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Elizabeth VanLengen

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Finalist

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Taekwondo
  • Art
  • Environmental Science and Sustainability
  • Martial Arts
  • Painting and Studio Art
  • Science
  • Biology
  • Marine Biology
  • Animals
  • Anime
  • Animation
  • Reading
  • True Crime
  • Astronomy
  • Astrophysics
  • Travel And Tourism
  • Theology and Religious Studies
  • Ukulele
  • Crocheting
  • Sewing
  • Diving
  • Drawing And Illustration
  • Shopping And Thrifting
  • Graphic Design
  • Girl Scouts
  • Babysitting And Childcare
  • Baking
  • Board Games And Puzzles
  • Astrology
  • Coffee
  • Cooking
  • Criminal Justice
  • Gardening

Reading

  • Adult Fiction
  • Academic
  • Art
  • Cookbooks
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Fantasy
  • Folklore
  • Horror
  • Literary Fiction
  • Magical Realism
  • Novels
  • Mystery
  • Realistic Fiction
  • Romance
  • Science Fiction
  • Suspense
  • Thriller
  • Tragedy
  • True Story
  • Action
  • Psychology
  • Childrens
  • Classics
  • Cultural
  • Book Club
  • Environment
  • Epic
  • Folk Tales
  • Gothic
  • Juvenile
  • Short Stories
  • Women's Fiction
  • Young Adult
  • Biography
  • Humor
  • Social Issues
  • Spirituality

I read books daily.

Bio

I plan to become an early childhood educator. I truly believe that we can best support and build a child up when we develop their skills and abilities at a young age. As well as provide for families a safe space and environment for them and their children to grow and learn. I enjoy creating art as it is a way for me to express myself and the way in which I view the world. Art allows me to also vent the emotions that I hide deep within and helps to heal my inner child. I love discovering new and interesting things about the earth as well as learning the history of why things are the way they are and learning from the past so that I make the present a better place. I partake in a martial arts class, taekwondo, to learn self-defense so that I may protect myself and others if the need should arise and to learn self-discipline and learn patience for myself. I find myself being empathetic and optimistic daily. I always try to see the good in everyone and believe in second chances because I know that people can change if they truly want to. I try to live by my martial arts tenants: to forgive on the spot, to be plain-spoken, with firmness; with kindness, and with patience; I have tried to live like this ever since I first join the class, which was 8 years old. I was also a Girl Scout from kindergarten to 5th grade. There I learned what it means to be a leader and that I can do what I set my mind to.

Education

National University

Bachelor's degree program

2026 – 2028

Majors:
  • Education, General
Minors:
  • Fine and Studio Arts
  • Ethnic Studies
GPA3.0 GPA

Innovation High School

High School

2015 – 2022

GPA3.8 GPA

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Majors of interest:
Education, Other, Education, General
Desired degree modality:
Online
Medical school interest:
No

