aspire to be a Special Education teacher and share my passion for learning and teaching with others. I have chosen Special Education over Regular Education because I have ADHD. I have learned coping techniques to make learning more accessible. I have had amazing teachers that have helped shape the learner that I am today. I have had the benefit of learning techniques that I have found helpful, while others not so helpful. Each technique has given me an opportunity to learn and grow. I want to bring my life experience as a student with ADHD to the classroom and instill a passion for learning in young learners. In an effort to prepare for my future career I volunteer at Camp Anchor. Camp Anchor is a camp dedicated to children and adults with special needs. Camp Anchor has been a learning experience for me. I work with professional teachers and nurses that are dedicated to working with individuals with special needs. As a volunteer, it is an opportunity to learn from experts in the field of special education. This hands-on experience has provided me with knowledge and skills that I can use while teaching in the future. During the summer, as a volunteer I am responsible for daily activities including but not limited to swimming, sports, arts and crafts, and going to the beach. Each are made exciting and tailored to each camper's needs. Personal needs are also met, including eating, changing clothes, bathroom needs and other daily routines. This summer, I am working with non-verbal, autistic, male campers, ages 17 -24. I find myself learning and using strategies to make their summer experience enjoyable. Each day is met with challenges and opportunities to learn and grow. I am learning skills that will benefit my future teaching career in the classroom from talented and dedicated teachers and nurses that work with the campers and volunteers to learn and grow. I plan on using skills I have used for myself and skills I am learning while volunteering to create a positive learning environment for students with special needs. Each experience I have gives me an opportunity to build a knowledge base for my future classroom and the many students I will encounter. As I reflect on the why I am pursuing a career in education, I think about the student I am and the coping skills, study skills, learning styles and teachers who have influenced who I am in the classroom and beyond. I want to share what I have learned and give future students the opportunity to grow and find success.

Like many communities, underage drinking and drug use has had a negative impact on my community. As the secretary of L.Y.O.U.T.H. (Levittown Organizers United to Help), I have had the opportunity to get involved in addressing these issues by educating students, parents, guardians and other community members by raising awareness about the risks and consequences of drug and alcohol abuse among youth and helping to reduce access to these substances. As an active member and officer I have had the opportunity to get involved in a variety of projects, including the Sticker Shock Campaign, Prescription Drug Take-Back events, environmental scans, media campaigns, Town Hall meetings, and presentations. I had the amazing opportunity to attend CADCA (Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America) Annual National Leadership Forum. Attending a conference with youth and adult leaders from across the country gave me an opportunity to attend workshops and speak to members of the United States senate on a topic I am very passionate about. As I build my knowledge base and skillset as a leader and anti-drug use ambassador, I am gaining valuable experience. I envision using these skills to continue to educate young people, families and community members on the dangers of underage drinking and drug use. My favorite event that I participated in was the media campaign. I worked with a director, producer and two camera men to create a public service announcement on the dangers of fentanyl and being a good teammate. As an athlete, I was excited to mix my two passions to create a public service announcement aiming to combat the drug crisis affecting so many. After practicing in front of a green screen in a professional studio, we met at my high school field to film. I had never done anything like this before and stepped out of my comfort zone to participate. Once our public service announcement was ready, it was shared out in local schools during class and on local school district social media platforms. A print ad was published in our regional newspaper to further promote our message. Now months later, our public service announcement will soon be shared out on social media and streaming networks in our community and surrounding communities. The public service announcement will reach more people and hopefully have an impact on those who view it. When scrolling through social media or watching a movie, my public service announcement will appear like a commercial. It is exciting to think a project I worked on has the potential to be seen by so many. Our goal is to use as many forms of communication as possible to reach as many people as possible. As we continue to educate students, parents and other community members, I am excited to see positive change in our community. Fewer overdoses, fewer gas stations selling to underage youth and more opportunities to spread the message of the dangers of underage drinking, drug use and fentanyl dangers. Our goal is to educate all on the dangers of alcohol and drug use. As I look forward, my goal is the same: educate young people in refusal skills, dangers of drugs and alcohol and reduce access to drugs and alcohol in our community. It starts with younger students and continues to the adults in our community that host parties or sell to underage youth.

