I grew up homeschooled, and always encouraged to read. Sometimes I wondered why I had to read. Now as an adult, I realize the importance of reading, especially for young minds in early development. In my classroom, which will be filled with 5-year-olds, I do not want my students to feel pressured to read fluently. I am open and willing to go as fast or as slow as they go. Even if I have to take more time with a student. We will always be working on letters and reading short sentences. I would also like to have a reading time, where I read to them from maybe a bigger book or something from their shelves. On that note, I want to establish a reading corner with tons of books of varying reading ability. Ones with and without pictures. I want to be their instructor as well as their friend. Teaching them will be part of their day. The other part will be the fun side of learning. So yes, I want them to know what words mean as well as how to say them, but also for them to be joyful going home. Reading was one of the coolest superpowers I had growing up, and who am I to not make it fun? Reading is going to be a big part of my curriculum, as I will not be dumbing anything I do. I will have other students who are better at reading than others read the assignment for the day. I want to empower my students to be who they are, and maybe reading is not something they are comfortable with. I am happy as long as they know how to at the end of the day. I find it helpful to be present when students are that young. Every interaction strengthens the bond that teachers have with students. Same goes for reading. Leaving them on their own in certain situations can be beneficial, but knowing the right time to aid is crucial too. My goal as a teacher again is to empower them to be brave, to be kind and to be confident. Even with reading, words are hard. And it's okay if they are confused; the English language is complicated. I will do my best to teach them effectively and kindly. I will not pretend to know what I'm going to do with my students for reading. I have listed the things I want to have, but I think I am allowed to change my philosophy.

Ever since I was very little, I have always been enamored with kids. When I turned 14, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I just didn't know how I was going to get there, since we were travelling all across the U.S at that time. More recently, God has put it on my heart to teach kindergarten students. And that is where my heart is, truly. Loving and teaching kids how to name colors and write their name. I have experience aiding with various age groups, and the one I connected with most was the 4- to 5-year-olds. I believe that I have a calling to help them get to the next stage of learning. I was homeschooled until my junior year of high school. With this difference in upbringing, I had a very special education. I learned in my own time and had the opportunity to research what I wanted to. Changing to public school had its ups and downs, but that's where I met and watched so many wonderful teachers. I went to a small school in the country, and the class number was smaller. This allowed the teachers to spend more time on individual students. My favorite teacher in high school were my science teacher. She made learning fun and easy. She solidified my desire to teach, even to how she had her classroom set up. At the back of the classroom, she had a bunch of fidgets for students who could not sit still during her lectures. She would create projects that were fun for everyone, and always was available to talk. For major grades, she would allow us to use our skills that contained science for a project. I looked up to her for a lot of things. During my senior year, this teacher got sick and had to shave her head. Amidst treatments and appointments, she continued to teach. Not only did she continue to teach us with the same devotion, but she also allowed us to ask questions about her illness as much as we wanted to. She was strong for us, and I have such big shoes to fill now that I want to be an educator. That part of my story is over, but I will have more after I finish college, and get some experience in the field. I am determined to make a difference in the teaching community and in the lives of students.

My name is Charleigh Huff, and I am a high school senior at Cottonwood High School. Once I graduate, I am going to college for a major in Education. Troy University has accepted me, and I will be attending in the fall of this year. My volunteer work consists of local food bank hours, building backpacks for hungry students, and being a Peer Helper at my high school. At Cottonwood High School, I am involved in National Beta Club, Peer Helpers, and FCCLA. I am also part of Operation Christmas Child, an organization that sends toys and hygiene items to kids all over the world. In years past, I have assisted in fundraisers, served at homeless outreaches and many more. I aspire to be a teacher for elementary students, teaching them the necessary skills to move forward in their education. My goal is to impact their future, whatever that might be. Communication and trust are the most important factors to being a sturdy educator, and that will be my mantra. My students will have every opportunity to better themselves academically and better themselves as people. I am prepared to help them in any way I can. They are our future, our leaders of tomorrow. They need strong and trustworthy educators to guide them along the path they choose. Success is not measured by what you do; it is measured by the attitude in which you apply yourself. The career I am striving for is something I have wanted to do for many years. Making a difference is my top priority. I am prepared to do my very best in college, as well as after I graduate. In all honesty, I am terrified. But I intend to take this fear and nurture it into something I can use: determination. Without fear, I may be hasty or create more messes than solutions. Fear holds me accountable. I am determined to make my career based on what I can accomplish through my students. I thank you for considering me for this scholarship. Please know that it will not be used in vain. I also would like to thank the donors for allowing students with a passion for teaching a chance to grow. Some of us would not be able to go to school without supporters like you. A special thank you to educators. You are our heroes, our shining stars. And trust me, it's a dark world to be in.