Career

  • Early childhood program specialist 1

    Education · Community colleges of Spokane Head start/e-cap/early head start

    Jan 2022 – Present

  • CCK/Parcel

    Consumer Services · Fred Meyer

    Jan 2020 – Jan 2021

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Education
Dream career goals:
Early head start lead teacher or kindergarten teacher
Work experience:
5 years
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
Marie Humphries Memorial Scholarship
I currently work as an Early childhood assistant teacher for Early Head Start. I've been a part of this program for work for four years now. I have seen the impact and positive changes that not only the program but the teachers and staff have on the children and families we serve. I have seen the real importance of showing up and being a reliable, safe place for any child. Due to my work experience already, I yearn to get my bachelor's in early childhood education so that I may take a more proactive role in the lives of the children and families I serve by being an assistant teacher. I want to help foster their curiosity and help grow their gross and fine motor skills, and be that safe place for them to come to when they need it. In addition, as I write this essay, I reflect on my education and all my previous educators, and one teacher sticks out the most: my high school advanced art teacher. She was always there for me through everything, from when my cat died to when I got into one of my first-pick colleges. She was my safe place to go to when I was at school. She cares about me as a whole person and cares about all students as a whole person. She saw us as the child who needs connection and purpose before the academics came, and she gave us that connection and purpose. Now that I have my foot in the door to my educator career, I think back to her and wish to be that person who knows how to connect with even the most difficult of children who need that connection and purpose to become who they want to be. During a most recent training during our prep week before the new school year, we talked about "Circle of Security" and how we are to support a child going out into the world and watch them play and delight in them and be that safe place for when the child needs comfort. That training has stuck with me as a guide for how to interact with the children. That we, as educators, with the collaboration of the parents we are the teachers that pushes the child into the world to become the person they're meant to be. To be a part of that collaborative team to make sure these tiny humans have the foundational support and social-emotional skills to grow up in life and succeed in their goals and persist during struggles is my entire reason for being an educator.
Girls Ready to Empower Girls
Although out my childhood constantly told I have many possibilities of what to do and to start thinking of what I wanted to do in college and in my adult life. I was constantly told it would be expected of me to go to college, to get a degree; especially in the sense that they wanted me to be successful and that I had so much potential. I used to relish in it, relish in being told that I could be successful. That was the beginning of my downward spiral, one that still sometimes affects me now in the form of breakdowns and panic attacks. I had numerous ideas of what I wanted to be: an astrophysicist, a detective, a chef, a environmental scientist, an educator, etc., but I could never choose or I would change my mind about what I wanted to do. I had many different paths to take and knew that I needed good grades in order to get to any of them. In doing so I started to experience burnout quickly and experience the negative effects of my own success, I had exceeded even my own expectations of myself and then suddenly I felt lost to it all and lost to myself. During my junior year of high school when my art teacher noticed my slight panicked look when ever someone mentioned college or after high school plans. She then pulled me aside to check in with me. Due to me being in her class for a few year by then, I felt that I could trust her with what was messing with my head and nearly drowning me. I told her my worries and my fears of letting others down, of not meeting those expectations. As I practically spilled my guts to her she had look of understanding on her face. She told me about her own struggles of many different possible career options and how she ended up choosing to teach high school art. She told me that the expectations that the other have placed on me were not to hold so much space in my mind and that I should find something that genuinely makes me happy. I told her that I truly enjoyed and love the environment, science, art, and teaching. I told her that environmental science was something that I knew was important and wanted contribute in, wanted to learn about and spread awareness of indigenous environmental injustices, work with my tribe and possibly teach side to those who attend school on the reservation of my tribe. After we came up with my long-term goal, she helped me set a few short term goals and researched colleges that would not only help me with my goal but also provide opportunities that allowed me to succeed in my goal. She helped me with my applications to the universities I applied to and wrote a 2 page recommendation letter on my behalf. She also nominated me for Spokane Scholars in the fine arts division for one of the scholarships that the organization offers for the high school seniors of Spokane County. My art teacher always told me about scholarship opportunities so that I could alleviate some of my financial stress as well as my parents financial stress. I can never be more appreciative of all of her help for my last two years of high school. She helped me more than any of the other teachers, she cared for my well being more than my grades and she genuinely wanted to see me and my classmate succeed in life in anyway possible.
I Can Do Anything Scholarship