Like many communities, underage drinking and drug use has had a negative impact on my community. As the secretary of L.Y.O.U.T.H. (Levittown Organizers United to Help), I have had the opportunity to get involved in addressing these issues by educating students, parents, guardians and other community members by raising awareness about the risks and consequences of drug and alcohol abuse among youth and helping to reduce access to these substances. As an active member and officer I have had the opportunity to get involved in a variety of projects, including the Sticker Shock Campaign, Prescription Drug Take-Back events, environmental scans, media campaigns, Town Hall meetings, and presentations. I had the amazing opportunity to attend CADCA (Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America) Annual National Leadership Forum. Attending a conference with youth and adult leaders from across the country gave me an opportunity to attend workshops and speak to members of the United States senate on a topic I am very passionate about. As I build my knowledge base and skillset as a leader and anti-drug use ambassador, I am gaining valuable experience. I envision using these skills to continue to educate young people, families and community members on the dangers of underage drinking and drug use. My favorite event that I participated in was the media campaign. I worked with a director, producer and two camera men to create a public service announcement on the dangers of fentanyl and being a good teammate. As an athlete, I was excited to mix my two passions to create a public service announcement aiming to combat the drug crisis affecting so many. After practicing in front of a green screen in a professional studio, we met at my high school field to film. I had never done anything like this before and stepped out of my comfort zone to participate. Once our public service announcement was ready, it was shared out in local schools during class and on local school district social media platforms. A print ad was published in our regional newspaper to further promote our message. Now months later, our public service announcement will soon be shared out on social media and streaming networks in our community and surrounding communities. The public service announcement will reach more people and hopefully have an impact on those who view it. When scrolling through social media or watching a movie, my public service announcement will appear like a commercial. It is exciting to think a project I worked on has the potential to be seen by so many. Our goal is to use as many forms of communication as possible to reach as many people as possible. As we continue to educate students, parents and other community members, I am excited to see positive change in our community. Fewer overdoses, fewer gas stations selling to underage youth and more opportunities to spread the message of the dangers of underage drinking, drug use and fentanyl dangers. Our goal is to educate all on the dangers of alcohol and drug use. As I look forward, my goal is the same: educate young people in refusal skills, dangers of drugs and alcohol and reduce access to drugs and alcohol in our community. It starts with younger students and continues to the adults in our community that host parties or sell to underage youth.

I have had ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) for as long as I can remember. ADHD often has comorbid conditions such as OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and anxiety. As a student attempting to function in the classroom with these conditions has provided me with many challenges as well as the opportunity to grow. As a student, athlete, friend and family member, my ADHD has given me opportunities to be creative and an out the box thinker as well as the many symptoms that affect me and my everyday functioning, from distraction, excessive energy, forgetfulness, procrastination, to a nervous feeling that accompanies different situations. Everyday has its own challenges and I use coping skills to function at my best. I have had amazing teachers and counselors who have helped me grow and maintain coping skills to excel but continue to struggle everyday. Coping skills such as using highlighting while studying, listening to audiobooks while reading, having organized binders and daily routines have helped me excel in school and sports but the daily struggle continues. As each day begins, I have created a routine to set me up for success. Getting up, showered, dressed, bags packed and breakfast made start my day on a positive note, being late or unprepared will create a nervous feeling that I try to avoid. Preparing things the night before helps my morning routine flow. I have learned these routine skills over my high school years and they have made me more successful. During each class, I keep my binders, notebooks and folders neat and organized, because with ADHD and the nervous feeling I get when things are not organized or I am late, I make every attempt to avoid being unorganized or late. Outside of the classroom, whether on the field, track or court, I use skills to maintain my attention and be the best teammate I can be. It can be difficult to maintain my attention in an unorganized situation so open communication with coaches helps me find success on the different teams I am on. As a daughter, sister, niece and granddaughter, my forgetful manner often leads to a disorganized home situation, but with help from the adults in my family, I can manage daily. I plan on attending college to study Special Education, with a concentration in Math. I want to use my experience with ADHD to help students build a skill set to be successful in the classroom and their everyday life. Being able to relate to students and the everyday struggle they may be experiencing will give me the opportunity to pay it forward. As a teacher, I will have the opportunity to make a positive change for students and their families. All students can benefit from the skills I have used to find success in school. I believe I am a good candidate for this scholarship because I have used many opportunities to excel in school and athletics despite my ADHD, OCD and anxiety. I use my passion for learning and teaching to help others by volunteering at Camp Anchor, a special needs camp over the past three summers and tutoring a special needs elementary student in my local community. I strongly believe by paying it forward I am doing my part to help others succeed.

