Most people think that human development does not count as an extracurricular activity, but from my own experience, I have had deep emotions from learning how much it truly matters in everyone's life. A year ago, in August, I was teaching Kindergarten at an Elementary school in Orem, Utah. I sat there in class, waiting for the first day of school to begin, when I heard a cry echoing from the open door. My curiosity got the best of me, so I turned around only to find a young boy hysterically sobbing his poor heart out. I asked some of the other teachers if anybody knew him, and no one seemed to be paying attention to or noticing the scared little boy at all. Worried, I decided to approach him and ask what his name was. He quietly answered over hiccupping sobs, “My name is Matias, and I am from Mexico.” I held his hand and said, “I am Fernanda, and I am from Vina Del Mar, Chile”. Matias was overcome with excitement that someone else knew the beautiful language of Spanish. I then asked what his favorite thing about Mexico was, and he spoke softly, with a somber face and eyes full of nostalgia. “The colors, the music, my family, my friends, and the culture.” He hugged me, then he put my question right back to me. “What is your favorite part of your home country, Fernanda?” And I answer “the smell of the salty ocean, the sand swirling around my feet and squishing between my toes. The wind is lightly blowing against my face like a kiss from the sky. Vibrant colors that pop out full of life. The smell as you walk through the markets, hearing laughter and chatter all around. The sun, warm hands on my face, making me smile. All the palm trees swaying in the wind, a beautiful dance. Music fills the streets and your soul. And most importantly, all my family and my friends.” Matias' little fingers grabbed hold of my hand again and asked if there is something similar to that in the states, so I grabbed both of his little hands and said, “Nothing is the same as where we come, nothing can even compare, but you can always find your second home wherever your heart goes. And that is anywhere as long as we remember who we are and where we come from." His face lit up in a smile so big and full of gratitude. With the hug, I felt the love of this precious little boy, and he looked up at me and said, “I am ready to go to school now.” I proudly watched him walk into that classroom with confidence big enough to inspire the world, ready for his day. For the rest of the day, he went from zero confidence to having the best day of his life. During that day, Matias learned to be more open and comfortable around the teachers and other kids, helping him to make friends with them. Throughout the lesson, he also learned a couple of new words in English, such as Hello, Hope, Apple, and Butter. It was the cutest thing to see him get so excited over the simplest of things. But to Matias, it was not simple; it was a start to his new life and what he would make of it. Ever since that day, as we went throughout the school year, he started to love coming to school and learning something new each day. Throughout the whole year, I saw that little boy go from no English to fluent and confident in it within months. I still remember the day he read a whole book to me in English. I was so proud of Matias, he even wanted to read more to me. That day, during recess, I grabbed a book full of small stories, and we sat there and just read for the rest of recess. Matias was so happy and said to me, “Thanks for being my teacher and my best friend”. Then he went and lined up to go back to the classroom holding that book so close and tight to his chest, just like it was a childhood teddy bear full of hopes and dreams. Little Matias had so much progress in just a single school year, and as I watched him continually do more and learn more, it also became part of my progress and my story. Matias became my inspiration and love for teaching. That year made me love something deep within me that I had always thought was impossible to be a teacher, but it opened my eyes to a world full of possibilities that fit passions such as mine. To be a teacher and continue to help little boys and girls who, like Matias, did not believe that they could have a happy new start. By the end of that year, the mom of that little boy came up to me and gave me a gift in appreciation for what I had done for her kid. She gave me a wooden traditional decoration of Mexico to thank me. I still have it to this day and keep it close to my heart from what it has taught me. To always love and help others see what a beautiful thing second chances are. Before that internship ever happened, I was lost with no purpose, not sure if teaching was my thing or the right path for me. Maybe teaching is not for everyone, or extracurricular, but it was that senior year that changed everything with just one class and a whole year of beautiful little souls that changed in a way that now life has a new meaning in more ways than I ever thought possible. And I am grateful for everything that brought me to this moment and built up my love and confidence in teaching, the path meant for me.