The dream version of myself is a person who gives back to my community, who makes a positive impact on society, and a person who helped the world become more sustainable for all living organisms.
Bold.org x Forever 21 Scholarship + Giveaway
@lizzysdiary.17
Windward Spirit Scholarship
When I read the line "They accept the call of duty created by global warming along with a sickened tax structure that perpetuates Greed, with a capital G," I felt that this statement could have not been more true. As a student studying environmental science, I have not only accepted the call of climate change but also understand that the global economic structure has a huge role in the changing of our climate, and the taxes based on the current policies in places do not help. When the Ode mentioned that many of my generation are excited to be a part of life. I feel that may not as true. Many of my friends and fellow peers struggle with trying to stay happy, most are not pleased with our economy and our state of lives. We all know that we can do something to change but there is rarely a person from the older generations who has respected our point of view or when we try to positively impact the state of our life and economy. I do love that the ode has an overall optimistic view of Millennials and GenZ and how this combined generation could become better than the generation that came out of the 1930s. I appreciate the hope that the author has placed upon us and that they know that our generations are polite and kind while also being strong, determined, and opinionated. While there are some vague expectations for us thee were some of the best expectations that I've read about for my generation in a long while. Overall this was a pleasant read and I truly felt seen as a member of my generation.
Hobbies Matter
One of my absolute favorite hobbies is reading. I truly love how you can immerse yourself into many types of genres of books. My personal favorites are fantasy along with thrillers and horror. Fantasy one with many subcategories, which is why I love it so much. My favorite reads happen to be 'The Princess Bride' by William Goldman and 'The Darkest Part of the Forrest' by Holly Black. Both have enaptured me since I was little. More specifically 'The Princess Bride' I first heard of the book after I had seen the movie. I can't tell you how many times I had to go online and search for a free pdf version of the book to read before my dad finally bought a copy for my mother who lends me the book sometimes. I can also say that I used to get into truble for reading stories and novels past my bed time growing up, I still do. My parents used to tell my teachers that I love to read and will read collegate level book since the 4th grade. I had so many books growing and it always hurt to give them away, but I am hopeful that some other child is learning to read aswell as learning the importance of reading through childrens books and young adult books. When ever my elementry had a book swap I would bring in two to twenty books at a time and swap then out for book that were more appropreiate for my reading level. My reading abillity has grown and know I am able to understand what I am reading a lot more than I did when I was young. My speed fro reading has also increaseed as I can read about 6,000 to 10,000 in about 10 to 15 minuets, which is usually the amount of time I havefor a break whilsit at work. I find pride in that, although it many not seem like a lot to more advaed readers.
Bold New Beginnings TikTok Scholarship
Bold Passion Scholarship
Like all conscious species, I am very curious about many things. One thing I am always going back to is coffee. I learned how to use an espresso machine at the tender age of 11 and have been using it to make many types of coffee-related drinks for everyone who wants a drink at my church's coffee shop. I absolutely fell in love with how different coffee is when brewed in many different ways, for example, espresso machine, drip, pour-over, and French press. My favorite way to brew coffee is french press because the process is very satisfying to watch the hot water turn to coffee in minutes. Although the French press method is my favorite I am very skilled with using the Espresso machine. I love to pull shots of coffee and steam the milk toa microbubble froth and let people enjoy coffee in its various forms. I also am thrilled by the different blends of coffee and how those blends have different roast levels, which allows for many flavors of coffee for everyone to enjoy it's unique and versatile taste.
I Am Third Scholarship
My interest in the environment all started in 9th grade when I was placed in an honors biology class. Throughout the last three-quarters of that year, my class and I were studying the Spokane river and the behaviors and impacts that beavers have on our ecosystems. the following year I was placed in honors environmental science. This class just help to unlock my huge interest in the environment and ways to preserve and protect it using science. Around my sophomore year, my grandma had passed causing my entire family to head to California for her funeral. A day or so following the funeral my great uncle took my family and me on a small tour of our tribal lands. As I talked with him the topic of our tribe environment came up. I asked him if the tribe was thinking about creating a team of scientists who are dedicated and determined to protect and preserve our lands as well as bring back the abalone population. The abalone population has significantly decreased over the past 5 years because of purple sea urchins overpopulating and eating the resources that the abalone needs to get enough nutrients. the purple sea urchins have been a problem in California, although it seems to be getting better with people being able to get 5-gallon buckets filled with the urchins and relocate and remove them from California coasts. There may be a limit and season for most, but the limit is much more for those of indigenous origins. How I plan to make an impact on the world is to gain a degree in environmental science and a minor in environmental engineering. I want to work with a tribe, mostly want to work for the tribe I am a part of, to help keep the indigenous land healthy as well as be their advocate to the public and government when things go wrong. after a few years of doing this I want to go back to college to get a degree in marine biology so that I may be able to help preserve and/or improve the aquatic life so the earth is more sustainable for all life. I want to be able to make the earth sustainable and healthy and teach how we can continue to keep it that way, and I want to start by learning from the tribes of America and from the university I plan on going to.
