Since I was young, I have always enjoyed working with children. I helped with younger kids and volunteered at my church, and I quickly realized how much happiness being around children brought me. For the past seven years, I have cared for and taught children through my church, and these experiences have made me even more certain that I want to become an elementary teacher. My goal is to create a classroom where students learn, feel safe and supported, and look forward to coming to school every day. I know that every child is different, and I believe that is what makes teaching so meaningful. No two students learn the same way, so I want to make learning engaging through hands-on activities, educational games, storytelling, outdoor lessons, and creative projects that help every child connect with what they are learning. I want my classroom to be a place where curiosity is encouraged and mistakes are seen as opportunities to grow rather than something to fear. While academics are important, I believe the most meaningful part of being a teacher is the impact you have on a child's life outside of schoolwork. I want to be the teacher who notices when something seems off, who takes the time to ask if a student is okay, and who makes every child feel like they matter. If a student is struggling, whether academically or emotionally, I would approach them with patience and understanding. Instead of putting them on the spot, I would speak with them privately, listen without judgment, and work together to find a solution. Sometimes, knowing that one trusted adult believes in you can make all the difference. The qualities I hope to bring into my classroom are patience, compassion, creativity, organization, and encouragement. I want each student to feel seen as an individual. By taking the time to learn about their interests, strengths, and challenges, I can create an environment where every child feels included and valued. When children know they belong, they are more confident, more willing to participate, and more likely to believe in themselves. Above all, I hope my students leave my classroom remembering more than just math facts or spelling words. I want them to remember the importance of kindness because we never truly know what someone else is going through. I want them to know that their feelings are valid, that asking for help is a sign of strength, and that doing their best is always enough. Success isn't about being perfect—it's about showing up, working hard, and continuing to grow. Receiving this scholarship would bring me one step closer to fulfilling a dream I have carried with me for years. I hope to become the teacher who makes learning fun, creates lasting memories, and helps children believe in themselves. If, years from now, one of my students remembers that they felt welcomed, encouraged, and capable because of my classroom, I will know I have made the difference I set out to make.

Since I was young, I have always enjoyed working with children. I helped with younger kids and volunteered at my church, and I quickly realized how much happiness being around children brought me. For the past seven years, I have cared for and taught children through my church, and these experiences have made me even more certain that I want to become an elementary teacher. My goal is to create a classroom where students learn, feel safe and supported, and look forward to coming to school every day. I know that every child is different, and I believe that is what makes teaching so meaningful. No two students learn the same way, so I want to make learning engaging through hands-on activities, educational games, storytelling, outdoor lessons, and creative projects that help every child connect with what they are learning. I want my classroom to be a place where curiosity is encouraged and mistakes are seen as opportunities to grow rather than something to fear. While academics are important, I believe the most meaningful part of being a teacher is the impact you have on a child's life outside of schoolwork. I want to be the teacher who notices when something seems off, who takes the time to ask if a student is okay, and who makes every child feel like they matter. If a student is struggling, whether academically or emotionally, I would approach them with patience and understanding. Instead of putting them on the spot, I would speak with them privately, listen without judgment, and work together to find a solution. Sometimes, knowing that one trusted adult believes in you can make all the difference. The qualities I hope to bring into my classroom are patience, compassion, creativity, organization, and encouragement. I want each student to feel seen as an individual. By taking the time to learn about their interests, strengths, and challenges, I can create an environment where every child feels included and valued. When children know they belong, they are more confident, more willing to participate, and more likely to believe in themselves. Above all, I hope my students leave my classroom remembering more than just math facts or spelling words. I want them to remember the importance of kindness because we never truly know what someone else is going through. I want them to know that their feelings are valid, that asking for help is a sign of strength, and that doing their best is always enough. Success isn't about being perfect—it's about showing up, working hard, and continuing to grow. Receiving this scholarship would bring me one step closer to fulfilling a dream I have carried with me for years. I hope to become the teacher who makes learning fun, creates lasting memories, and helps children believe in themselves. If, years from now, one of my students remembers that they felt welcomed, encouraged, and capable because of my classroom, I will know I have made the difference I set out to make.

