I have had amazing teachers and coaches who have had a positive impact on me and who I have grown into as a scholar athlete. I aspire to be a Special Education math teacher and coach and share my passion for learning and teaching with others. I will be majoring in Mathematics and Special Education with a goal of teaching high school special education math and coaching. As a student athlete, who will be continuing her lacrosse career in college, I look forward to teaching and coaching. What better way to impact the world than by teaching the future. Giving students the opportunity to learn and grow in the classroom and on the field is the best way for me to impact the future. 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. 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 an athlete who will be continuing her athletic career in college, I look forward to continuing to learn the sport I love at the next level and take that knowledge to spread the love of lacrosse to young athletes.

When thinking about my educational journey and what it has taught me I think about my Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). My ADHD is an obstacle as well as a superpower. My goal is to use this obstacle and continue to make it the superpower I will need to be a Special Education Math teacher that gives students the opportunity to love math and excel. 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, counselors and coaches 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. I aspire to be a Special Education Math teacher and coach. As a scholar athlete, I look forward to helping students in the classroom as well as pursue their dreams to be an athlete. I hope to use my superpower of ADHD to help students excel.

Like many communities, underage drinking and drug use has had a negative impact on my community. As the president of L.Y.O.U.T.H. (Levittown Youth 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 have attended CADCA (Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America) Annual National Leadership Forum in Washington D.C. and met with members of congress to discuss the impact drugs and alcohol have on our community. While attending CADCA, I was given the opportunity to attend workshops to further enhance knowledge and meet coalition member from across the country and share ideas to continue to make change. The most impactful contribution I feel I have made to our mission to educate our community was taking the lead in developing our 'Don't Lose to Fentanyl' campaign. This project aimed to educate our community in the dangers of misusing pills and other substances. I assisted in writing and acting in the campaign that reached hundreds of thousands through print, social media and local streaming networks. We wrote a script and worked with a media firm to practice and film a commercial that was printed in local newspapers, was an ad on social media platforms and as a commercial on streaming networks. It is an experience that I will never forget and am grateful that I was fortunate to be part of it. A challenge we are facing is engaging young members of our community to get involved in our mission and become members of our coalition. Members of our community will attend events but I would like our membership to grow. 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 plan on continuing to be involved in this coalition as I grow as a member of my local community. As I look forward to college and the many opportunities I will have to use the skills I have gained through this experience.

I am a high school senior scholar athlete who will continue to play Lacrosse in college. My passions include lacrosse, cross country and track and field; receiving conference and county honors in all three. I am a National Honor Society member who aims to excel in the classroom by taking Advanced Placement classes and putting my all into doing my best. I am also dedicated to my local community and volunteer to fight the drug crisis in our community. Like many communities, underage drinking and drug use has had a negative impact on my community. As the president of L.Y.O.U.T.H. (Levittown Youth 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. As an active member and president 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 have attended CADCA (Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America) Annual National Leadership Forum in Washington D.C. and met with members of congress to discuss the impact drugs and alcohol have on our community. While attending CADCA, I was given the opportunity to attend workshops to further enhance knowledge and meet coalition members from across the country and share ideas to continue to make change. The most impactful contribution I feel I have made to our mission to educate our community was taking the lead in developing our 'Don't Lose to Fentanyl' campaign. This project aimed to educate our community in the dangers of misusing pills and other substances. I assisted in writing and acting in the campaign that reached hundreds of thousands through print, social media and local streaming networks. We wrote a script and worked with a media firm to practice and film a commercial that was printed in local newspapers, was an ad on social media platforms and as a commercial on streaming networks. It is an experience that I will never forget and am grateful that I was fortunate to be part of it. I plan on studying Mathematics and Special Education, with a goal of teaching High School Special Education Math and coaching. I look forward to using my experience as a student athlete and volunteer to enrich students both in the classroom and afterschool in sports and other activities. I have been fortunate to have teachers and coaches that have impacted my life and led me to want to teach and coach. 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. 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.

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 senior 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. I have had the opportunity to take Advanced Pre-Calculus, Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus, AP Computer Science and several other AP classes. Taking AP math classes has fostered my love of math and 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. As a teacher, my goal is to share my love of math with my students and create a safe learning environment that fosters a love of learning. I want to create a space to work through the fear of math so many students have.

