Since childhood, I've dreamed of becoming a teacher, fueled by my love for imagination and creativity. I enjoyed playing school, taking on the role of the teacher while my cousins played students. It was my favorite game, where I delighted in creating lesson plans for my "students." Attending a small all-girls school turned out to be a blessing in disguise. From sixth to twelfth grade, I met many caring teachers who understood me and made me feel seen, especially on my tough days. The teacher who impacted me the most was my reading and language teacher, Mrs. Lewis. I had her in ninth grade and now again as a senior. She’s not just a teacher; she genuinely cares. She could sense when I was sad and would bring a cake to cheer me up the next day. To me, a good teacher is someone you can bond with, not just someone who helps you pass your classes. In Mrs. Lewis’s class, there's laughter and jokes every day. The warm atmosphere we've built is something I aspire to create with my own students. I want to be someone’s Mrs. Lewis. During my ninth-grade year, my family learned that my sister was sick with a brain disease, which turned my home into a place of sadness. Every reminder of her felt bittersweet, and I often preferred to be anywhere but home. Leaving home became my escape, as I struggled with overwhelming feelings, wishing to just stay in bed. I knew my family at home wouldn’t fully understand, so I decided to reach out to a teacher. I chose to talk to Mrs. Lewis. Opening up about my feelings was hard, but it showed me the value of having a caring teacher who listens. Her support helped me process my emotions and highlighted the importance of being there for others. This experience opened doors for my future and motivated me to actually want to become a source of support or a sense of "escape" for students facing similar challenges just like Mrs. Lewis is for me. Now that I’m a senior in Mrs. Lewis’s class again, her presence still brings me so much comfort and peace. Her support and understanding have really inspired me to create that same kind of warm environment for my future students. I want to be the kind of teacher who notices when a student is having a tough time, someone who gives not just help with schoolwork but also emotional support. I dream of having a classroom where laughter and learning go together, where students feel safe to be themselves and are encouraged to chase their interests.

While in high school, I had the opportunity to participate in numerous amount of volunteer and community service activities. Many of them have led to me wanting to pursue a career in early childhood education. From being in clubs where I mentor others and help them grow both personally and academically taking classes where we do school-wide initiatives is something I found enjoyable. Growing up in a modest household, I have always understood the value of hard work and education. However, the rising costs of higher education create a considerable challenge for me and my family. A scholarship would not only ease my financial burden but also allow me to completely focus on my studies. And achieve my career goals while also enabling me to access additional resources such as tutoring, workshops, or study materials that could help my academic experience. The scholarship would lessen my work obligation which I am also worried would pose a challenge having to juggle college and work. Because of the experiences I’ve had at my school, I am very passionate about becoming a teacher and wanting to incorporate service or student-led learning into my curriculum no matter what grade to better prepare students going into the real world. My future education and career would hopefully lead to positive changes in society, whether through innovation, leadership, or advocacy seen in my students. Through my involvement in different school-wide initiatives like the Green Team, being a Teacher's Assistant, and Education Go Get It Week, I've seen the impact of teamwork and coming together for a specific goal. For example, while organizing different events, I witnessed how working as a group can lead to amazing outcomes and help foster a sense of community among my classmates. Being a teacher’s assistant has given me a deeper appreciation for education and has boosted my dream of becoming a teacher myself, or something as rewarding as mentoring others which has also played a big role in my growth and has taught me valuable lessons in communication and helped me see things from different viewpoints, which has enhanced my own learning experience. In conclusion, I dream of creating a significant impact in my community and beyond. The Leadership roles and initiatives I've participated in have shaped my understanding of the challenges I face and the positive changes I can achieve. As I look to the future, I am excited about opportunities that lie ahead, whether it’s through inspiring the next generation. I believe that spreading knowledge and allowing collaboration would help empower others and make a difference.

The role of a teacher goes way beyond just teaching subjects; it’s about helping students with their emotional and social development, too. I’m really excited about the chance to make a difference in lives, guiding students through the ups and downs of growing up and encouraging them to reach their full potential. By becoming a teacher, I hope to help shape the next generation, empowering students to think creatively, explore new ideas, and truly love learning, just like the amazing teachers I had in school. My own experiences have really shown me how important emotional support is in education. I want to be that teacher who notices students struggling and steps in to help them out. I hope that by doing this, I can help reduce mental health issues and build resilience in young people, making it easier for them to face challenges and thrive. Building strong relationships with students is crucial, no matter what grade they’re in. The connections I want to create would hopefully lay a foundation for their academic success and personal growth. In my own school, I’ve been lucky to meet many understanding teachers who listen and care about my well-being. Because my school not only prioritizes academics but well-being, it has helped me prepare for the outside world. I feel ready to leave the school I've called home for the last seven years and explore the next years of my life with the simple tools I've been given beforehand. Thanks to being there, I’ve been able to reflect on the opportunities I’ve been given and want to give back to other students. I dream of creating a classroom atmosphere where students feel they belong and aren’t afraid to collaborate or support each other. I also want to weave social-emotional learning into my lessons. This means having discussions about things like mental health, healthy relationships, and how to deal with emotions, skills that are super important for both school and life. I believe that teaching these skills alongside regular subjects can help prepare students for the challenges they’ll face outside the classroom. My goal is to inspire my students to not just do well academically but also to grow into compassionate, strong individuals who greatly impact their communities. By prioritizing their emotional well-being, I hope to create an environment that fosters a love for learning. I want to leave a lasting impact that shapes their futures in meaningful ways. I hope my students will look back on their time in my classroom as a place where they grew, learned, and felt truly supported, an experience that sticks with them long after they leave.

Since childhood, I've dreamed of becoming a teacher, powered by my love for imagination and creativity. I enjoyed playing school, taking on the role of the teacher while my cousins played students. It was my favorite game, where I delighted in creating lesson plans for my "students." Attending a small all-girls school turned out to be a blessing in disguise. From sixth to twelfth grade, I met many caring teachers who understood me and made me feel seen, especially on my tough days. The teacher who impacted me the most was my reading and language teacher, Mrs. Lewis. I had her in ninth grade and now again as a senior. She’s not just a teacher; she genuinely cares. She could sense when I was sad and would bring a cake to cheer me up the next day. To me, a good teacher is someone you can bond with, not just someone who helps you pass your classes. In Mrs. Lewis’s class, there's laughter and jokes every day. The warm atmosphere we've built is something I aspire to create with my students. I want to be someone’s Mrs. Lewis. During my ninth-grade year, my family learned that my sister was sick with a brain disease, which turned my home into a place of sadness. Every reminder of her felt bittersweet, and I often preferred to be anywhere but home. Leaving home became my escape, as I struggled with overwhelming feelings, wishing to just stay in bed. I knew my family at home wouldn’t fully understand, so I decided to reach out to a teacher. I chose to talk to Mrs. Lewis. Opening up about my feelings was hard, but it showed me the value of having a caring teacher who listens. Her support helped me process my emotions and highlighted the importance of being there for others. This experience opened doors for my future and motivated me to be a source of support for students facing similar challenges. Now that I’m a senior in Mrs. Lewis’s class again, her presence still brings me so much comfort and peace. Her support and understanding have inspired me to create that same kind of warm environment for my future students. I want to be the kind of teacher who notices when a student is having a tough time, someone who gives not just help with schoolwork but also emotional support. I dream of having a classroom where laughter and learning go together, where students feel safe to be themselves and are encouraged to chase their interests.