Motherhood. In the last 18 months, this word has become synonymous with everything. Everything in my life revolves around my 18-month-old daughter, Millie. Everything I do is focused on raising her with stability, security and immense love. Yet, these 18 months have also brought the most challenging time of my life. Earlier this year, Millie and I moved in with my parents after her dad and I separated, forcing me to build a new life for my daughter and myself from scratch. It’s meant learning to juggle the entire load – financial, professional and parental – alone. I’m still paying for childcare, rent, all the everyday expenses associated with toddlerhood, while also juggling a full-time teaching job and graduate studies. However, between parenting and the rigours of graduate school, there's rarely any time off. Millie needs me daily in a way that feels constant and unconditional. My presence, my time and my patience are vital to her growth and sense of security. Similarly, my work demands focus, consistency and discipline. It can be daunting to simultaneously fulfil the roles of devoted mother, diligent teacher, dedicated student and provider for my child, all with no definite endpoint each day. My coursework often begins after Millie’s asleep, requiring a second wind fuelled by the drive of the goals I’ve set for myself. Perhaps one of the most significant hurdles I've encountered since becoming a single parent has been financial. The post-separation responsibilities that have fallen to me are significant and some, entirely new to me. For instance, childcare-an expense that, paradoxically, is critical to enabling my career, graduate study, and financial progress-is my largest ongoing cost. When combined with rent, utilities, groceries, and other living expenses essential for raising a toddler, it's a burden that weighs heavily, particularly when attempting to sustain a full-time career and master graduate-level curriculum. Despite the challenges, I am motivated by a clear vision. I am in my third year as a middle school special education ELA teacher at Villa Rica Middle School (a Title I school), while pursuing a Master’s degree in Special Education at Kennesaw State University. Ultimately, I aspire to become an Instructional Support Coach. Teaching special education is more than just a vocation; it’s my calling. I spend my days working with young learners who desperately need advocates, believe in them when they don't believe in themselves, and guide them toward realizing their full potential. My experience in a Title I setting has deepened my understanding of how circumstances beyond school impact students’ learning, and I’m driven to serve them and their teachers in an expanded capacity. Beyond my professional goals, my pursuit of higher education is a direct investment in Millie’s future. I envision a life where she has the resources and opportunities she needs to thrive, where financial instability never dictates her potential, and where she learns that unexpected life changes are not impediments to success. I want her to know that her mother didn’t allow life's setbacks to define or limit her dreams. I want her to look back and see that, even during a time of heartbreak and upheaval, I persevered, prioritised her well-being, and built the secure future I know we deserve. Receiving this $2,000 scholarship would significantly ease the financial burden that comes with balancing the demands of being a single parent and a graduate student, alleviating some of the pressure related to childcare and educational expenses. It would grant me much-needed mental breathing room, allowing me to dedicate more focused energy toward my studies, my students, and Millie, rather than perpetually stretching every dollar. It’s an investment not only in my education and professional development, but most importantly, in the bright future I am determined to create for my daughter and myself. Single parenthood while juggling a full-time career and a graduate program has undoubtedly pushed my limits on all fronts-emotional, mental, and financial. Yet, through it all, Millie remains my compass. She is the driving force behind my tenacity, my resilience, and my unwavering belief that this period of difficulty will culminate in something even greater. I am deeply committed to completing my degree, expanding my expertise in special education, and cultivating a stable and opportunity-rich environment for my daughter. This scholarship would be instrumental in my continuing ability to pursue this crucial mission and bring us one step closer to realizing the future we’ve worked so hard for.

