As a Hispanic woman, I was never represented in the classroom and I was always a minority in every space I occupied. As someone who is now pursuing my elementary teaching certification, I'm hoping to change this and be that representation that I never got to see and be a positive role model for other little girls to look up to and see themselves in. Having this scholarship would greatly help me towards this goal as it would allow me easier access to the necessary education and the ability to pay for not only my current education but summer and a future Masters course as I hope to continuously pursue my education even once I complete my Bachelors degree. In regard to summer courses, I have worked hard to complete my current degree early and, with the inclusion of summer courses, I have been on track to start my year-long internship next fall. Having this scholarship would better set me up for completing this and being able to smoothly complete my student teaching and be ready to enter classrooms as a teacher by Fall 2025. This scholarship would also help me with my plans to complete a Master’s course during my first year of teaching, which would not only increase my ability to provide quality education to students but also increase the representation of Hispanic women in higher education. Achieving all of this would also allow me to positively impact my community as I will not only be able to share what I have learned but also help improve education for all students as my education will give me the ability to improve diversity and inclusion practices in the classroom and help modernize my school community to better cater towards student needs and further support families. I also think that my presence in the classroom would improve my community because I have a unique perspective that is not commonly represented inside the classroom, not only am I a Hispanic woman but I am also one who descends from Mexican migrant workers, and I can see education disparities easier than my peers and I have the ability to connect with other Hispanic students in a way that other educators may not. I have already experienced how my presence has changed a classroom atmosphere as I participated in a school mentorship program for 5th graders last year, and one of my classes had a small group of Hispanic students who immediately attached themselves to me. I know how much my presence meant to them because even their teacher would tell me how much more engaged they were with me there and how much more receptive they were to instruction and receiving help when it came from me, as they felt that they had an ally in me and felt represented by having an adult that they were able to relate to in an educational setting.

Growing up I was constantly surrounded by the education field. Both of my parents worked in it and many of their friends shared similar careers. Due to this, I have always had an appreciation for the field and I loved seeing the work they all did. However, despite having this appreciation I hadn’t developed the desire to pursue a career as a teacher until my schooling was moved online due to the pandemic. While being stuck at home I started to spend a lot of time with my mother who taught online. I had never been given the opportunity to truly see her at work until that moment and I was blown away by everything she did. It was inspiring to see the amount of work she not only put into her everyday lessons, but to see all the work she did outside of school hours by developing programs to accommodate students’ needs and supporting them during this difficult time. My mother is my ideal for what a teacher should be. She works hard to provide a safe space for all her students by exploring cultural and racial differences and gives her students support both in and out of class so they can grow and prosper. I hope to one day have this same impact. In the coming years, I hope to be able to take everything I have learned and be able to apply it in a classroom. I want to be a pillar of support to my students and foster a welcoming community in which everyone can thrive. I also want to create a fun educational environment so kids enjoy coming to school and learning. This is important to me because education is central to our society. Education is extremely fundamental in how it shapes us and is necessary to create well-rounded individuals. It not only teaches us academically but also helps us socially which makes education a staple of a community. I hope that by pursuing a teaching career I can help further our society and create a better tomorrow.

I have had many teachers throughout my educational journey that have guided and inspired me to follow in their footsteps. One such teacher was my middle school humanities teacher, Mrs. Wonacott, who opened my eyes to the possibilities of education. Mrs. Wonacott was extremely passionate and she always did things her own way. The two years I had her as a teacher were some of the best courses for me academically. I was completely engaged and excited to learn in a way I had never been before. Mrs. Wonacott had such a way of teaching and she molded everything from the classroom environment to the curriculum into her own style. She not only made sure to address the required standards, but she enhanced lessons with local connections and made education relevant to our lives. I loved learning Washington State history from her and I haven’t had any history class that has ever compared. Every time I discuss teaching styles and creating lesson plans I think of her and how she used her own professional and personal experience to educate. I especially remember learning about the indigenous tribes of Washington when Mrs. Wonacott presented the current understanding of historical events, while providing the class with a personal connection to local tribes. This connection allowed us to create projects where we explored native history with the permission of different tribes. These history projects allowed my class to experience a unique partnership and learning opportunity with the Puyallup and Nisqually Nations that enhanced our overall understanding of the past. While Mrs. Wonacott is my inspiration for how I want to be as a teacher, my mom is the real educator I want to emulate. My mom is a secondary school teacher and I have seen her work both in-person and online. The connection she makes with her students is so amazing to me and I can’t help but want to make the same positive impact that she does. My mom started her teaching career as a teacher in a brick and mortar school. I often visited her in class, due to elementary schools ending earlier than the high school or because I was sick. I remember how happy her students were and how committed she was to their success. Her students were always so engaged and she had such an amazing rapport with all of them. I observed this personal connection throughout the years even as my mom transferred to online teaching. During the two-year lockdown, I conducted my schooling online and I worked closely with my mom. One of the many things that I realized during this difficult time was the importance of relationships between the teachers and administration, as well as the work teachers do behind the scenes to improve their students’ lives. I was astounded to see the amount of care and effort that was required to support all of the programs to help students achieve and mentally survive the pandemic. I watched as my mom advocated for inclusivity and fought for students to find where they belonged. This experience continued to build upon the already growing desire to be a teacher and it cemented the idea of impacting the community within me. Both Mrs. Wonacott and my mother are amazing women and they inspire me to be the best person I can be. From teaching styles to connections, I have learned so much from them and I want to continue their work to educate the next generation.

The most inspiring book I ever read was Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. This was the first book I read and it started my love for reading. I remember long car rides where the only thing that would keep me entertained was this book and just being completely immersed in this wonderful world of mythology. I still read it whenever I need something to lift my spirits because Percy’s adventures have become a key part of my childhood. Without this book, I would be completely ignorant of the absolute wealth of information out there. My interests in mythology, history, writing, and literature all come from reading this book. Percy Jackson may be a children’s book but it is the book that shaped who I am. Percy Jackson was my first introduction to not only books but also to themes of abuse and discrimination. Through Percy’s eyes, I learned about people who were different from me. I learned about kids with learning disorders and horrible life situations while also learning about family and finding a place to belong. I've learned how to connect with people and how to with and for them through this book. I owe a lot to this book and even after all these years, it remains my favorite book. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief was my introduction to the world of reading and for that, it is the most inspirational book I’ve ever read.