I find my passion for pursuing a degree in education from the many life lessons learned while going to school, playing sports, volunteering in my community and having great teachers. I plan on attending college to study Mathematics and Adolescent and Special Education to become a Special Education Math teacher and coach. I want to use my experience with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (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. As a coach, I will have the opportunity to help students find their passion for athletics, or opportunity to find a sport they love and excel in. All students can benefit from the skills I have used to find success in school and athletics. I have had ADHD for as long as I can remember. ADHD often has comorbid conditions such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) 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 been blessed with many teachers that have impacted my life as a student athlete, but Coach Degnan is by far the most impactful. He saw in me what other coaches missed for years. He saw something in me and gave me the prestigious role of captain of both the girls and boys Cross Country teams. That leadership role came with opportunities to lead the team in warm ups, cool downs, team building and responsibilities to assist the coaching staff. It has provided me with another opportunity to grow as a student athlete and get ready for the next steps of college. 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. My passion for math and passion for becoming a teacher and coach excites me and I can not wait to continue my education and become a teacher. A teacher to make math fun and exciting and give students the opportunity to love math like I do.

Mental health is important to me as a student because I suffer from ADHD and the everyday struggle to be success in the classroom, on the playing field and in my social life. I am a high school senior scholar athlete who will continue to play Lacrosse in college. My passions include lacrosse, cross country and track and field; receiving conference and county honors in all three. I am also a young person with ADHD and fully understand the impact it has on my everyday life and coping skills needed to thrive. I am dedicated to my local community and volunteer to fight the mental health and drug crisis in our community. As a strong student advocate for mental health and drug abuse education in my community, I take pride in the work I do to educate students, parents and school staff on the connection between mental health struggles and drug use and misuse. Like many communities, underage drinking and drug use has had a negative impact on my community. As the president of L.Y.O.U.T.H. (Levittown Youth 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. Part of that awareness is knowing how mental health concerns lead to so many young people self medicating or turning to drugs and alcohol to cope. As an active member and president 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 have attended CADCA (Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America) Annual National Leadership Forum in Washington D.C. and met with members of congress to discuss the impact drugs and alcohol have on our community. We discussed the resources and funding needed to support mental health and the drug crisis in our community. The most impactful contribution I feel I have made to our mission to educate our community was taking the lead in developing our 'Don't Lose to Fentanyl' campaign. This project aimed to educate our community in the dangers of misusing pills and other substances. I assisted in writing and acting in the campaign that reached hundreds of thousands through print, social media and local streaming networks. We wrote a script and worked with a media firm to practice and film a commercial that was printed in local newspapers, was an ad on social media platforms and as a commercial on streaming networks. It is an experience that I will never forget and am grateful that I was fortunate to be part of it.

When looking at "Kindness in Action" and how I pursue this in my teen life, I look at the volunteer advocacy work I do in combating the fentanyl crisis. Like many communities, underage drinking and drug use has had a negative impact on my community. As the president of L.Y.O.U.T.H. (Levittown Youth 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. As an active member and president 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 have attended CADCA (Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America) Annual National Leadership Forum in Washington D.C. and met with members of congress to discuss the impact drugs and alcohol have on our community. While attending CADCA, I was given the opportunity to attend workshops to further enhance knowledge and meet coalition member from across the country and share ideas to continue to make change. Meeting people who are involved for different reason, from educators to parents who have lost children to this crisis, has provided me with opportunities to show kindness and compassion for others, share ideas that we have found successful and learn from others. The most impactful contribution I feel I have made to our mission to educate our community was taking the lead in developing our 'Don't Lose to Fentanyl' campaign. This project aimed to educate our community in the dangers of misusing pills and other substances. I assisted in writing and acting in the campaign that reached hundreds of thousands through print, social media and local streaming networks. We wrote a script and worked with a media firm to practice and film a commercial that was printed in local newspapers, was an ad on social media platforms and as a commercial on streaming networks. It is an experience that I will never forget and am grateful that I was fortunate to be part of it. Although, I feel bold and unapologetically myself, it definitely means resisting the peer pressure to conform to the teen party scene and being left out of team and/or social get togethers. I am passionate about the work I do, but recognize the peer pressure to conform to my classmates, teammates and friends to stick to my values and continue to educate youth, parents and educators on the dangers of underage drinking and drug use.