My name is Fernanda Vargas. For the past two years, I've focused on my career in elementary education and research in human development. My senior year of high school ignited a passion for teaching that still burns brightly at Snow College. Every lesson learned brings me closer to my goal of becoming an educator who transforms lives. I want to empower students to embrace their true selves. I aspire to inspire them through my actions and foster a love for learning that goes beyond the classroom. While being part of different communities of women, parents, students, etc. By pursuing my own goals and achieving success, I want to show other women and students that they can also realize their dreams. This isn't about suggesting one path to success; it's about highlighting that it can look different for everyone. This shows my commitment to valuing individual journeys and encouraging people to create their unique paths, whether in STEM, the arts, entrepreneurship, or other areas. My vision centers on being a source of inspiration and compassion. I believe education and personal example can create positive change. I see myself not only as an educator but also as a role model, demonstrating that success and fulfillment are achievable for everyone, especially women and young people, and that these paths can be wonderfully diverse. I believe in the transformative power of love and compassion. As a future educator, I've learned these qualities are essential for meaningful learning and personal growth at any age. I now understand that true impact comes not just from teaching knowledge but from creating an environment where people feel valued, understood, and supported. This compassionate approach is what I believe truly changes lives, whether in a structured classroom or through a simple, heartfelt conversation with a neighbor. I recognize that learning is a lifelong process. By consistently showing up with empathy and kindness, I can make a significant difference in the lives of those I meet. I want to be a catalyst for positivity, showing that a supportive, compassionate, and inspiring world isn't just a fantasy but a goal within our reach. I have drawn strength from successful women who have shown me that even modest dreams can become reality with dedication and kindness. This inspiration fuels my journey as I strive to grow and improve as an educator while remaining committed to finding new ways to nurture and uplift others.

I am Fernanda Vargas Munoz, a Chilean woman who is extremely committed to children and education. I began a new journey at Snow College only one year ago, pursuing elementary education with a focus on human development research. I pursued this career because it was profoundly influenced by my community. They are the ones who invested their time and effort in assisting in shaping the person I am today, to make me enjoy learning and wish to contribute positively to others' lives, especially the youngest citizens of society. Family and community are not notions in my life; they are the foundations on which all else stands. They shaped me into the person I am today and still guide me along the way forward. Being Chilean, specifically, has been an immeasurable blessing. It's a vibrant tapestry woven with threads of deep love and unwavering care, and it has instilled in me a profound desire to help others and to pursue education with passion. For many within my community, education isn't merely about personal advancement; it's a beacon of hope, a powerful tool that can elevate entire families and uplift spirits. This common belief is a strong basis for unity, and it motivates each of us to look forward to a brighter tomorrow, together. Within the broader Hispanic community, I have witnessed personally the transformative power of education. It's a power that crosses socioeconomic lines, enhancing the lives of not only the less fortunate but also enriching the lives of the more affluent. It honestly does not matter where you come from or what your situation is; the community is a rock for each other. It was this sense of community that taught me something so valuable: as valuable as education is, possessing a good heart and being able to simply "be there" for people is just as, if not more, vital. The very smallest acts of kindness honestly mean the most. It's a matter of being present for those who require our assistance, no matter who we are or what we possess. It's this natural gratitude that has fueled my passion for service, understanding that we're not wealthy due to what we possess, but due to what we give and the bridges we build. It's a constantly developing learning process, with each encounter reaffirming the amazing power of compassion and unity. I was brought up to believe that the key to serving others is education. It is through knowledge and education that we are most capable of serving our communities and giving back much more than we could ever have hoped. I've seen this principle played out in so many varied ways in the course of my life, from quiet yet poignant conversations to the immense influence of dedicated teachers. The world, in fact, needs more people of this giving spirit, who give and do not expect anything in return, like teachers and communities. The unlimited possibilities of people uniting and being present as human beings can reach out and touch every person in their lives, causing a ripple effect of kindness and advancement. This cause unites us and makes us stronger and louder in our efforts to make a difference for generations to come.