Since I was 7 years old, I have been homeschooled. Just recently I decided to attend public school so I could go to college. Being homeschooled for so long made me learn at my own pace, and appreciate how I learned. I have also traveled extensively across the United States, allowing me to have experiences that no other applicant has. My family and I are missionaries to the U.S., assisting people in need wherever we go. We've been doing that for the past 10 years. My plans after high school are to become a Trojan at Troy University in Troy, AL, majoring in Education. Once I have completed my bachelor's degree I will teach close to my home in Dothan, AL. As far as my attributes, I am a quiet person who loves to love people. I have a witty, fun personality and a decent sense of humor. I am fairly intelligent, have a great work ethic, and love to write stories. I have always had a passion for little kids. When I am around toddlers, they gravitate toward me. My mother calls me 'the baby whisperer'. I have an odd ability to induce people to open up to me about what's going on in their lives. I am an excellent listener. I am honest when it comes to most things, but am kind when I shouldn't be. Using these skills I am striving to lead the generation to walk in a positive direction toward whatever they want to be. My chosen grade to teach will be kindergarten, teaching them to read and write and to name colors that they see every day. It won't be easy, but life never is. I am preparing them for first grade, which is getting them ready for second grade and so on. I am teaching the youngest minds; and with a solid foundation, the sky's the limit. I won't be saving lives, and I won't be a successful businessman. Despite that, I will do my very best to reach the community by raising bright young kids to do what I can't. That is how I can impact my world and maybe even someone else's. The world is messy, and I find beauty in the darkness. I may not be the greatest human to impact the world, but sunshine just grows warmer if given the chance. I am only a teenager; what could I do? Truthfully, I don't know. But starting small never hurt anyone.

My name is Charleigh Huff, and I am a high school senior at Cottonwood High School. Once I graduate, I am going to college for a major in Education. Troy University has accepted me, and I will be attending in the fall of this year. My volunteer work consists of local food bank hours, building backpacks for hungry students, and being a Peer Helper at my high school. At Cottonwood High School, I am involved in National Beta Club, Peer Helpers, and FCCLA. I am also part of Operation Christmas Child, an organization that sends toys and hygiene items to kids all over the world. In years past, I have assisted in fundraisers, served at homeless outreaches and many more. I aspire to be a teacher for elementary students, teaching them the necessary skills to move forward in their education. My goal is to impact their future, whatever that might be. Communication and trust are the most important factors to being a sturdy educator, and that will be my mantra. My students will have every opportunity to better themselves academically and better themselves as people. I am prepared to help them in any way I can. They are our future, our leaders of tomorrow. They need strong and trustworthy educators to guide them along the path they choose. Success is not measured by what you do; it is measured by the attitude in which you apply yourself. The career I am striving for is something I have wanted to do for many years. Making a difference is my top priority. I am prepared to do my very best in college, as well as after I graduate. The problems I have faced have prepared me for my dream career. I have experienced loss, I have witnessed poverty, and I have dealt with depression. But what matters is what I do through my struggles. Teaching students to be better as a person goes to show that actions speak louder than words. Going to college to earn my degree is a huge step in perfecting the world. One step at a time, one student at a time. My education could raise up the leaders of America. You choose who will lead them. In every situation, I try to find balance and honesty. I may not fix it, but I am fair. I thank you for considering me for this scholarship. Please know that it will not be used in vain, but for an effective purpose.

My name is Charleigh Huff, and I am a high school senior at Cottonwood High School. Once I graduate, I am going to college for a major in Education. Troy University has accepted me, and I will be attending in the fall of this year. My volunteer work consists of local food bank hours, building backpacks for hungry students, and being a Peer Helper at my high school. At Cottonwood High School, I am involved in National Beta Club, Peer Helpers, and FCCLA. I am also part of Operation Christmas Child, an organization that sends toys and hygiene items to kids all over the world. In years past, I have assisted in fundraisers, served at homeless outreaches and many more. I aspire to be a teacher for elementary students, teaching them the necessary skills to move forward in their education. My goal is to impact their future, whatever that might be. Communication and trust are the most important factors to being a sturdy educator, and that will be my mantra. My students will have every opportunity to better themselves academically and better themselves as people. I am prepared to help them in any way I can. They are our future, our leaders of tomorrow. They need strong and trustworthy educators to guide them along the path they choose. Success is not measured by what you do; it is measured by the attitude in which you apply yourself. The career I am striving for is something I have wanted to do for many years. Making a difference is my top priority. I am prepared to do my very best in college, as well as after I graduate. In college, I am going to be invested in learning and involved in every extracirricular activity that peaks my interest. Including the Troy University newspaper, choir, and various church groups. I also plan on getting hired my second year to earn some money for an apartment. My goals may be small in retrospect, but my impact will make a difference. Troy University is going to be the first step to a bigger dream of mine. The world is ready for me to make a difference. In conclusion, thank you for considering me for this scholarship. I am eager to become a proper adult and brave the world as a teacher does; academically and as a leader. The way to do that is to suceed.