My experiences with mental health have shaped almost every part of my life, including my goals, relationships, and the way I understand both myself and other people. For a long time, I struggled with anxiety, stress, self-doubt, and feeling emotionally overwhelmed, but I often convinced myself that I just needed to “push through it” instead of actually acknowledging how much I was struggling. Over time, I realized that ignoring mental health does not make it disappear. It only makes people feel more isolated and alone. A lot of my mental health struggles became more noticeable during major life changes. Becoming a mother while still trying to pursue higher education completely changed my life. While balancing school, work, finances, and motherhood, I constantly felt pressure to hold everything together. There were many moments where I felt emotionally exhausted and overwhelmed trying to balance every responsibility at once. I often struggled with overthinking, anxiety about the future, and guilt surrounding whether I was doing enough both as a student and as a mother. Later, going through a separation added another layer of emotional stress and uncertainty to my life. Suddenly, I found myself trying to navigate independence, financial responsibility, single motherhood, and school all at once. There were days where I felt mentally drained and unsure of how I was going to continue balancing everything. However, those experiences also forced me to become more emotionally aware and honest with myself instead of continuing to ignore how I was feeling. One of the biggest ways mental health has shaped my understanding of the world is through my work in Special Education. Working with students with disabilities and behavioral needs has helped me realize how deeply emotional well-being affects every aspect of a person’s life. Many students are not simply “misbehaving.” Often, they are overwhelmed, anxious, frustrated, or struggling internally in ways that others may not immediately understand. One experience that deeply impacted me involved one of my students with high-functioning autism. During a major behavioral situation, he became extremely overwhelmed and dysregulated. He was yelling, throwing furniture, and completely unable to calm himself emotionally. At first, I felt overwhelmed too and unsure of how to respond. However, instead of reacting emotionally, I chose to stay calm and simply listen to him. Once he began talking about his fears and frustrations, I realized how important it is for people to feel heard and emotionally safe. That experience changed the way I approach relationships and emotional support. It reminded me that mental health struggles are not always visible and that patience and understanding can make a huge difference in someone’s life. Over time, I became someone that student trusted and came to throughout the school day when he felt overwhelmed. That relationship showed me how powerful empathy and emotional support can be. My experiences with mental health have also shaped my future goals. I want to continue working in Special Education and create safe, supportive environments for students who may feel misunderstood or overlooked. I want students to know they are supported both academically and emotionally because mental health affects confidence, relationships, learning, and overall well-being. Most importantly, my experiences have taught me that struggling mentally does not make someone weak or incapable. It makes them human. I have learned that asking for help, being honest about emotions, and supporting others through difficult moments are all important parts of growth and healing. Although mental health challenges have been difficult at times, they have helped shape me into a more compassionate, understanding, and resilient person, and those are qualities I will carry with me throughout my life and career.

My main goal for the future is to continue building a stable life for my daughter and myself while also creating a positive impact through my career in Special Education. I want to become a strong advocate and support system for students with disabilities and behavioral needs, especially students who may feel misunderstood or overlooked in school environments. Through continuing my education and gaining more experience in the field, I hope to create safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments where students feel emotionally and academically supported. Right now, my immediate goal is to continue pursuing higher education while balancing work and motherhood. I currently work while also paying for daycare, bills, groceries, tuition expenses, and other daily living costs. Because I am financially responsible for both myself and my daughter, planning and budgeting have become extremely important in my life. My monthly expenses mainly include daycare, rent and utilities, transportation, groceries, and school-related costs such as books, supplies, and tuition payments. While balancing these responsibilities can become overwhelming at times, I continue working toward my goals because I know education will create more long-term stability and opportunities for us in the future. One of my biggest goals is to continue growing professionally within the field of Special Education. I originally graduated with a degree in Physical Education, but after entering Special Education unexpectedly, I realized how passionate I became about helping students emotionally, behaviorally, and academically. Working in this field has helped me grow tremendously as both a person and educator. I hope to continue gaining experience working with students with autism, behavioral needs, and emotional regulation challenges because I have seen firsthand how meaningful patience, trust, and emotional support can be for students. One experience that greatly influenced my goals involved one of my students with high-functioning autism. During a major behavioral situation, he became extremely overwhelmed and dysregulated. At first, I felt unsure of how to respond, but instead of reacting emotionally, I stayed calm and listened to him talk about his fears and frustrations. Over time, I became someone he trusted and regularly came to for support throughout the school day. That experience helped me realize that I want to continue building relationships where students feel safe, understood, and supported instead of judged. In order to achieve my long-term goals, I plan to continue balancing work and education while gaining as much experience in the field as possible. I also plan to continue improving my classroom management, communication, and behavioral support skills through both education and hands-on experience. Financial support through scholarships would greatly help relieve some of the stress that comes with balancing tuition, daycare, and daily living expenses while pursuing my education. Although my path has not been traditional or easy, I have developed a strong understanding of resilience, responsibility, and perseverance. My goal is not only to create a better future for my daughter and myself, but also to positively impact the students and families I will work with throughout my career. Through education, experience, and determination, I hope to continue building a future centered around support, stability, and advocacy for others in my community.

