My name is Carson Reed and I am a life long Alaskan. When I am not in school I spend my time out fishing. I attend Wasilla high school for two years but East Anchorage High School is where I graduated from. I played 5 sports, My favorite being football. I was lucky enough to win a state championship in football my senior year as well as have a successful basketball and wrestling career. I was lucky enough to become a D1 athlete after high school, but unfortunately a back injury prevented me from finishing my career. I chose the career path of special education because I myself am a special needs student. Growing up I had no idea why I learned the way that I did, why things in my brain wouldn’t stop being scattered and ultimately this left me feeling alone and misunderstood. My goal as an educator is to use the experience I have gained through my college journey to help students feel welcomed and understood. I want my students to be excited to come to school and not feel like it is something that they have to do. With the advancement of the special education field I am excited to bring that to Alaskan students. When I was in high school there really was not much of a special education program. It was almost as if special needs students were put in a back classroom and never let out. This led to the students feeling excluded from being a student just like everyone else. With the knowledge I have gained and will continue to gain as I continue my teaching degree, there is no doubt in my mind that I will be able to make a difference in many students lives. Students will not be the only people who I can help and teach. I can bring the things that I learn to other educators in the Alaska school system. In a place that has been struggling to find teachers I will be someone who is eager and excited to be able to teach everyone around me. The quality of teacher and education has fallen and I see it as my opportunity to show new ways of teaching that will make all students feel excited, encouraged and enthusiastic about learning. The ultimate goal is to become a roll model in students lives. I want to give them a person they can come to with not only school questions but life questions as well. If I can inspire just one student to become a teach I can say my job as an educator has been fulfilled. This scholarship would help me finish the home stretch of my education, during a time where I have had a lot go against me and many obstacles form in my path. With this I can become the first person in my family to graduate from college. Thank you for your consideration