As a high school senior, scholar athlete, I have been dedicated to athletics for as long as I can remember. I have been on winning teams and losing teams, teams that get along and teams that do not. I have also had many coaches throughout my athletic career, both good, bad and everywhere in between. Coach Degnan is the great one. The coach you remember for a lifetime. I have had the honor of running Cross Country for Coach Degnan this past Cross Country season and grew as a runner, teammate and overall athlete. Coach Degnan is dedicated to his athletics both in season and out. Whether he is coaching our team or another, when we are together at meets, we are all his athletes. He gives us his all, all the time. Coach Degnan is the coach, other coaches go to for advice, drills, and overall coaching lessons. It is amazing to watch him coach and be coached by him. As I hope to teach and coach in the future, I am gaining many coaching skills I hope to use. Prior to running Cross Country, I played Volleyball. As the season was approaching, I made the decision to stop playing Volleyball, a sport I loved and played both for school and with a travel team to pursue running Cross Country. The decision was not an easy one at first, but after spending time with Coach Degnan during summer night training runs, the decision had become clear, Cross Country would be the fall sport I would be participating in. Coach Degnan is the coach that not only trains you to be a great runner, but inspires you to be better at life. Each summer training night run gave me more reasons to continue and as the summer went on and the school year started, being a member of the Cross Country team became the highlight of my day. As the season started and our team was growing stronger together, Coach Degnan gave me the honor of being the team captain for both the girls Cross Country team and the boys Cross Country team as well. He saw in me what many before had not, my ability to lead others and connect this group of young athletes to be an amazing team. I learned many things from Coach Degnan, connecting with my teammates, other coaches and adults to overcoming adversity and pushing past the pain to grow as an athlete. As captain I grew into a stronger leader and positive role model for other runners and with hard work I earned Nassau County All Conference Honors. Working with Coach Degnan gave me the opportunity to build skills needed for life. Building confidence in my communication skills, decision making, relationship building, taking initiative and expanding my ability to run drills and accountability are all skills that I will need to succeed in life. All skills needed in life but given the opportunity to improve with Coach Degnan. As a future college lacrosse player, I strive to use the skills I learned from Coach Degnan to be be a strong scholar athlete that others look to for advise, guidance and team leader.

I will be attending Dominican University and majoring in Mathematics and Adolescent Education and Special Education. The future of the STEAM field is math education. As a student who loves math, I can say, it is not always easy and I do not always get it at first. With hard work and amazing math teachers, I work through it and learn it. It is those amazing math teachers that have influenced me to become a math teacher. A math teacher that strives to work with both regular and special education math students. My teachers gave me the extra help and encouragement I needed to excel in math and that help and encouragement has led to a passion for learning and teaching. I commonly hear how math is someone’s worst subject and they always struggle with it, because of that I want to be the teacher that helps students like that understand math and to be able to form connections with my students that lead to them asking for help and attending extra help. I want to work with students with special needs because since the summer going into freshman year I have been volunteering at Camp Anchor, a camp dedicated to children and adults with special needs. For six weeks each summer I was with campers that all have different special needs and I was learning to connect with each one. Even though I was not with them in a school setting I formed a connection with so many of the campers that it made me realize that I love working with and helping people with special needs. Math is a subject in school that all students take but not all enjoy. My goal of being a special education math teacher is to reach the struggling students. Create an environment that fosters a love of learning math and to reach the students who will be our future electricians, engineers, architects, or urban planners.. Math is needed in so many professions and everyday life. As a lover of math, I love to see my dad use math when he is doing repairs around the house or my mom using math when cooking or baking. It is never anything too extreme, but it is math all the same. To be an aspiring math teacher, I will study alongside other students in the Mathematics department that will move onto all different fields of Mathematics, including data scientists, actuaries, software developers or financial analysts. As I study mathematics, I will also be studying adolescent and special education. Learning and developing math lesson plans to inspire young math minds is exciting and I look forward to using all my favorite activities from the different math teachers I have had as well or create my own inspiring lessons. So as I look forward to my future career in math adolescent special education, I am excited to be part of the STEAM field. The STEAM field of learners who are as excited as I am to use math.