For the past few years, I have volunteered with Operation Christmas Child, which is an organization that sends toys and hygiene items all over the world. Through this ministry, I get to collect objects for kids from 2-14 years old. In addition, I have served with my local food bank, allowing families to have food in difficult times. I sorted cans of food and jars of peanut butter for the past 3 years. As a senior in high school, I am involved in many clubs to serve my community. I am a member of the National Beta Club, Peer Helpers, and FCCLA. I enjoy helping other students who are struggling with classes or life decisions. As far as my career, I am going to be a teacher, mainly in the early grades such as 1st or 2nd grade. Building a firm education will ensure that their future can be brighter. This career serves both local and state communities, depending on where the students may go. My job as their teacher is to equip them with the basic skills needed for the next step in life. In that, I hope to set a good example for any student who I come into contact with, academically or otherwise. I hope that I am going to be an influence on the generation to come. For the past 9 years, my family and I have traveled extensively across the U.S., serving and working alongside multiple organizations to spread the Gospel everywhere. I'd say that is a proficient way of paving the way for a better future. The amount of volunteer work I have done is extensive. From working at summer camps to working at festivals, and assisting in many fundraisers. Nobody knows what the future holds, but if we prepare our younger generation on how to tackle any problem, they will be unafraid to learn and ready themselves. That's what I plan on doing as a teacher; readying my students for any adversity that comes their way, even if I am not there to help them. We don't have any control over what their future holds but teachers can prepare them for what we can't see. Guiding students has to be a top priority in the field of education, and I plan to make it mine. In conclusion, the future has to be paved by someone willing to get their hands dirty. Who's ready?

When I look at the current education system, I am overcome with a desire to improve students' interest in learning. Unfortunately, the number of teachers that do not want to teach their students greatly outweighs the number of students who want to learn. As a result, children aren't retaining any important topics in school. As a future teacher, I want to assist educators and students alike in overcoming this issue. Not that I will change the world drastically, but hopefully enough to impact the next generation. I have always noticed that every student learns differently. Whether that be oral or written, no student is the same. I believe that the way children retain what they learn is best demonstrated in the way they understand the subject. I will gladly alter or adjust my lessons for select students who struggle with the common way of teaching. Coming from a homeschooled background, I did not learn the usual way. My mother taught me that it was okay to learn differently, so I will pass that on to any student I am teaching. Being able to enjoy school is one of the best experiences in my opinion. Another extremely important thing is to build trust with each student. If I put trust in their ability to complete a task, then they will trust me. As an educator, trust between students and teachers can improve their desire to learn. If I can give my students skills they have for life, then they can also teach those skills to other students. For example, if I assign a worksheet to a young girl, she does better if I am not constantly watching her progress. If I establish good habits beforehand, then I know to leave her alone and the worksheet will be completed. Having this level of accountability with every student is going to prove effective for any grade I teach. I believe that education and mentoring are important because students need teachers who care about their education, and that is going to be my goal. I want every student to be fully prepared for the next step in their education, and eventually, their lives. If that means teaching a kindergartener how to write their name, that is what I will do. If that means reading emotions from a student when they aren't doing well in a subject and listening to them, that is what I can do.

When I become a teacher, my goals are to inspire and lead young students. The future and education of the next generation should become my one focus. By teaching young students, I have the opportunity to pour my love of learning into all of the students. The most important thing to teach them is respect for what they are learning, as well as respect for others. There will always be cases where my learning path won't fit a student's way of learning. I am prepared to assess and assist any student who needs specific instruction.

I am currently aiding in a kindergarten classroom, able to observe the way their brains work. I fell in love with teaching them the necessary skills to move forward. I will be the best teacher I can be for my students. Early childhood education begins with the basics, which I am eager to teach to future generations. I love children and am very willing to alter my teaching style for any student if they learn differently. Their education is first and foremost, which is why I can gear my lessons for maximum retention. I am also eager to prepare them for the grades above them; that way, they can move forward with little to no mishaps. Trust from both teacher and student is most important in day-to-day learning. I want to gain the trust of my students through interaction, understanding, and of course fun. If we are unable to trust each other, then the odds of the students learning anything will decrease. The education system is always in constant need of more teachers. For early education especially, having solid teachers able to keep up with the constant bustle of teaching and equipping 20+ students is not easy. I am a hard worker who is ready for any challenge I may face. Growing up homeschooled, I had a unique learning style geared to how I learned. Now, as a potential teacher, I can fully understand how each child learns and develops, and eventually raises future leaders. Being a positive influence on the students is my number one goal as they grow up in the world. When I become an educator, my goal as a teacher will be to encourage and gear my students for the next task, the next test, and gradually the next grade. They also have to want to learn. I promise to make an inviting and fun environment for the students to learn to read and write. As if they were my own, I will be proud of every step they take; and if they are slower than the rest of the class, I will address that as well. Salary means nothing to me, only the education and future of the students I get to teach. And maybe when I become a teacher, I am not only supporting my students but parents and fellow teachers as well. They want the best for their students too. Please consider me for this scholarship.