Education is important to me because it’s something that has always played a big role in my life and how I see my future. Growing up neither of my parents went to college and that ended up playing a big role in how I was raised. We were considered a very low income family, living paycheck to paycheck and learning how to make things stretch, but at the same time we weren’t considered low income enough to have any support from the government or anyone. Ever since I was little I’ve known that I wanted to go to college, I’ve always wanted to make that change, to build something stable and better for my future family and kids. In the fall of 2020 my family lost our home and we ended up having to move in with my mom’s dad where we still currently live. This event and moment in my life made me realize how important my education is to me and made me value it even more. It made me realize how badly I really did want to go to college and continue my education to build a stable future. Not only for the job and for the money but for the lives that I can have an impact on through my degree and my career. For me I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, and I never really understood why until I got older, now I realize that it’s because of the impact that teachers can have on the lives of students and how they can influence them. Where I come from there's families and kids that struggle with things daily, whether that be money problems, emotional and mental problems, or struggles with family issues or things going on at home, and I want to be one of those teachers that supports them. One of those teachers that's not only the fun class but that sees her students and helps them in any way that I possibly can. Even if it is hard, no matter how hard it may be, I’d much rather be that teacher to help them grow and become who they deserve to be and be the best that they can be no matter how hard I have to work for it. That is my main reason on why education is so important to me, education will help me work hard and get to where I need to be to be able to help change and form the lives of so many kids and help them grow into the amazing people that I know they can be. I want to be that teacher that they remember even after they go to college or the work force, the one they look back on and say that teacher helped me in some of my hardest times. And that is why education is important to me. That is the legacy that I want to leave behind.

Attending higher education will prepare me to make a positive impact on young students' lives, especially in low-income towns like mine. I witnessed firsthand the struggles students face, whether financial or personal, and developed a desire to help. My goal is to pursue a degree in Elementary Education so I can create a safe, trustworthy space for children and make a real difference—even for just a few hours each day. Everyone has that one favorite teacher, or at least they should. The one that makes you smile and feel included, the one that makes learning fun, and the one that makes the classroom feel like a safe space or an escape from whatever may be happening at home. And for me, that's what I want to do. I want to be able to not only educate students but also help them as people, help them grow, and help them feel safe and comfortable. To feel seen and heard. The family that I come from struggles financially. I come from a family who has lived paycheck to paycheck my entire life even to the point of losing our house and moving in with family, so when I went to school I felt like I was a little out of place, I didn't have the nice clothes or shoes or bag like everyone else, but there was a couple teachers that I had growing up that helped me to feel like I fit in, like I was just as equal to everyone else that had all of the trending items. Ever since then, I've wanted to be able to do the same for future generations in my town or towns like mine. I've seen families that struggle not only financially but with other things, seeing so many students in my town that struggle with abuse at home or absent or neglectful parents, that was one of my main motivations to go into this degree and this field. Even if I can't fully change the situation, I want to become that kind of teacher who helps her students, comforts them, supports them, and makes them feel seen and safe. I want to be able to make that difference in my community or any community like it. My plan is to get my degree and be able to become a teacher to help not only educate future generations, but to make them feel seen, heard, cared for, safe, and loved. Because every student deserves to feel that way, no matter what may be going on outside of school.

Attending higher education will prepare me to make a positive impact on young students' lives, especially in low-income towns like mine. I witnessed firsthand the struggles students face, whether financial or personal, and developed a desire to help. My goal is to pursue a degree in Elementary Education so I can create a safe, trustworthy space for children and make a real difference—even for just a few hours each day. Everyone has that one favorite teacher, or at least they should. The one that makes you smile and feel included, the one that makes learning fun, and the one that makes the classroom feel like a safe space or an escape from whatever may be happening at home. And for me, that's what I want to do. I want to be able to not only educate students but also help them as people, help them grow, and help them feel safe and comfortable. To feel seen and heard. The family that I come from struggles financially. I come from a family who has lived paycheck to paycheck my entire life even to the point of losing our house and moving in with family, so when I went to school I felt like I was a little out of place, I didn't have the nice clothes or shoes or bag like everyone else, but there was a couple teachers that I had growing up that helped me to feel like I fit in, like I was just as equal to everyone else that had all of the trending items. Ever since then, I've wanted to be able to do the same for future generations in my town or towns like mine. I've seen families that struggle not only financially but with other things, seeing so many students in my town that struggle with abuse at home or absent or neglectful parents, that was one of my main motivations to go into this degree and this field. Even if I can't fully change the situation, I want to become that kind of teacher who helps her students, comforts them, supports them, and makes them feel seen and safe. I want to be able to make that difference in my community or any community like it. My plan is to get my degree and be able to become a teacher to help not only educate future generations, but to make them feel seen, heard, cared for, safe, and loved. Because every student deserves to feel that way, no matter what may be going on outside of school.

