When a parent sends their child to school, they believe that their child is safe in the hands of teachers and school staff. When teachers are not properly trained on how to ensure safety on the playground, we are breaking this trust. In order to ensure child safety on playgrounds, we must ensure that equipment is safe and updated, be knowledgeable on safety and first aid, and set clear rules and expectations for the playground. Setting rules and expectations will help avoid injury in the first place. Before going outside to play, each classroom can go over the rules. These rules should include: be respectful, use playground equipment correctly, see something say something, be a friend. When students are aware of the rules and know the danger of using playground equipment inappropriately, they are more likely to do their share in helping to keep everyone safe. If a teacher notices that playground equipment is worn and unkempt, they need to speak up. With proper documentation, the school may be able to receive a grant to update the playground with safe equipment to prevent student injuries. Any equipment with holes or major damage could be a hazard that students might not notice. Having a professional look over the equipment regularly could prevent this. Finally, one of the most important things a teacher can do is be trained in first aid. No matter how careful you are, children are accident prone. If their teacher is trained in first aid, the student can get care on the spot before going to the nurse. This fast action can help prevent any major damage, and can help the child feel safe and calm.

Freedom. In our country, we hear a lot about the word freedom. Being independent is what gave me my freedom back. Being dependent on others can be so stressful, and often comes with many other obligations. Usually, when you are dependent on others, you are indebted to them. When I was dependent on family, I would always feel so pressured to be someone I am not. Independence allowed me to breathe freely again. It allowed me to make my own choices and not worry about pressure and stress from others. Independence let me focus on myself again.

In my dream life, I will work as a special education teacher in my community. My students will look up to me, and I will help them achieve their goals and foster their passions. I will be able to purchase a home for myself and my son, with a spare bedroom to turn into a therapy room for his medical needs. In my free time, my son and I will go on trips to travel the United States, letting him explore the great outdoors. I will advocate for MSL3 Syndrome, helping many children with special needs find their voice and support in this world.

My favorite hobby is an escape, another world waiting to be entered. When you open a book, there is a plethora of new characters to meet and understand. New stories to become invested in. Reading can take you away from the stressors of the world, and bring you to peace, even if just momentarily. Reading is easily accessible and affordable for everyone to enjoy, and doesn’t cost a lot of money to begin. Reading is portable. I can easily bring a book with me, or read from an e-book on my phone. Furthermore, reading to my children helps me to foster their future passions and aspirations by sharing books with them. A mother and a child can bond over a good book. A teacher and a student can learn through a book. Books are a universal learning tool and a universal escape.

When I was 17, I found myself pregnant and alone. Ever since then, it has been an uphill battle with my son who has a rare genetic disease. In January of 2021, he was diagnosed with Basilicata-Ahktar Syndrome at the age of 2. We travel to therapy eight times a week, and frequently go out of town for specialist appointments. My son fostered my love for education, and helped me develop nonverbal communication skills. However, due to his complex medical needs, I have been unable to work. He has shown my purpose in my community. He has shown me that my calling is to work in special education, being the voice for children who might not have one otherwise. Being able to work in a Special Education classroom is my dream, and I know I have the skill set to succeed. During my student teaching process in my college experience so far, I have discovered that the field is desperately lacking enough teachers who are passionate in the field. I know that all sounds wonderful, but the difficult part is this - without a college degree and the skills to make more than minimum wage, I am not sure how to survive with a medically complex child. My son has helped me find myself, but now I need to graduate in order to make a financial difference in his life.

Everyone suggests saving money. However, for low income families, this can be nearly impossible. Every penny of your check may go to paying bills and feeding children, making it impossible to get out of the poverty cycle. My advice is unpopular - use your credit cards. Using a credit card to pay regular monthly expenses, such as food and bills, can help a person increase their credit score while also earning cash back rewards on money they would already be spending. However, it is important to remember to not spend money that you do not have. Pay off your balance in full every month to avoid interest charges. This is why I only use my credit cards for regular monthly expenses.

1) I deserve this scholarship because I had three cups of coffee for breakfast. 2) Career wise, I plan on starting a business teaching pets to use toilets. 3) When you’re running track, you can count every hurdle jump as overcoming an obstacle.

My father served in the U.S. Army for 20 years. His service was always something I questioned when I was young. I wondered why he spent so much time away, or why he enjoyed the service. If I am being honest, it made me fell a bit lost. As I grew, I moved in with my father. I came to see how dedicated he was to his work, and how rewarding he found it to be. I watched as he got promoted, as he worked hard to improve. I admired him. Fast forward to when it was time to look at career choices, I wanted to follow in his footsteps, but was medically unable to do so. I knew from watching him that I wanted to follow a career that I found rewarding, a career where I could make a difference in the lives of others. My father always supported my passions and encouraged me to receive an education to pursue my dreams. He reminded me that whatever career I choose, I cannot decide based on salary or I would never be happy. Eventually, I found my way to an education in Elementary Education. I wanted to be a role model for students who would lead our future generations. I wanted to show my students the passion and dedication that my father showed me. I wanted to encourage my students to follow their dreams and reach the career goal that they want in the future. Having a military father has been a highlight in my past. He taught me work ethic, and he showed me love. He fostered creativity, and ensured my brother and I were always cared for. Not only was his work ethic admirable, but so was his dedication to us.