I have had ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) for as long as I can remember. ADHD often has comorbid conditions such as OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and anxiety. As a student attempting to function in the classroom with these conditions has provided me with many challenges as well as the opportunity to grow. As a student, athlete, friend and family member, my ADHD has given me opportunities to be creative and an out the box thinker as well as the many symptoms that affect me and my everyday functioning, from distraction, excessive energy, forgetfulness, procrastination, to a nervous feeling that accompanies different situations. Everyday has its own challenges and I use coping skills to function at my best. I have had amazing teachers and counselors who have helped me grow and maintain coping skills to excel but continue to struggle everyday. Coping skills such as using highlighting while studying, listening to audiobooks while reading, having organized binders and daily routines have helped me excel in school and sports but the daily struggle continues. As each day begins, I have created a routine to set me up for success. Getting up, showered, dressed, bags packed and breakfast made start my day on a positive note, being late or unprepared will create a nervous feeling that I try to avoid. Preparing things the night before helps my morning routine flow. I have learned these routine skills over my high school years and they have made me more successful. During each class, I keep my binders, notebooks and folders neat and organized, because with ADHD and the nervous feeling I get when things are not organized or I am late, I make every attempt to avoid being unorganized or late. Outside of the classroom, whether on the field, track or court, I use skills to maintain my attention and be the best teammate I can be. It can be difficult to maintain my attention in an unorganized situation so open communication with coaches helps me find success on the different teams I am on. As a daughter, sister, niece and granddaughter, my forgetful manner often leads to a disorganized home situation, but with help from the adults in my family, I can manage daily. I plan on attending college to study Special Education, with a concentration in Math. I want to use my experience with ADHD to help students build a skill set to be successful in the classroom and their everyday life. Being able to relate to students and the everyday struggle they may be experiencing will give me the opportunity to pay it forward. As a teacher, I will have the opportunity to make a positive change for students and their families. All students can benefit from the skills I have used to find success in school.

Like many communities, underage drinking and drug use has had a negative impact on my community. I keep youth safe in my community as the secretary of L.Y.O.U.T.H. (Levittown Organizers United to Help), I have had the opportunity to get involved in addressing these issues by educating students, parents and other community members by raising awareness about the risks and consequences of drug and alcohol abuse among youth and helping to reduce access to these substances. Young people who are bullied in person and/or online often turn to drugs and alcohol to cope. L.Y.O.U.T.H. gives each member an opportunity to build leadership skills, public speaking and building connections with members of my local community. I was motivated to make change and better myself by helping others. As we educate youth, parents and community members about the dangers of alcohol use, we also discuss the risk factors that lead to drug and alcohol abuse. Bullying is often spoken about; how to handle it, who to speak to and coping strategies to use if needed. As an active member and officer I have had the opportunity to get involved through a variety of projects, including the Sticker Shock Campaign, Prescription Drug Take-Back events, environmental scans, media campaigns, Town Hall meetings, and presentations. I attended CADCA (Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America), Annual National Leadership Forum and the experience provided me opportunities to meet people from across the country, build onto my skill set and brainstorm ideas to further impact my local community. I would like to expand my efforts by building our membership. L.Y.O.U.T.H. has members from three local High Schools and three Middle Schools. I would like to have more students involved to expand our impact. Building our membership will give us an opportunity to reach more community members, bring more programs to our young people and by getting more youth involved, can provide an opportunity to build skills to combat bullying, both online and in person. When thinking about my financial need to attend college, I think about the loans that I will need to take to make my dream of becoming a Special Education Math Teacher possible. I am fortunate to have a loving family but not fortunate enough to have a family that can support my dream,financially. I will need financial assistance from scholarships, grants and loans to make my dream of becoming a Special Education Math teacher a reality. As a teacher, I can further impact young people on how to handle bullying and how to not be a bully.

I have had ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) for as long as I can remember. ADHD often has comorbid conditions such as OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and anxiety. As a student attempting to function in the classroom with these conditions has provided me with many challenges as well as the opportunity to grow. As a student, athlete, friend and family member, my ADHD has given me opportunities to be creative and an out the box thinker as well as the many symptoms that affect me and my everyday functioning, from distraction, excessive energy, forgetfulness, procrastination, to a nervous feeling that accompanies different situations. Everyday has its own challenges and I use coping skills to function at my best. I have had amazing teachers and counselors who have helped me grow and maintain coping skills to excel but continue to struggle everyday. Coping skills such as using highlighting while studying, listening to audiobooks while reading, having organized binders and daily routines have helped me excel in school and sports but the daily struggle continues. As each day begins, I have created a routine to set me up for success. Getting up, showered, dressed, bags packed and breakfast made start my day on a positive note, being late or unprepared will create a nervous feeling that I try to avoid. Preparing things the night before helps my morning routine flow. I have learned these routine skills over my high school years and they have made me more successful. During each class, I keep my binders, notebooks and folders neat and organized, because with ADHD and the nervous feeling I get when things are not organized or I am late, I make every attempt to avoid being unorganized or late. Outside of the classroom, whether on the field, track or court, I use skills to maintain my attention and be the best teammate I can be. It can be difficult to maintain my attention in an unorganized situation so open communication with coaches helps me find success on the different teams I am on. As a daughter, sister, niece and granddaughter, my forgetful manner often leads to a disorganized home situation, but with help from the adults in my family, I can manage daily. I plan on attending college to study Special Education, with a concentration in Math. I want to use my experience with ADHD to help students build a skill set to be successful in the classroom and their everyday life. Being able to relate to students and the everyday struggle they may be experiencing will give me the opportunity to pay it forward. As a teacher, I will have the opportunity to make a positive change for students and their families. All students can benefit from the skills I have used to find success in school.