One of the biggest challenges I have faced during school has been learning how to balance motherhood, financial independence, work, and higher education all at the same time. While pursuing my education, my life changed very quickly. I became pregnant, entered a completely different career field than I originally planned for, and eventually found myself navigating life as a single mother while still trying to continue my education and build a future for myself and my daughter. Although these experiences have been overwhelming at times, they have also shaped me into a more resilient, determined, and compassionate person. When I first became a mother, I quickly realized how difficult it would be to continue pursuing higher education while balancing the responsibilities of raising a child. School alone can already be mentally and emotionally exhausting, but adding financial stress, daycare expenses, work responsibilities, and motherhood made everything feel heavier. There were many moments where I questioned whether I could realistically manage everything at once. One of the hardest transitions for me was moving out on my own and becoming financially responsible for both myself and my daughter. Suddenly, every responsibility fell on me. I was balancing tuition, bills, daycare costs, work, groceries, and everyday living expenses while still trying to succeed academically. Financial stress became one of the biggest challenges I faced because it constantly felt like there was pressure coming from every direction. There were nights where I stayed awake worrying about how I was going to continue paying for everything while still staying focused on school and my future goals. At the same time, balancing school and motherhood brought emotional challenges that I was not fully prepared for. One thing I struggled with often was guilt. As a mother, you naturally want to give your child all of your time and attention, but when you are also pursuing an education, your time becomes divided between classes, assignments, work, and parenting responsibilities. There were many days where I questioned whether continuing school was selfish or whether I should put my education aside completely. However, over time, I realized that continuing my education was not only something I was doing for myself, but also for my daughter. I want her to grow up seeing that difficult circumstances do not have to stop someone from pursuing their goals. I want her to understand the importance of resilience, independence, and perseverance even when life feels uncertain. More than anything, I want to create a stable and successful future for both of us. Another challenge I faced during school was entering the field of Special Education unexpectedly. I originally graduated with a degree in Physical Education and planned to remain in that field because it was what I was most comfortable and familiar with. However, after graduating, I had the opportunity to work in Special Education. At first, I felt extremely nervous and unsure of myself because I had little experience in that environment. Stepping into a completely different field while also adjusting to motherhood felt overwhelming. Despite those fears, entering Special Education became one of the most meaningful decisions I have ever made. Working with students with disabilities and behavioral needs has taught me patience, empathy, communication, and emotional resilience. I quickly learned that being an educator is about much more than academics. Many students need emotional support, understanding, consistency, and someone they can trust. One experience that deeply impacted me involved one of my students with high-functioning autism. I experienced my first major behavioral situation with him where he was throwing furniture, yelling, cussing at me, and completely unable to regulate himself emotionally. In that moment, I felt overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. Instead of reacting emotionally, I took a breath and listened to him. I allowed him to talk about his fears, frustrations, and struggles rather than only focusing on the behavior itself. That moment completely changed my perspective on both Special Education and emotional support. I realized that many students are not looking for someone to immediately “fix” them. Sometimes they simply need someone who is patient enough to listen and make them feel safe and understood. Over time, that same student began trusting me more and more. I eventually became part of his safety plan and someone he regularly comes to throughout the school day when he feels overwhelmed. That relationship has now continued for the past two years, and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life so far. Although balancing school, work, finances, and motherhood has been incredibly challenging, those experiences have taught me resilience and perseverance. I have learned that overcoming challenges does not always mean having everything figured out perfectly. Sometimes it simply means continuing to show up despite fear, stress, uncertainty, and exhaustion. I continue pursuing higher education because I want to create a better future for both my daughter and the students I will work with throughout my career. I want my daughter to grow up knowing that becoming a mother did not stop me from continuing to pursue my goals and build a meaningful future. Although my path has not been easy or traditional, it has shaped me into someone who understands the importance of empathy, perseverance, and continuing forward even during difficult seasons of life.

