# Scholarship Essay — Impact Statement ### Early Childhood Education & Development ----- Some people choose a career. Others are called to one. For me, the calling came long before I ever set foot in a classroom — it came at eight years old, when I became a caregiver to my baby sister. I slept on a beanbag on the floor beside her crib for nearly three years. Not because anyone asked me to, but because I loved her and I wanted her to feel safe. I didn’t have the language for it then, but I was already doing the most important work in the world: showing a child that someone was there, that she mattered, that the world around her was worth trusting. As the years passed, that responsibility only deepened. When my parents made the decision to remove my sister from school in sixth grade, I made a decision of my own — I put my education on hold so that I could help her pursue hers. I stepped into the gap so that she wouldn’t fall through it. I sacrificed my own academic path because I understood, in a way that went bone-deep, that a child’s future depends entirely on the adults who show up for them. That understanding is why I am pursuing an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and Development, and it is the foundation of every impact I hope to make. Children are not simply small people waiting to grow up. They are the living blueprint of the world that is coming. The experiences they have in their earliest years — whether they feel safe, whether they feel seen, whether someone sparks curiosity in them or silences it — shape who they will become for the rest of their lives. Research confirms what caregivers have always known: the first five years of life are the most critical window for cognitive, emotional, and social development. What happens in those years doesn’t just shape a child. It shapes a generation. I want to be someone who shapes that generation well. My goal is to create learning environments where every child who walks through the door feels what my sister felt on those nights when I was beside her — safe, loved, and never alone. I want to build classrooms that are not just places of instruction but sanctuaries of discovery, where children are encouraged to ask questions, make mistakes, and grow with confidence. I want to be an educator who sees the quiet child in the corner and the restless one in the back and understands that both are asking the same question: *Does anyone see me?* The answer I intend to spend my career giving is: *Yes. I do. And you are remarkable.* I did not come to this path easily or without sacrifice. But every year I spent pouring into my sister, every opportunity I delayed so she could have one — it all led me here. I am not starting over. I am arriving. And I intend to bring every lesson, every late night, and every ounce of that eight-year-old girl’s devotion into the work of building better futures for children who need someone in their corner. They are the generation to come. I intend to be worthy of them.

My passion for early childhood education and development was not born in a classroom. It was born through life experience, responsibility, and a deep love for children that began when I was only eight years old. When my little sister was born, my parents were struggling with drug addiction. While most children my age were worried about homework, television, and spending time with friends, I was helping care for a newborn. I moved a beanbag chair into her room and slept beside her for the next three years. I helped prepare bottles, changed diapers, soothed her when she cried, and made sure she received the care and attention she deserved. I even reminded my mother about doctor appointments and made every effort to attend them. At a very young age, I learned what it meant to care for another human being completely and unconditionally. Although my childhood was far from ordinary, those experiences shaped who I am today. Caring for my sister taught me patience, compassion, responsibility, and resilience. It also gave me a firsthand understanding of how important a stable and nurturing environment is during a child’s earliest years. Even then, I found joy in helping her learn, grow, and reach each new milestone. After graduating high school, I attended Meridian Community College and earned an Associate of Arts degree in Psychology. My original goal was to continue my education and work in social services so I could help children facing challenges similar to the ones I experienced growing up. I wanted to advocate for children who needed support, guidance, and someone who truly cared about their future. However, life presented me with another responsibility. While pursuing my education, I learned that my sister had been withdrawn from school in the sixth grade. I knew I could not ignore the situation. I made the difficult decision to put my own educational goals on hold and begin working full-time. I saved enough money to secure an apartment and create a stable environment where my sister could have opportunities she had been denied. Eventually, she moved in with me. She got her first job, and together we began working toward helping her earn her GED. Helping her reclaim her future remains one of the proudest accomplishments of my life. Today, I am the mother of an eight-month-old daughter, and watching her grow has deepened my passion for child development in ways I never imagined. Every new milestone reminds me how important the early years are in shaping confidence, curiosity, emotional well-being, and lifelong success. I find myself fascinated by how children learn and develop, and I want to dedicate my career to helping them thrive. My goal is to earn a degree in Early Childhood Education and Development so I can create safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environments for children. I hope to one day lead or own a childcare center where families can feel confident that their children are loved, respected, protected, and encouraged to reach their full potential. As both a caregiver and a mother, stories of children being neglected or mistreated deeply affect me. I want to be part of the solution by providing the kind of care every child deserves. My life experiences have taught me that one caring adult can make an incredible difference in a child’s future. Receiving this scholarship would help me continue my education and transform a lifelong commitment to caring for children into a meaningful career. I am determined to use my education to make a lasting impact on future generations, including the generation my own daughter will grow up in.

“I takes strength to forgive, but I don’t feel strong” resonates very deeply with me. My parents have been struggling with addiction since I can remember. I had a very rough childhood. I experienced things I shouldn’t have at a very young age. I’ve seen things I’ve shouldn’t have seen. No 8 year old should have to use macaron her father, but this one did. After many years of saving my money, I finally went home and got my sister. We moved away and started a new life for ourselves. And I forgive my parents, but it doesn’t take away anything that I went through. I had to put my whole life on hold to become their other daughter’s primary guardian. I took on a caretaker role starting at 8 years old. My entire childhood was over before it even really started. I missed out on so many things normal kids get to experience because I had to be a mom to my baby sister. I wouldn’t change it for the world, but it’s definitely altered my life. I’ve had to put an end to big plans for my future. I’ve had to pivot and make ways when I felt like there weren’t any. I grew up alone, I figured life out alone. I went through labor and postpartum alone. I forgive my parents, but all the trauma I carry from their poor decisions is something that has definitely affected my mental health. I’m now 27 and trying to get back on track. The pain that I endured put me in the lowest place I’ve ever been in my life. I think that’s the weakest I’ve truly ever been. But I can’t hang on to that pain forever. I have to continue to grow. I now have my sister and a baby girl of my own looking up to me. I have to lead by example. I spent the entirety of my life being strong for everyone else while feeling the weakest I’ve ever felt. I ran a business, had a baby, took care of my sister, managed to find a husband, and now it’s time to focus on myself. Heal myself. Grow myself. EDUCATE myself. I want to be the best version of myself for my daughter and my little sister. I don’t ever want them to feel like they wasted their lives away on other people. I want them to see that hard work is what gets you places and opens doors. I want to lead by example.