I grew up in a big family where everyone contributed. You always had someone to help or be helped by. This was my first introduction to what a community was. Growing up and going to high school expanded my definition of community. I have always wanted to make an impact and create a thriving environment for others. My most significant impact so far has been the connection I have made through the mentor program at my school. This extracurricular was not one that I found on my own but through the recommendation of my school's principal. I had never been aware of who was in our special education classes until getting the opportunity to attend classes with a young girl and assist her with assignments. I now realize I missed getting to know the kindest people. Getting to connect with others through this program opened me up to new opportunities, helping me understand what I might want to do for the rest of my life. Instead of passing them in the hallway as many other students do, I know their names, and they have someone to wave to and talk to, and I find myself enjoying it more every day. I have gotten to know the girls in the class, discovering how their personalities work and, as an upperclassman, setting an example for being a strong, kind woman who is proud of who they are. Every day I'm there with them I can see the positive changes in them. Already, communication has increased significantly through this last semester, displaying a growth that is shown outwardly to others. I have been made aware of all the struggles that each person in the class lives with, and it makes me a better person to help them through their hardships. Though I acknowledge their disabilities, I don’t let that define how I treat them, and I feel that it makes a more significant impact on them than could be imagined. I understand that not everyone would classify this as an essential impact to make in the world, but I genuinely believe everyone should feel important, listened to, and loved. Ultimately, the most significant impact has been on me, changing my perspective of my responsibility to the people I’m around and motivating me to be there for another person. This experience helped me to discover that I want a career that will impact other people in my community.

Though my educational goals have changed throughout my life, learning has always been a priority. Getting into college is my biggest academic goal, alongside increasing my knowledge through first-hand experiences. In my college education, I plan to get my Master's in Special Education Teaching. My first encounter with teaching was through my mom. She was an elementary teacher before she decided to stay home to homeschool my five siblings and I. Her dedication to maintaining a high standard for our learning has always stuck with me. I was taught to commit to my studies and respect educators in all forms. Along with this initial respect, my interest in teaching sparked when I was given the opportunity to be a contract tutor for the Isleta Department of Education. I had tutored before for my neighbor, but now I am able to get experience with all different ages and learning levels. I have now found improvement in my ability to solve problems and connect with students who are struggling. All of the opportunities I have been offered ultimately contributed to this academic and career goal that I wasn’t even aware I had. In May of 2022, I was given the opportunity to apply to become a student mentor at my school for special needs students across our district. Mentoring has inspired me to pursue a career as a special needs educator. I like to look for the good in people and help them use that to increase their educational experience and quality of life for others. My “hands-on” involvement in the education of individual students has helped me to find my purpose and allowed me to assist another student in doing the same. It has also helped me find new motivation to pursue my educational and career goals.

I have always wanted to make an impact. Not an extravagant gesture but an impact, slowly, over time. My most significant impact so far has been the connection I have made through the mentor program at my school. I had never been aware of who was in our special education classes at our school until getting the opportunity to attend classes with a young girl and assist her with assignments. I now realize I missed getting to know the kindest people. Instead of passing them in the hallway as many other students do, I know their names, and they have someone to wave to and talk to, and I find myself enjoying it more every day. I have gotten to know the girls in the class, discovering how their personalities work and, as an upperclassman, setting an example for being a strong, kind woman who is proud of who they are. Though I acknowledge their disabilities, I don’t let that define how I treat them, and I feel that it makes a more significant impact on them than could be imagined. I understand that not everyone would classify this as an essential impact to make in the world, but I genuinely believe everyone should feel important, listened to, and loved. Ultimately, the most significant impact has been on me, changing my perspective of my responsibility to the people I’m around and motivating me to be there for another person.

The song that has the most meaningful message to me is Cold by Novo Amor. This song not only has lyrics that display the feelings of loss and the healing that comes after, but the yearning to feel the way they did before, even though it was less than perfect. The artistry in the vocals and instrumentals brings out this feeling of longing even without the context of the lyrics. It induces feelings of growth, which I think is a really important message.

I have always wanted to make an impact. Not an extravagant gesture but an impact, slowly, over time. The opportunity to create an impact in education so far has been the connection I have made through the mentor program at my school. I had never been aware of who was in our special education classes at our school until getting the opportunity to attend classes with a young girl and assist her with assignments. I now realize I missed getting to know the kindest people. Instead of passing them in the hallway as many other students do, I know their names, and they have someone to wave to and talk to, and I find myself enjoying it more every day. I have gotten to know the girls in the class, discovering how their personalities work and, as an upperclassman, setting an example for being a strong, kind woman who is proud of who they are. Though I acknowledge their disabilities, I don’t let that define how I treat them, and I feel that it makes a more significant impact on them than could be imagined. I understand that not everyone would classify this as an essential impact to make in the world, but I genuinely believe everyone should feel important, listened to, and loved. Ultimately, the most significant impact has been on me, changing my perspective of my responsibility to the people I’m around and motivating me to be there for another person. This experience has helped me to better understand why education is the most noble path to walk on. My first encounter with teaching was through my mom. She was an elementary teacher before she decided to stay home to homeschool my five siblings and I. Her dedication to maintaining a high standard for our learning has always stuck with me. I was taught to commit to my studies and respect educators in all forms. In my college education, I plan to get my Master's in Special Education Teaching. Not only to follow in my moms footsteps but to create a better environment for all students just as the other great educators in my life have done for me. It is important to value education because it is what teaches us our biggest lessons and gets us to our greater goals.