I aspire to be a Special Education teacher with a concentration in Math. I want to share my passion for learning and teaching with others. I have chosen Special Education over Regular Education because I have ADHD. As a student with ADHD, I have learned coping techniques and strategies to make learning more accessible to me. I have had amazing teachers that have helped shape the learner that I am today. My ADHD has given me opportunities to contribute to solving problems and being creative. I want to pass that passion for learning and using creative ideas to my future students. I believe that strong Math and Science teachers will lead to a strong STEM field. I look forward to studying Math Education and Special Education to empower learners of varying needs in Math, with the goal of fostering a love of Math. Teachers set the foundation for students to love learning and that is my goal. The school setting is the ideal place to create STEM opportunities for young minds. As a high school junior I have had opportunities to create, build and explore throughout my education. Taking advanced classes in math and science since Middle School has given me opportunities to step outside of my comfort zone. This year I am taking Advanced Pre-Calculus and AP Computer Science. Taking AP Computer Science exposed me to coding and I fell in love. It has provided me with an opportunity to learn something new and use problem solving skills to solve tasks given as well as problem solving with other students when we work together. These opportunities were created by educators that share their passion for math and science and have encouraged me to pursue my own love for math. Each class and STEM program that schools offer, gives a student an opportunity to fall in love with STEM. From a young age, students can engage in creative experiments, work on critical thinking, creativity, encourage teamwork, boost curiosity, and problem solving. As a future educator, I want to create opportunities for students of varying learning abilities to get involved in STEM, both in the classroom and afterschool programs. After school STEM programs often give students the opportunity to meet and engage with students that may not be in their regular classes. These opportunities foster social interaction that can benefit all involved. Sharing a love for Math and Science with other students and adults can boost a students self esteem and bridge the learning gap in the classroom.

Like many communities, underage drinking and drug use has had a negative impact on my community. As the secretary of L.Y.O.U.T.H. (Levittown Organizers United to Help), I have had the opportunity to get involved in addressing these issues by educating students, parents and other community members by raising awareness about the risks and consequences of drug and alcohol abuse among youth and helping to reduce access to these substances. I was motivated in Middle School to get involved by my mother who was already involved. I was interested in following my mother in being a changemaker in my community. L.Y.O.U.T.H. gives each member an opportunity to build leadership skills, public speaking and building connections with members of my local community. I was motivated to make change and better myself by helping others. As an active member and officer I have had the opportunity to get involved through a variety of projects, including the Sticker Shock Campaign, Prescription Drug Take-Back events, environmental scans, media campaigns, Town Hall meetings, and presentations. I will be attending CADCA (Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America), Annual National Leadership Forum. I would like to expand my efforts by building our membership. L.Y.O.U.T.H. has members from three local High Schools and three Middle Schools. I would like to have more students involved to expand our impact. Building our membership will give us an opportunity to reach more community members.

I aspire to be a Special Education teacher and share my passion for learning and teaching with others. I have chosen Special Education over Regular Education because I have ADHD. I have learned coping techniques to make learning more accessible. I have had amazing teachers that have helped shape the learner that I am today. I have had the benefit of learning techniques that I have found helpful, while others not so helpful. Each technique has given me an opportunity to learn and grow. I want to bring my life experience as a student with ADHD to the classroom and instill a passion for learning in young learners. In an effort to prepare for my future career I volunteer at Camp Anchor. Camp Anchor is a camp dedicated to children and adults with special needs. Camp Anchor has been a learning experience for me. I work with professional teachers and nurses that are dedicated to working with individuals with special needs. As a volunteer, it is an opportunity to learn from experts in the field of special education. This hands-on experience has provided me with knowledge and skills that I can use while teaching in the future. During the summer, as a volunteer I am responsible for daily activities including but not limited to swimming, sports, arts and crafts, and going to the beach. Each are made exciting and tailored to each camper's needs. Personal needs are also met, including eating, changing clothes, bathroom needs and other daily routines. This past summer, I worked with non-verbal, autistic, male campers, ages 12-17. I found myself learning and using strategies to make their summer experience enjoyable. Each day was met with challenges and opportunities to learn and grow. During the school year, I volunteer at Camp Anchor monthly on Friday nights and Saturdays to give campers an opportunity to engage in various activities to build strength, communication skills and fine motor skills. I am learning skills that will benefit my future teaching career in the classroom from talented and dedicated teachers and nurses that work with the campers and volunteers to learn and grow. I plan on using skills I have used for myself and skills I am learning while volunteering to create a positive learning environment for students with special needs. Each experience I have gives me an opportunity to build a knowledge base for my future classroom and the many students I will encounter.