As a high school senior, scholar athlete, I have been dedicated to athletics for as long as I can remember. I have been on winning teams and losing teams, teams that get along and teams that do not. I have also had many coaches throughout my athletic career, both good, bad and everywhere in between. Coach Degnan is the great one. The coach you remember for a lifetime. I have had the honor of running Cross Country for Coach Degnan this past Cross Country season and grew as a runner, teammate and overall athlete. Coach Degnan is dedicated to his athletics both in season and out. Whether he is coaching our team or another, when we are together at meets, we are all his athletes. He gives us his all, all the time. Coach Degnan is the coach, other coaches go to for advice, drills, and overall coaching lessons. It is amazing to watch him coach and be coached by him. Prior to running Cross Country, I played Volleyball. As the season was approaching, I made the decision to stop playing Volleyball, a sport I loved and played both for school and with a travel team to pursue running Cross Country. The decision was not an easy one at first, but after spending time with Coach Degnan during summer night training runs, the decision had become clear, Cross Country would be the fall sport I would be participating in. Coach Degnan is the coach that not only trains you to be a great runner, but inspires you to be better at life. Each summer training night run gave me more reasons to continue and as the summer went on and the school year started, being a member of the Cross Country team became the highlight of my day. As the season started and our team was growing stronger together, Coach Degnan gave me the honor of being the team captain for both the girls Cross Country team and the boys Cross Country team as well. He saw in me what many before had not. My ability to lead others and connect this group of young athletes to be an amazing team. As captain I grew into a stronger leader and positive role model for other runners and with hard work I earned Nassau County All Conference Honors. Working with Coach Degnan gave me the opportunity to build skills needed for life. Building confidence in my communication skills, decision making, relationship building, taking initiative and expanding my ability to run drills and accountability are all skills that I will need to succeed in life.

I have had amazing teachers and coaches who have had a positive impact on me and who I have grown into as a scholar athlete. I aspire to be a Special Education math teacher and coach and share my passion for learning and teaching with others. I will be majoring in Mathematics and Special Education with a goal of teaching high school special education math and coaching. As a student athlete, who will be continuing her lacrosse career in college, I look forward to teaching and coaching. What better way to impact the world than by teaching the future. Giving students the opportunity to learn and grow in the classroom and on the field is the best way for me to impact the future. 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. 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 an athlete who will be continuing her athletic career in college, I look forward to continuing to learn the sport I love at the next level and take that knowledge to spread the love of lacrosse to young athletes.

When describing myself, there are so many different parts of who I am. I am a member of a big extended family, scholar-athlete, volunteer and community advocate. I strive to be the best at all the different activities I participate in. As a daughter, sister, niece, cousin, granddaughter, friend, I look for opportunities to spend with family and friends. I enjoy the beach, outdoors, traveling and spending time enjoying life with loved ones who encourage and inspire me. I am a scholar athlete, I strive to be the best on and off the field and track. As a scholar athlete, my academic schedule keeps me focused to excel in the classroom and as a teammate, my goals go beyond winning. I want to make my teammates feel like they are part of a family, part of something bigger than the sport we are participating in. As an athlete who runs track, jumps pole vault and plays lacrosse, I find joy in excelling both in the classroom and while playing the sports I love. 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. As a community advocate, I am the President of L.Y.O.U.T.H. (Levittown Organizers United To Help), an organization with the goal of educating youth, parents and community members in the dangers of underage drinking, vaping and other drugs. I have had the honor of speaking on Capitol Hill and creating a video that was shared in local newspapers, social media and streaming networks. Working with other youth and adults to share our message has been an exciting experience. As I look forward to college, 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. This scholarship will help me study Mathematics and Adolescent Education. As an aspiring Special Education Math teacher, I want to share my passion for learning and teaching with others.