Connie Konatsotis Scholarship
My interest in the environment all started in 9th grade when I was placed in an honors biology class. Throughout the last three-quarters of that year, my class and I were studying the Spokane river and the behaviors and impacts that beavers have on our ecosystems. the following year I was placed in honors environmental science. This class just help to unlock my huge interest in the environment and ways to preserve and protect it using science. Around my sophomore year, my grandma had passed causing my entire family to head to California for her funeral. A day or so following the funeral my great uncle took my family and me on a small tour of our tribal lands. As I talked with him the topic of our tribe environment came up. I asked him if the tribe was thinking about creating a team of scientists who are dedicated and determined to protect and preserve our lands as well as bring back the abalone population. The abalone population has significantly decreased over the past 5 years because of purple sea urchins overpopulating and eating the resources that the abalone needs to get enough nutrients. the purple sea urchins have been a problem in California, although it seems to be getting better with people being able to get 5-gallon buckets filled with the urchins and relocate and remove them from California coasts. There may be a limit and season for most, but the limit is much more for those of indigenous origins. How I plan to make an impact on the world is to gain a degree in environmental science and a minor in environmental engineering. I want to work with a tribe, mostly want to work for the tribe I am a part of, to help keep the indigenous land healthy as well as be their advocate to the public and government when things go wrong. after a few years of doing this I want to go back to college to get a degree in marine biology so that I may be able to help preserve and/or improve the aquatic life so the earth is more sustainable for all life. I want to be able to make the earth sustainable and healthy and teach how we can continue to keep it that way, and I want to start by learning from the tribes of America and from the university I plan on going to.
Bold Career Goals Scholarship
When I graduate college I plan to be an environmental scientist. In gaining this degree I plan to apply to my tribe, the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, and help them study the land and ocean while also helping to improve the environment of our reservation as well as create a more sustainable way of living. After a few years of advocating and helping the environment of the tribe and environment around us, I want to go back to college and get a master's in marine biology so that I may study aquatic life and learn how to use nature as a way to further improve human society. After I work in both environmental science and marine biology I want to become a professor in environmental science and help them to grow into great and successful scientists, who will not only advocate for the environment but learn to create a more sustainable earth for all to life forms to comfortably.
Carol S. Comeau Environmental Scholarship
My interest in the environment all started in 9th grade when I was placed in an honors biology class. Throughout the last three-quarters of that year, my class and I were studying the Spokane river and the behaviors and impacts that beavers have on our ecosystems. the following year I was placed in honors environmental science. This class just help to unlock my huge interest in the environment and ways to preserve and protect it using science. Around my sophomore year, my grandma had passed causing my entire family to head to California for her funeral. A day or so following the funeral my great uncle took my family and me on a small tour of our tribal lands. As I talked with him the topic of our tribe environment came up. I asked him if the tribe was thinking about creating a team of scientists who are dedicated and determined to protect and preserve our lands as well as bring back the abalone population. The abalone population has significantly decreased over the past 5 years because of purple sea urchins overpopulating and eating the resources that the abalone needs to get enough nutrients. the purple sea urchins have been a problem in California, although it seems to be getting better with people being able to get 5-gallon buckets filled with the urchins and relocate and remove them from California coasts. There may be a limit and season for most, but the limit is much more for those of indigenous origins. How I plan to make an impact on the world is to gain a degree in environmental science and a minor in environmental engineering. I want to work with a tribe, mostly want to work for the tribe I am a part of, to help keep the indigenous land healthy as well as be their advocate to the public and government when things go wrong. after a few years of doing this I want to go back to college to get a degree in marine biology so that I may be able to help preserve and/or improve the aquatic life so the earth is more sustainable for all life. I want to be able to make the earth sustainable and healthy and teach how we can continue to keep it that way, and I want to start by learning from the tribes of America and from the university I plan on going to.
Elizabeth VanLengen Student Profile | Bold.org