“Be true to yourself.” A common phrase that many people will hear their entire lives. However, we still find ourselves lost and confused. We may stray to fit in with a crowd of people. We may stray because we don’t have time, or we may even stray from a career we would love for financial reasons. Coming out of high school, I realized that I had done all of this. I was not happy with who I saw when I looked in the mirror. As I started growing into an adult version of me, I had many qualities I wanted to change. I made my education and my family priorities again. I worked hard to improve my life and improve my son’s life. I became the family-oriented person I was always meant to be. And for once, I looked in the mirror and I was happy with who I saw smiling back at me. However, I started to get overwhelmed with stress and I lost myself a bit along the way. My son had mountains of doctors appointments, diagnoses, and care that he needed. I quit working to care for him. Along the way, I no longer had the money I needed to finance my college education. While my son is my light, I realized I needed to be true to myself. I needed to get my degree and make a name for myself, to have an accomplishment I can be proud of. Having a degree in Elementary Education would allow me to make a difference in the lives of countless students as a positive influence who truly cares about their success. This is what would make me happy, this is what would make me stay true to myself.

Not only am I a woman, but I am a mother. Receiving an education would help me make a positive difference in the life of my son, who has complex medical needs. I say this because receiving my education will help me secure a career that is well-paying and rewarding. Not only that, but my education choice was to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education so that I may educate the generations of the future. To me, having an education would put me in a position to teach young minds. Because my son has complex medical needs, I want to work in a special education classroom, providing a positive influence to those who need it most. Working with children is my dream, as I never had a teacher who truly stood out as making a difference in my life. This makes me fear for my own children, who need that role model in the classroom. Overall, receiving my education would help me fill my dreams by making a difference in the lives of my future students. It would help me to provide better opportunities for myself and my son. It would help me shed light on the special needs individuals in my community. Finally, having my education would help me feel like I have a purpose beyond my own home, as a mother who gets lost taking care of her child.

When I was 17, I found myself pregnant and alone. Ever since then, it has been an uphill battle with my son who has a rare genetic disease. In January of 2021, he was diagnosed with Basilicata-Ahktar Syndrome at the age of 2. We travel to therapy eight times a week, and frequently go out of town for specialist appointments. My son fostered my love for education, and helped me develop nonverbal communication skills. However, due to his complex medical needs, I have been unable to work. He has shown my purpose in my community. He has shown me that my calling is to work in special education, being the voice for children who might not have one otherwise. Being able to work in a Special Education classroom is my dream, and I know I have the skill set to succeed. During my student teaching process in my college experience so far, I have discovered that the field is desperately lacking enough teachers who are passionate in the field. I know that all sounds wonderful, but the difficult part is this - without a college degree and the skills to make more than minimum wage, I am not sure how to survive with a medically complex child. My son has helped me find myself, but now I need to graduate in order to make a financial difference in his life.

My son is almost three years old, and has gone through more in his life than most adults. At a whopping four surgeries and eight appointments a week, he stays busy. As most of my community knows, he was diagnosed with the very rare Basilicata-Ahktar Syndrome. My son cannot walk or talk, and is often bullied by adults for his differences. He was only the 42nd diagnosis in the world, so not much is known about the condition. I want to positively impact his future by providing special needs awareness and programs in my community. Working towards a degree in Elementary Education has been my dream for the longest time. Holding the position of an elementary school teacher would allow my community to see me as a trusted educational figure. In the classroom, I plan on having a focus in special needs education. Outside of the classroom, I want to spread awareness for my son and other children so that they can get the treatment they deserve. Building this coat of acceptance in our community will let my son be raised in a world that understands him and has taken the time to learn about his needs and differences.

I am a 21 year old woman studying for a degree in Elementary Education. Growing up, I had no teachers that stood out to me. I do not have a single Elementary school teacher that I can remember. I feel that the reason behind this is that so many of them lacked the passion and drive to truly teach and inspire. When I earn my degree, I want to teach in underprivileged schools in my community so that I can make a difference in the lives of students who need it most. I want every student to have a fighting chance and a teacher that encourages their success and believes in them. When I was in school, education was my escape from an extremely toxic home life. Pouring myself into my studies took my mind off of the poverty and drug abuse from my parents waiting for me at home. I know that the life I lived when I was young is not one that I would ever want my two children to ever even catch a glimpse of. My son has Basilicata-Ahktar Syndrome, a very rare genetic syndrome that impacts all of his bodily systems. He is the 42nd in the entire world to be diagnosed with this syndrome, and doctors could not tell me much. As a mother, all I could do is seek further education. I taught myself about disabilities, about awareness, about therapies. I wanted to learn whatever I could to help him improve, and I will do the same to every single student that graces my classroom.

Education has drastically shaped my worldview by releasing me from poverty and depression. Ever since I was a child, I grew up missing meals with an abusive step-father who turned to drugs at every opportunity. School was my release, my safe haven. My teachers saw my desire and willingness to learn and succeed, and always pushed me to do my best. At 13, I escaped from that home and lifestyle and gave myself the opportunity to receive a better education. From such a young age, I knew education would be my escape. In high school, I poured my life into my studies and graduated early. However, I had a son at 18. Having a child made continuing my college education difficult. I persevered, and made it 3/4 of my way through a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. I want to pour my knowledge back into society and be the difference for students in underprivileged communities. For the sake of clarity, my son has a crippling genetic disease called Basilicata-Ahktar Syndrome. My son cannot walk, talk, or even eat like a typical child. He eats his own arms when he is frustrated or slams his head into walls. I had to take the time to focus on him and learn about his syndrome, and this different aspect of education gave me a new found sense of respect and understanding for the special needs community. I now consider myself his advocate, and do my best to educate others on his unique situation. So you see, education changed my life. I understand that education is my driving force, as school gave me a safe place to be. Education taught me how to be my son's voice in a cruel and hurtful world. Education taught me how to manage my finances and do better for myself so that I would never be in a situation of poverty again. Education is what drove me to want to teach others, to inspire them and change their world like mine was changed.

I heard his heart beat. I waited nine long months to know that my son would be born okay. When he was placed on my chest, and I heard his little heart beat, I knew the world would be okay. A smile crept to my face, and I’ve never been more proud of myself or my child.