1. I found TXT recently during a really difficult time in my life after going through a separation in February — February 14th to be exact, which honestly felt like the most ironic Valentine’s Day ever lol. During that time, I was feeling overwhelmed emotionally and trying to adjust to a lot of life changes at once. I originally started listening casually, but the more I listened to their music and watched their content, the more comfort I found in them. Their music became something I could turn to when I needed a distraction, encouragement, or just something comforting during hard days. 2. I think one of the most important characteristics of a MOA is kindness and support. TXT’s music focuses a lot on comfort, growth, understanding yourself, and being there for others, and I think MOAs reflect those same values. I think being part of a fandom should feel welcoming and safe instead of competitive or judgmental. 3. My TXT bias is Soobin because I relate to him the most. He seems very genuine, comforting, and caring toward both the members and fans. I admire how humble and emotionally open he is even while being a leader. 4. My ult bias is also Soobin. There is just something very calming and comforting about him that made me naturally gravitate toward him from the beginning. 5. My favorite TXT song is “Blue Spring.” I love how emotional and comforting it feels, especially the lyrics about growing up and struggling while still finding comfort in the people around you. The song feels very personal and relatable during difficult periods in life. 6. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to see TXT live in concert yet, but I would absolutely love to someday. 7. My favorite album concept was The Name Chapter: FREEFALL because I felt like the themes were very relatable and emotional. The album talks a lot about pressure, growing up, fear, comfort, and trying to figure yourself out while dealing with life changes. 8. Right now I am paying for school mostly on my own while also supporting my daughter financially. I work while attending school and also pay for daycare and everyday living expenses, so balancing everything can become very stressful at times. 9. This scholarship would help relieve some of the financial stress that comes with balancing school, motherhood, daycare, and bills while continuing my education. It would help fill financial gaps and allow me to focus more on school and creating a better future for my daughter and myself. 10. TXT has influenced me for good by reminding me that growth is not always easy and that it is okay to struggle while still continuing to move forward. Their music has brought me comfort during difficult times and helped me feel less alone emotionally. 11. I am currently pursuing a career in Special Education. I hope to use my education to create safe and supportive environments for students who may feel misunderstood or overlooked. I want students to feel valued, supported, and capable both academically and emotionally, because sometimes having one supportive person can make a huge difference in someone’s life.

When I think about what I want to build in my future, I do not think about a physical product or business. I think about building a life that creates stability, support, and opportunities for both my daughter and the students I work with every day. Through my education and future career in Special Education, I hope to build environments where students feel safe, understood, and capable of succeeding regardless of the challenges they may face. Pursuing higher education has not been easy for me. As a mother balancing school, work, finances, and raising my daughter, there have been many moments where I felt overwhelmed and unsure of myself. After moving out on my own, I became fully responsible for providing financially for both of us, including daycare and everyday expenses. At times, balancing those responsibilities while continuing my education feels exhausting. However, those experiences have also motivated me to continue building a better future for us. One of the most important things I want to build is stability for my daughter. I want her to grow up seeing that difficult circumstances do not have to stop someone from pursuing their goals. I want her to understand the importance of resilience, independence, and continuing to work toward a better future even when life feels uncertain. More than anything, I want to create opportunities for her that come from hard work, education, and perseverance. I also want to build stronger support systems for students with disabilities and behavioral needs. Since entering the field of Special Education, I have learned how important patience, emotional support, and trust are for students who may feel misunderstood or overlooked. One experience that deeply impacted me involved a student with high-functioning autism who became extremely overwhelmed and dysregulated at school. Instead of reacting emotionally, I chose to stay calm, listen, and support him through the situation. Over time, I became someone he trusted and turned to throughout the school day. Experiences like that showed me the kind of educator I want to become. In the future, I hope to continue building classrooms and relationships where students feel emotionally safe and supported while also helping them grow academically and personally. I want to advocate for students who may struggle to advocate for themselves and help create more understanding and inclusive school environments within my community. Although my journey has not been conventional or easy, it has helped shape the person I am becoming. Through higher education, I am building more than a career. I am building stability for my family, confidence in myself, and a future where I can positively impact the lives of others. That is the kind of future I hope to continue building for both my daughter and my community.