Intimate partner violence is an ugly reality, and when I consider how we're going to tackle something so prevalent and so damaging in any fashion, education seems to me one of the most promising and best tools we possess. It's no magic bullet, certainly, but its ability to change people and communities is really profound, offering a beacon of hope for a less dangerous, more equal tomorrow where well-being and security are paramount. Most significantly, perhaps, is the way education brings awareness and understanding. For victims, if not their perpetrators, education regarding healthy relationships, red flags, the cycle of violence, and their rights can be life-changing. It's a matter of empowering individuals with information to recognize that things are not right, that they are not to blame, and that there are paths to safety and support. It can also impart essential life skills such as financial literacy that can culminate in independence, one of the most empowering steps a victim of abuse can take. It is a self-esteem booster and promotes critical thinking as a means of eliminating coercive control and manipulative messages that abusers routinely use. Besides empowering the vulnerable, education is also the key to prevention. By incorporating comprehensive relationship education from a young age, we can eradicate unhealthy gender stereotypes and norms that underpin IPV all too often. Teaching children and young people about respect, empathy, conflict resolution, and the utmost importance of consent is the cornerstone on which future safer relationships will be established. It's about showing individuals, particularly young men, that the things that make an individual strong are not control or dominance but respect, equality, and empathy. This kind of education can interrupt intergenerational cycles of violence as children exposed to violence would otherwise become victimizers or victims of violence. Lastly, education brings about a broader cultural change. With more informed individuals regarding the dynamics of IPV and its gruesome consequences, healthy relationships and what constitute them, societies no longer tolerate violence. This creates more solid support systems, greater resource access, and a better willingness to act and hold perpetrators accountable. It is about building a world where violence will not be tolerated or become commonplace, where people are encouraged to relate, and where every person is treated with respect and dignity. It's an investment, but one that will pay off in a less painful and more authentic connected future for all of society members, fostering a true sense of collective security.

My own love of learning was fostered in childhood, an age at which I keenly understood the often profound, and oft immediate, impact that learning had on individuals. It was not merely the acquisition of fact; it was the observation at first hand of how the gain of new knowledge, or even merely but vitally the process of being properly heard within a learning environment, could transform, in effect, the view and potential of the individual. This early experience of the practical applications of learning instilled in me a profound and lasting respect for the life-altering potential of education, illustrating that even a small spark of knowledge can ignite great and enduring positive change in a person's life. This core belief has shaped my journey ever since. Yes, as with other deceptively simple yet immeasurably potent forces of life, education, in any one of its aspects or forms, holds an amazing power to enable deep personal transformation. This inherent power to achieve remarkable transformation, whether through the medium of organized formal education within a classroom setting or through the more organic perception that results from the informal learning process, is the main driving force for my continued commitment to this vibrant profession. It is an endless inspiration to see how people literally blossom, realizing their potential and developing a voice of their own, when they finally do have the chance to enrich their knowledge and interact with the world via the liberating power of education. My studies at Snow College have been carefully designed around an elementary education degree supported by a specialized emphasis in human development research. This sophisticated combination has provided me with the specific knowledge and instructional techniques needed to make a lasting difference in their earliest and most formative years of learning and growth. I firmly believe that this early intervention is among the most worthwhile and effective investments that can be offered by a community. An educated society is a successful society; the more people in society are empowered through education, the bigger our collective ability for success and support of one another. This solid base of common knowledge not only fuels the internal dynamics of our own societies but also leaves a lingering effect, allowing us to reach out and help other societies as well with the unmatched force of educated consciousness. Finally, education, in its truest and strongest sense, goes well beyond the stereotypical notion of just sitting static in a seat and receiving knowledge. It is a vibrant, living entity that exists as the ultimate key to unleashing unlimited inspiration and imparting durable hope. It is the spark that fuels intrinsic curiosity, develops a progressive attitude within every individual, and, by doing so, maps out the very course of society. This transformative and dynamic process enables us to build a more compassionate, enlightened, and interconnected world—a world motivated by an unstoppable passion for ongoing learning and a collective aspiration to enhance not just our own lives but also, importantly, the lives of all those around us.