Anybody can claim to be a leader. You could be a team captain, a club president, a tutor; however, holding a position does not equate to being a leader. To me, being a leader means showing up. It means lifting others up, giving them honesty and being the leader you wish you have. I believe that a leader should not only be delegating, giving orders, or bossing people around, but they should be doing the work as well. They should, in essence, practice what they preach. I am the team captain of our cross country team. I've been running for over 8 years, and it is very important to me to help new runners. There was a time where I didn't want to run cross country; it was my teammates and the captains who helped me get into a groove and fall in love with the sport. Without their support, I'm not sure I would've continued running. So when a new, young runner joins the team, I make sure it is known that I am here to support them. Whether it's about the sport, school work, social interactions, or adjusting to high school, I tell people to talk to me if they need help. One day, a freshman who had been struggling with an ankle injury came to practice late. Our coach was at a meeting, so I was leading our warm-ups and our workout. When she got out of the car, I noticed her face was red and puffy. She was sniffling, couldn't talk without a quiver in her voice, and when I asked her what was wrong, she broke down. I asked another team captain to take over practice while I took her inside. We sat together for an hour. Aside from dealing with a brutal ankle injury, she was facing disappointment from her parents. They wanted her to run and were not convinced she was truly injured. Meanwhile, this girl walked around with a limp, and couldn't move without wincing. On top of that, she was also adjusting to high school. She was facing tough classes, social trouble, and body image issues. That day, she needed somebody there for her, and I'm proud to say I was that person. That's what leadership is. It's showing up and being the person that another person needs you to be. It's being supportive and kind. It's telling the truth and working hard, working side-by-side the people you're leading. I pride myself on being that person, whether it's in a leadership position, or just in everyday moments. I lead with compassion, with honesty, and a desire to truly help others. It's why I want to be a teacher: Helping others is my calling. It's what I'm good at, and it's what I want to keep developing. I hope to become a person who is seen as outwardly warm (sometimes, I have a rough exterior). I hope to be the person someone talks to on their worst day. I hope to be the person who doesn't just expect things to be done, but helps to make it happen. College offers personal growth, and an expanded social circle. It will give me a chance to be surrounded by a diversity of people and ideas that will allow me to better consider other perspectives, and in my opinion, continue to grow and be a leader for everyone. Leadership is connection, and college offers that connection that I need.

It would be wrong of me to say that only one teacher has changed my life. There are too many to count. I come from a family full of educators. My grandmother taught and was a principal, my aunts teach, I have multiple cousins who teach, my mother taught and is now a principal, and my brother has become a teacher as well. I've been lucky enough to grow up in a family of people who are so dedicated to improving the lives of younger people; this has been an inspiration for me. But beyond my family, I've had so many amazing teachers and coaches. I grew up in Brewer, Maine. We have two schools, Brewer Community (k-8) and Brewer High School (9-12). Because of this, I've been around the same people for 14 years now, and the teachers here are nothing but amazing. They have treated me with kindness, offered me patience I rarely have for myself, and have helped me to expand my knowledge and approach the world with curiosity in lieu of judgement. The first teacher who changed my life was Mrs. SueAnn Gaitings. She was our Gifted and Talented coordinator, and in 3rd grade, she pulled me from class and brought me into her classroom. My life has never been the same. She has remained my teacher since then. Mrs. Gaitings challenged me; she forced me to think. She instilled in me a love of deep conversation, discussing both the minute details and the bigger picture. We would read books and have tough conversations, conversations regarding racism, immigration, compassion, tyranny, and any other controversial topic on the map. She pushed me to be the best version of myself, and I am confident that I wouldn't be the same person today if it weren't for her. As I said, it still feels wrong not to mention a few other teachers. There was Mr. Holyoke, who taught me perseverance. There was Mr. Walters and Kumpa, who gave me grace and patience when I gave none to myself. There was Mrs. Dominick, who helped guide me through geometry (my most challenging subject). There was Mr. Libby, who allowed me to thrive as a leader. Mr. Turmelle and Mrs. Achey, who acted as safe spaces when I needed to talk and comedians when I needed to laugh. There are too many more to go through. In truth, they are why I want to be a teacher. They've had such a profound impact on me, and I want to be that person for young people. And I've only just started to see that impact in action, from the side of an educator. I'm always gonna remember my first day of working at a daycare, when a little boy came up to me to toss a ball with him. I'm always gonna remember watching another boy spell his name for the first time without help. I'm always gonna remember how I kept talking to a little girl until she began to talk back. I'll always remember how a funny face, a big hug, a gentle reminder, and wise words can change a kids day, and maybe even their life. These moments are going to stick with me for the rest of my life. And I want to keep experiencing them for the rest of it.