Education has shaped my goal to be a special education math teacher and coach by providing amazing role models in my teachers and coaches. As I look forward to my chosen career path as a special education math teacher, I look at the education I have received and the teachers and coaches who have impacted my decision to pursue teaching as my career path. Teachers who had great teaching styles and made learning fun and exciting to teachers who gave their time after school to coach a sport or advise a club I was involved in. These individuals have given me a unique opportunity to learn and explore new things. 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. 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 been blessed with many teachers that have impacted my life as a student athlete, but Coach Degnan is by far the most impactful. He saw in me what other coaches missed for years. He saw something in me and gave me the prestigious role of captain of both the girls and boys Cross Country teams. That leadership role came with opportunities to lead the team in warm ups, cool downs, team building and responsibilities to assist the coaching staff. It has provided me with another opportunity to grow as a student athlete and get ready for the next steps of college student athlete. I hope to use my education to create a better future for myself and others by continuing to learn and grow. The beauty of education is the constant growing through learning in the classroom and experiences outside of the classroom. As a classroom teacher, my goal is to create a learning environment that students feel safe, loved and eager to learn. Outside of the classroom, my goal is to coach one or more of the many sports I have been involved in. As a coach, I will have a unique opportunity to see students shine and follow a passion of their choosing. As a student athlete, I have learned how to schedule my time to excel in the classroom and on the field, track or court. As a coach, I will provide my students athletes will skills to create a positive experience and life skills to use as they grow. Coaching is more than just the skills of the sports, it is life skills they will continue to use as they grow into young adults. Time management, teamwork, discipline, leadership and resilience are all skills I hope to pass on while coaching.

I aspire to be a Special Education teacher and share my passion for learning and teaching with others. I will be majoring in Mathematics and Special Education with a goal of teaching high school math and coaching. As a student athlete, who will be continuing her lacrosse career in college, I look forward to teaching and coaching. 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. 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.

I am a high school senior student athlete who will continue to play Lacrosse in college. My passions include lacrosse, cross country and track and field; receiving conference and county honors in all three. I am also dedicated to my local community and have volunteered at Camp Anchor for several years. 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. 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. I will be financially responsible to pay for my college education. I believe that college will prepare me to pursue my passion in teaching and through opportunities like this, it will be possible.

I am a high school senior student athlete who will continue to play Lacrosse in college. My passions include lacrosse, cross country and track and field; receiving conference and county honors in all three. I am also dedicated to my local community and volunteer to fight the drug crisis in our community. Like many communities, underage drinking and drug use has had a negative impact on my community. As the president of L.Y.O.U.T.H. (Levittown Youth 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. As an active member and president 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 have attended CADCA (Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America) Annual National Leadership Forum in Washington D.C. and met with members of congress to discuss the impact drugs and alcohol have on our community. While attending CADCA, I was given the opportunity to attend workshops to further enhance knowledge and meet coalition member from across the country and share ideas to continue to make change. The most impactful contribution I feel I have made to our mission to educate our community was taking the lead in developing our 'Don't Lose to Fentanyl' campaign. This project aimed to educate our community in the dangers of misusing pills and other substances. I assisted in writing and acting in the campaign that reached hundreds of thousands through print, social media and local streaming networks. We wrote a script and worked with a media firm to practice and film a commercial that was printed in local newspapers, was an ad on social media platforms and as a commercial on streaming networks. It is an experience that I will never forget and am grateful that I was fortunate to be part of it. I plan on studying Mathematics and Special Education, with a goal of teaching High School Special Education Math and coaching. I look forward to using my experience as a student athlete and volunteer to enrich students both in the classroom and afterschool in sports and other activities. I have been fortunate to have teachers and coaches that have impacted my life and led me to want to teach and coach.

Like many communities, underage drinking and drug use has had a negative impact on my community. As the president of L.Y.O.U.T.H. (Levittown Youth 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 have attended CADCA (Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America) Annual National Leadership Forum in Washington D.C. and met with members of congress to discuss the impact drugs and alcohol have on our community. While attending CADCA, I was given the opportunity to attend workshops to further enhance knowledge and meet coalition member from across the country and share ideas to continue to make change. The most impactful contribution I feel I have made to our mission to educate our community was taking the lead in developing our 'Don't Lose to Fentanyl' campaign. This project aimed to educate our community in the dangers of misusing pills and other substances. I assisted in writing and acting in the campaign that reached hundreds of thousands through print, social media and local streaming networks. We wrote a script and worked with a media firm to practice and film a commercial that was printed in local newspapers, was an ad on social media platforms and as a commercial on streaming networks. It is an experience that I will never forget and am grateful that I was fortunate to be part of it. A challenge we are facing is engaging young members of our community to get involved in our mission and become members of our coalition. Members of our community will attend events but I would like our membership to grow. 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 plan on continuing to be involved in this coalition as I grow as a member of my local community. As I look forward to college and the many opportunities I will have to use the skills I have gained through this experience.

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.