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Emily Farran

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Finalist

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Winner

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Reading
  • Cooking
  • Writing
  • Baking
  • Photography and Photo Editing
  • Hiking And Backpacking
  • Biking And Cycling
  • Crafting
  • Travel And Tourism
  • Tutoring
  • Student Council or Student Government
  • Youth Group
  • Music
  • Piano
  • Guitar
  • Bass

Reading

  • Academic
  • Business
  • Classics
  • Education
  • Historical
  • Leadership
  • Psychology
  • Religion
  • Self-Help
  • Travel

I read books daily.

Bio

Hello! My name is Emily Farran, and I am a senior at Cedarville University, majoring in Special Education and Elementary Education. As a missionary kid, I’ve lived overseas most of my life, 11 years in Africa and 4 in Europe. My passion for education stems from my love of learning and seeing others grow. My little sister has profound dyslexia, and as a child, she struggled to recognize even letters. Seeing her thrive in a dyslexia-specific program inspired me to help students with learning disabilities. I work as a dyslexia tutor and curriculum organizer for a specialized summer camp. Last summer, I helped develop the curriculum and tutor students. This past summer, I took on a larger role as academic director, assisting with pre- and post-camp diagnostic assessments, tutoring, and camp organization. I’ve also joined a curriculum development team creating dyslexia-friendly resources for families, tutors, and teachers. After graduation, I hope to build a tutoring business that pairs special education students with teachers for one-on-one instruction, expanding to multiple locations. Living overseas has limited my ability to save for college, so I am seeking scholarships to help fund my education and further my mission of supporting students with learning disabilities.

Education

Cedarville University

Bachelor's degree program

2022 – 2025

Majors:
  • Education, General
  • Special Education and Teaching
Minors:
  • Bible/Biblical Studies

Grand Canyon High School

High School

2019 – 2022

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

Career

  • Academic Director

    Education · Potter’s Ranch Dyslexia Camp

    Jan 2025 – Present

  • Curriculum Developer

    Education · Lighthouse to Literacy

    Jan 2024 – Present

  • Curriculum organizer and dyslexic tutor

    Education · Potter's Ranch

    Jan 2024 – Present

  • Tutor

    tutoring · Barton Reading & Spelling System

    Jan 2021 – Present

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Education
Dream career goals:
Tutor and educator
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Entrepreneurship
Albrianna Jane Memorial Scholarship
Winner
I have known for some time that I wanted a degree in education, specifically in the area of Special Education. My younger sister has severe dyslexia, which is what initially guided me to the Special Education degree. I watched her struggle for years to learn just the names of the letters until she would eventually break down in tears, while my mother who was trying to teach her was also in tears. My sister was only five and already hated school because the mainstream way of learning didn’t work for her, which were the programs my mother homeschooled my older sister and me with. When my mother switched to a program specifically designed for dyslexic kids, however, my little sister thrived. It was amazing to see her attitude change when learning in a way that made sense to her but was heartbreaking to know just how many other kids struggling to learn just like her. Growing up with my sister showed me that I love interacting with those who have learning disabilities and special needs. From a young age, I was always playing with one of my friends who had Aspergers and also a little girl at our church who had Down Syndrome. I watched people around me not know how to interact with an Asperger's child or be afraid to talk with a kid who has Down Syndrome. It pushed me to want to educate and help those children so they feel and know that they have a place in this world instead of being dismissed to the sidelines. Advocating for people with disabilities and those in special education is something that every teacher should strive to make a habit. It hurts my heart when I am in classrooms observing for my degree and seeing the way teachers talk about special education students. The teachers haven’t been properly educated about the student’s strengths and abilities and therefore often limit their potential. Something I would love to accomplish in the future is to change the way teachers are educated. I would love for every teacher to have more intensive classes while pursuing their degree to help them understand the special education students they will undoubtedly have in their classrooms. The teachers need to be able to understand the students’ behaviors, strengths and weaknesses, and abilities, but unfortunately, I believe that is something severely lacking. I am currently pursuing a dual degree in Elementary Education and also Special Education, and I believe the classes that the P-5 grade only students have to take are not informative enough to properly prepare them for the classroom. I believe that every child should feel seen and changing how future teachers are educated is a way to help ensure that every student will know they are loved and have a place in this world.
Emily Farran Student Profile | Bold.org