My Reason Why Pursuing higher education as a single mother has been one of the most difficult and rewarding experiences of my life. There have been many moments where I questioned whether I could balance school, motherhood, work, finances, and everything else life continues to throw at me. However, despite the challenges, I continue pursuing my education because I want to build a better future not only for myself, but for my daughter as well. One of the biggest challenges I have faced has been learning how to balance independence and motherhood while continuing my education. After moving out on my own, I became fully responsible for providing for my daughter and myself financially, including paying for daycare and all of our daily expenses. Balancing those responsibilities while returning to school has not been easy. There are many long days where I feel mentally and emotionally exhausted trying to manage everything at once. At times, I worry about whether I am being present enough as a mother while also trying to pursue my goals and education. As a parent, there is always guilt that comes with dividing your time between school, work, and your child. However, I remind myself constantly why I started this journey in the first place. I want my daughter to grow up seeing that becoming a mother did not stop me from continuing to work toward my goals and dreams. My daughter is my biggest motivation for pursuing higher education. I want her to see that difficult circumstances do not have to define or limit your future. I want her to grow up understanding the importance of resilience, independence, and perseverance. More than anything, I want to provide her with stability and opportunities while also showing her that she is capable of achieving anything she sets her mind to. In addition to being a mother and student, I am pursuing a career in Special Education. Working in this field has strengthened my empathy, patience, and understanding of others. I want to continue helping students who may feel misunderstood or unsupported and create safe and positive environments where they feel valued. My experiences as a mother have also helped me become more compassionate and driven in my career because I understand how important support and encouragement can be. I believe I am deserving of this award because I have continued pursuing my education despite the challenges and sacrifices that come with being a single mother. Although there have been moments of stress, self-doubt, and uncertainty, I have continued moving forward because I know the life I am building will positively impact both my daughter and myself in the future. My “why” for pursuing higher education is simple: I want more for our lives. I want to create stability, opportunities, and a future that my daughter can be proud of. Most importantly, I want her to grow up knowing that life did not stop her mother from reaching for the stars, and that she should never stop reaching for hers either.

Returning to school as a parent has been one of the most challenging but meaningful experiences of my life. Becoming a mother completely changed my priorities, responsibilities, and perspective on the future. At times, it would have been easier to put my education and personal goals aside, especially while trying to balance motherhood, finances, work, and school all at once. However, I realized that continuing my education is not only something I am doing for myself, but also for my daughter and the future I want to create for both of us. One of the biggest challenges I have faced has been learning how to balance independence, motherhood, and education at the same time. After moving out on my own, I became responsible for everything financially, including daycare and daily living expenses. There have been many moments where the stress and pressure felt overwhelming. Returning to school while raising a child comes with constant worries about time, finances, and whether you are giving enough of yourself to both your education and your child. One thing I struggle with often is the fear of not being present enough as a mother while trying to pursue my goals. There are days where balancing assignments, work, and responsibilities leaves me emotionally exhausted, and I question whether I am doing enough in either role. As a parent, you naturally want to give your child all of your time and attention, and it can be difficult not to feel guilt while also trying to build a future for yourself. At the same time, becoming a mother gave me an even bigger reason to continue pushing myself. I want my daughter to grow up seeing that life did not stop her mother from continuing to reach for her goals and dream bigger for herself. I want her to understand the importance of resilience, hard work, and perseverance even when life becomes difficult or uncertain. More than anything, I want to create a stable and successful future for both of us. Returning to school has also helped me grow personally. It has taught me time management, responsibility, independence, and how to continue moving forward even when things feel overwhelming. There have been sacrifices, stressful moments, and times where I doubted myself, but those experiences have also strengthened my confidence and determination. In addition to being a mother and student, I am pursuing a career in Special Education, which is a field that requires patience, empathy, and dedication. My experiences balancing motherhood and school have helped me become more understanding of others and more motivated to make a positive impact on students and families who may also be facing challenges in their own lives. Although returning to school as a parent has not been easy, it has been one of the most rewarding decisions I have made. It represents more than earning a degree. It represents building a better future, proving to myself that I am capable, and showing my daughter that challenges do not have to stop you from pursuing your goals. I hope she grows up knowing that no matter how difficult life may become, she can continue reaching for more just like her mom did.