Attending higher education will prepare me to make a positive impact on young students' lives, especially in low-income towns like mine. I witnessed firsthand the struggles students face, whether financial or personal, and developed a desire to help. My goal is to pursue a degree in Elementary Education so I can create a safe, trustworthy space for children and make a real difference—even for just a few hours each day. Everyone has that one favorite teacher, or at least they should. The one that makes you smile and feel included, the one that makes learning fun, and the one that makes the classroom feel like a safe space or an escape from whatever may be happening at home. And for me, that's what I want to do. I want to be able to not only educate students but also help them as people, help them grow, and help them feel safe and comfortable. To feel seen and heard. The family that I come from struggles financially. I come from a family who has lived paycheck to paycheck my entire life even to the point of losing our house and moving in with family, so when I went to school I felt like I was a little out of place, I didn't have the nice clothes or shoes or bag like everyone else, but there was a couple teachers that I had growing up that helped me to feel like I fit in, like I was just as equal to everyone else that had all of the trending items. Ever since then, I've wanted to be able to do the same for future generations in my town or towns like mine. I've seen families that struggle not only financially but with other things, seeing so many students in my town that struggle with abuse at home or absent or neglectful parents, that was one of my main motivations to go into this degree and this field. Even if I can't fully change the situation, I want to become that kind of teacher who helps her students, comforts them, supports them, and makes them feel seen and safe. I want to be able to make that difference in my community or any community like it. My plan is to get my degree and be able to become a teacher to help not only educate future generations, but to make them feel seen, heard, cared for, safe, and loved. Because every student deserves to feel that way, no matter what may be going on outside of school.

Attending higher education will prepare me to make a positive impact on young students' lives, especially in low-income towns like mine. I witnessed firsthand the struggles students face, whether financial or personal, and developed a desire to help. My goal is to pursue a degree in Elementary Education so I can create a safe, trustworthy space for children and make a real difference—even for just a few hours each day. Everyone has that one favorite teacher, or at least they should. The one that makes you smile and feel included, the one that makes learning fun, and the one that makes the classroom feel like a safe space or an escape from whatever may be happening at home. And for me, that's what I want to do. I want to be able to not only educate students but also help them as people, help them grow, and help them feel safe and comfortable. To feel seen and heard. The family that I come from struggles financially. I come from a family who has lived paycheck to paycheck my entire life even to the point of losing our house and moving in with family, so when I went to school I felt like I was a little out of place, I didn't have the nice clothes or shoes or bag like everyone else, but there was a couple teachers that I had growing up that helped me to feel like I fit in, like I was just as equal to everyone else that had all of the trending items. Ever since then, I've wanted to be able to do the same for future generations in my town or towns like mine. I've seen families that struggle not only financially but with other things, seeing so many students in my town that struggle with abuse at home or absent or neglectful parents, that was one of my main motivations to go into this degree and this field. Even if I can't fully change the situation, I want to become that kind of teacher who helps her students, comforts them, supports them, and makes them feel seen and safe. I want to be able to make that difference in my community or any community like it. My plan is to get my degree and be able to become a teacher to help not only educate future generations, but to make them feel seen, heard, cared for, safe, and loved. Because every student deserves to feel that way, no matter what may be going on outside of school.

Attending higher education will prepare me to make a positive impact on young students' lives, especially in low-income towns like mine. I witnessed firsthand the struggles students face, whether financial or personal, and developed a desire to help. My goal is to pursue a degree in Elementary Education so I can create a safe, trustworthy space for children and make a real difference—even for just a few hours each day. Everyone has that one favorite teacher, or at least they should. The one that makes you smile and feel included, the one that makes learning fun, and the one that makes the classroom feel like a safe space or an escape from whatever may be happening at home. And for me, that's what I want to do. I want to be able to not only educate students but also help them as people, help them grow, and help them feel safe and comfortable. To feel seen and heard. The family that I come from struggles financially. I come from a family who has lived paycheck to paycheck my entire life even to the point of losing our house and moving in with family, so when I went to school I felt like I was a little out of place, I didn't have the nice clothes or shoes or bag like everyone else, but there was a couple teachers that I had growing up that helped me to feel like I fit in, like I was just as equal to everyone else that had all of the trending items. Ever since then, I've wanted to be able to do the same for future generations in my town or towns like mine. I've seen families that struggle not only financially but with other things, seeing so many students in my town that struggle with abuse at home or absent or neglectful parents, that was one of my main motivations to go into this degree and this field. Even if I can't fully change the situation, I want to become that kind of teacher who helps her students, comforts them, supports them, and makes them feel seen and safe. I want to be able to make that difference in my community or any community like it. My plan is to get my degree and be able to become a teacher to help not only educate future generations, but to make them feel seen, heard, cared for, safe, and loved. Because every student deserves to feel that way, no matter what may be going on outside of school.