Mental health is important to me because it affects every aspect of a person’s life, including their confidence, relationships, motivation, and ability to succeed in school or everyday situations. As both a student and someone working in Special Education, I have seen how important emotional support and understanding can be for individuals who are struggling mentally or emotionally. I believe mental health should be treated just as seriously as physical health, and I think creating environments where people feel safe speaking openly about their struggles is extremely important. As a student, mental health became especially important to me while balancing college, work, pregnancy, and preparing for my future career. There were many moments where I felt overwhelmed, stressed, and unsure of myself. I tend to struggle with overthinking and self-doubt, especially when I feel like I am not doing something perfectly. Learning how to manage stress and give myself grace during difficult times taught me how important mental health awareness and support truly are. Working in Special Education has also strengthened my understanding of mental health and emotional well-being. Many students with disabilities or behavioral challenges struggle not only academically, but emotionally and socially as well. I have learned that students often need patience, understanding, and emotional support just as much as they need academic instruction. One experience that especially impacted me involved one of my students with high-functioning autism. During one situation, he became extremely overwhelmed and dysregulated. He was throwing furniture, yelling, and unable to calm himself down. At first, I felt overwhelmed too and unsure of how to respond. However, instead of reacting emotionally, I chose to stay calm and listen to him. Once he began opening up about his fears, frustrations, and struggles, I realized how important it is for students to simply feel heard and understood. Since that experience, I have become someone he trusts and comes to throughout the school day when he needs support. I am now part of his safety plan and have continued supporting him over the past two years. That experience showed me how powerful empathy, patience, and emotional support can be, especially for students who may feel misunderstood by others. I advocate for mental health in my community by trying to create safe and supportive environments for the people around me, especially my students. I believe advocacy does not always have to involve large campaigns or public speaking. Sometimes advocacy means listening without judgment, checking in on others, showing patience, and helping people feel less alone in what they are experiencing. I want my students to know that their emotions matter and that asking for help is not something to be ashamed of. In the future, I hope to continue supporting students not only academically, but emotionally as well. Mental health impacts learning, relationships, and overall well-being, and I want to continue being someone students can trust and feel safe with. I believe creating understanding and supportive environments can make a lasting difference in people’s lives, and that is the kind of impact I hope to continue making in my career and community.

I graduated college with a degree in Physical Education and originally planned to stay within that field because it was what I was most comfortable and familiar with. However, shortly after graduating, I had the opportunity to go into Special Education while also finding out I was pregnant. At the time, I honestly did not feel fully prepared for either situation. Even though I was nervous and unsure of myself, I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and enter the field of Special Education. Since entering Special Education, I have learned a lot not only about my students, but also about myself. Working with students with special needs requires patience, flexibility, communication, and understanding. Every student is different and has different academic, behavioral, emotional, and social needs. Because of this, I have learned that building relationships and trust with students is one of the most important parts of being an educator in this field. One experience that has had a major impact on me involved one of my students with high-functioning autism. I experienced my first major “freak out” situation with him where he was throwing furniture, cussing at me, and completely unable to regulate his emotions. In that moment, I felt overwhelmed and honestly unsure of what to do. I had a choice to either let the situation get the best of me or remain calm and support him the best I could. Instead of reacting emotionally, I took a breath and chose to simply be there for him. I listened to him talk about his fears, frustrations, and struggles rather than only focusing on the behavior itself. That moment completely changed my perspective on Special Education and on the type of educator I want to be. I realized that students with disabilities and unique needs often need someone who is willing to listen, stay patient, and help them feel safe and understood. Over time, that same student began trusting me more and more. Now, I am included on his safety plan and have become one of the people he comes to throughout the school day when he needs support. This has continued for the past two years, and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career so far. Seeing that trust develop showed me how important strong relationships and emotional support are for students with special needs. Through my career, I hope to continue making a positive social impact by advocating for students with disabilities and helping create environments where they feel supported, safe, and capable of succeeding. Many students with special needs are often misunderstood or overlooked, and I want to help change that by being an educator who is patient, empathetic, and willing to meet students where they are. Although entering Special Education was not originally part of my plan, it has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life. It has pushed me out of my comfort zone, strengthened my confidence, and helped me grow both personally and professionally. Most importantly, it has shown me the type of impact one supportive person can have on a student’s life, and that is the kind of impact I hope to continue making throughout my career.

I am passionate about the special education teacher profession because I have seen firsthand how much of a difference the right support can make in a child’s life. As a Special Education teacher at Villa Rica Middle School, where I have just completed my second year, I work with students who often need more time, patience, and understanding than others. Many of my students come into the classroom already feeling frustrated or unsure of themselves, and I have learned that teaching them is about much more than academics. It is about helping them believe they are capable. These past two years in the classroom have made me fall in love with the special education field. My bachelor’s degree is in Physical Education, but through my experience working directly with students, I realized where I truly belong. That is what led me to pursue my Master’s in Special Education at Kennesaw State University, so I can pair my hands-on experience with the knowledge and skills needed to better support my students. The quote by Professor Harold Bloom, “the purpose of teaching is to bring the student to his or her sense of his or her own presence,” means helping students truly see themselves—to understand that they matter, that their voice has value, and that they are more than their struggles. For many students in special education, this does not come easily. They may already feel different or behind, and without the right support, those feelings can grow stronger over time. In my classroom, guiding students toward a sense of their own presence starts with building trust. Over the past two years, I have become someone my students rely on—not just for instruction, but for emotional support. I have become the person they come to when they need help regulating their emotions, when they feel overwhelmed, or when they simply need a safe space where they feel understood. That trust is something I do not take lightly, because it is the foundation that allows real learning and growth to happen. I focus on meeting my students where they are, rather than expecting them to fit into a one-size-fits-all approach. Whether it is breaking down lessons into smaller steps, celebrating small victories, or taking the time to listen, I have seen how these moments can help students begin to believe in themselves. I have watched students who once shut down during lessons begin to participate, and others who struggled to communicate find their voice. Those moments may seem small, but they represent something much bigger—confidence, growth, and self-belief. Becoming a mother has deepened my commitment to this work even more. It has changed the way I think about every child I teach. I want my daughter to grow up in a world where she feels supported, understood, and encouraged, and I carry that same mindset into my classroom. Every student deserves to feel seen and valued, just as I want for my own child. My mission as a special education teacher is to create an environment where students feel safe, supported, and capable of growth. Through my graduate studies, I am continuing to develop the knowledge to go alongside my experience so I can better support my students academically, socially, and emotionally. At the end of the day, my goal is not just to teach lessons from a curriculum, but to help my students understand who they are and what they are capable of becoming. When a student begins to believe in themselves, it changes everything. That is why I am passionate about special education, and that is the impact I hope to continue making throughout my career.

I didn’t fully understand how important early childhood education was until I started working in the classroom. Every day, I see students walk in with completely different needs. Some are confident and ready to learn, while others are still learning how to feel safe, understood, and capable. Watching those differences has stayed with me, and it’s what truly sparked my passion for this field. As a Special Education teacher, I work closely with students who need that extra support. Early childhood is such a critical time, especially for students with diverse learning needs, because it’s often when they begin forming their confidence and sense of self. I’ve worked with students who struggled to communicate, who felt frustrated or left behind, and I’ve seen how even small moments of encouragement can completely change their outlook. When a student who once shut down starts to participate, smile, or believe they can do something new, it’s incredibly powerful. Those moments are why I do what I do. This work has become even more meaningful to me since becoming a mom. Having my daughter has changed the way I see everything—not just for her, but for every child I teach. I think about the kind of environment I want her to grow up in, and it pushes me to create that same sense of safety, patience, and support in my classroom. Every child deserves to feel like they matter and that they are capable, no matter where they start. I am currently pursuing my Master’s in Special Education at Kennesaw State University while teaching with Carroll County Schools. Balancing graduate school, teaching, and being a mom has not been easy, but it has made me more determined. I’m not just working toward a degree—I’m working toward becoming a better educator for my students. Through my program, I am gaining the knowledge and tools to better support students academically, socially, and emotionally, especially during those early and most important years. I’m passionate about early childhood education because I’ve seen how much those early experiences shape a child’s future. It is what shaped my own. When students receive the right support early on, it can change the entire path of their education. I want to be someone who helps create those positive beginnings, especially for students who may need a little more guidance to get there. More than anything, I want my students to leave my classroom believing in themselves. I want them to know they are capable, valued, and supported, even when learning feels difficult. Being part of that growth, especially at such an important stage in their lives, is what continues to motivate me every day.