My reasoning for loving math stems from the wonderful teachers that I've had growing up. In my junior year of high school my teacher really made an impact on my life. He taught me more than just math. It wasn't just the basic rules and explanations, but more importantly it was how to use these skills in life situations. He taught me how to connect algebra with my real-world problems, using his degree in engineering. He told us real problems that he had to encounter and made us interested in learning math. With any subject, a good teacher will help expand a student's abilities, and my math teacher happened to be the one for me. If I was ever lost in class or confused about what we were learning, he had a willingness to help and always wished for the best within his students. He gifted me the math excellence award which was given to two juniors in the entire grade. He saw mine and my fellow student's willingness to work hard and praised us for these attributes. Growing up I have always had a passion for math, even if it was not my best subject. I love math because it challenges me to think in ways I never have before. In my future career, I am planning on becoming a math teacher, and expanding my love for math.

College may not be for everyone, but there is no doubt in my mind college is for me. It’s a matter of when, not why. College is important because it provides more opportunities for a job, teaches critical life skills, and solidifies my career choice. After graduating college with either a masters or bachelor's degree, you are provided with many opportunities for employment. When I entered high school, I was not sure what I wanted to do when I became an adult. After studying many different courses, I quickly realized that I wanted to be a teacher. I joined an organization called Peer Mentoring, where students aid other students with disabilities in their schoolwork. I became very close with these students, and they made me love what I was doing. After thinking about all of my different career choices, I decided that Special Education was my main goal. In order to teach special education, you have to obtain a college degree. Which is one of the many reasons why I want to attend college. College also contributes to the knowledge of critical life skills. Many of these skills are not taught in high school. For example, at my high school they do not teach about taxes, money management, or home economics. In college I will be able to obtain these basic skills that I would not be taught otherwise. If you went straight into the workforce out of high school, your chance of gaining this basic knowledge is not likely. That is not to say that there are many who will not succeed, but the odds without an education in today's society are faint. Upon entering college, many students do not know what they want to do with their lives. Many college students end up changing their degrees throughout college because they are provided with that opportunity. The people who go straight into the workforce, do not get this luxury. They learn these skills on their own, without a mentor to guide them. This can be very difficult for many people. For my benefit, college will be the steppingstone for my career. It will teach me the important lessons that I need to know personally. I will be able to take certain classes that pertain to my career choice, and interest level. I will also be able to take classes that will guide me on my path of life. I want to take classes that teach me more about foreign languages so that I will be able to teach students who do not know how to speak English very well. I have taken four years of foreign language at my high school, but a few extra years would really solidify my capabilities to understand and obtain the language. I will also be able to learn on my own how to manage money. I will be tasked with budgeting a meal plan and finding a way to pay for college. As of right now, I am able to budget my money fairly well, since I have had a job for a year and a half, but my money has been spent helping my mom pay for things at home. I have been saving up to buy a car for college, and still have not obtained enough money to do so. The financial aspect of college is definitely the most stressful aspect, which is why I would love to receive this scholarship.

In high school is when I realized that what I want to do is help other people. I joined a Youth Organization to help teach students critical life decisions. I quickly learned that teaching is not as easy as it seems. There are many ups and downs, but in the end the outcome is rewarding. The students reach out to me and thank me for teaching them skills that they may not have otherwise learned. These skills include critical thinking, good communication, and coping with stress. These are all things that I wish I would have learned before entering high school. Within my high school career, I joined a program called Peer Mentoring. In this program I got to work with children my age that have disabilities. While speaking to one of the boys with Down syndrome, he told me that he knew what I was going to be when I got older. He said that I was going to be a special Education teacher just like his own, but "I was going to be the boss of everything". After he had mentioned this, I started looking into it and quickly realized that is what I wanted to do. I aspire to be a special education teacher, even though I know the repercussions that come with it. I am willing to face any challenges head on that God may throw my way, and I am excited to see what the future holds.

Not everyone is meant to go to college. My brother didn't go to college, and he is very successful with his career. Life would be easier on my mom and I financially if I did not go to college. I am worried about being in debt from going to college, but I know that college is meant for me. I am one of the kids that wake up every day and want to go to school. I love my teachers and everything about school, from interacting with others, to learning new things, to challenge myself to the best that I can be. In high school is when I realized that what I want to do is help other people. I joined a Youth Organization to help teach students critical life decisions. I quickly learned that teaching is not as easy as it seems. There are many ups and downs, but in the end the outcome is rewarding. The students reach out to me and thank me for teaching them skills that they may not have otherwise learned. These skills include critical thinking, good communication, and coping with stress. These are all things that I wish I would have learned before entering high school. Within my high school career, I joined a program called Peer Mentoring. In this program I got to work with children my age that have disabilities. While speaking to one of the boys with Down syndrome, he told me that he knew what I was going to be when I got older. He said that I was going to be a special Education teacher just like his own, but "I was going to be the boss of everything". After he had mentioned this, I started looking into it and quickly realized that is what I wanted to do. I aspire to be a special education teacher, even though I know the repercussions that come with it. I am willing to face any challenges head on that God may throw my way, and I am excited to see what the future holds. The hard-working skills that my mom has shown me aided me in becoming the strong woman that I am. I started working at age sixteen, and I have had the same job since. I have excelled within the company and quickly became a trainer within a year. My co-workers rely on me to always put forth the best effort and to always have a smile on my face. I also obtained a second job during the summer in order to alleviate some of the stress weighed down on my mom. I would work from 7:30 AM until 11:00 PM on some days, and at least seven-hour shifts on others. My mom has instilled a work ethic in me that will create a successful future for myself. I will forever thank my mom for everything she has taught me and has given me to make me who I am today, and I am looking forward to the future of helping children and teach them values in life just as my mom has taught me.

This is literally a full-time job in itself. As a senior in high school, who has a job and also has to keep up with all my schoolwork, it's very exhausting. Taking AP classes my senior year, volunteering after school, being in the National Honor Society, and having to go to my job leaves no time for much more. But I have no choice. My future depends on receiving scholarships to be able to make it in this world. You see, I come from a single parent household. My mom is my rock. She has always been such a hard worker, very determined, but still life has not been easy. She works a full-time job; she then proceeds to work in her crafts as extra income to support us. She truly is a supermom. I believe her work ethic has been instilled upon me. I started working at the age of sixteen, I have had the same job since. This summer I worked two jobs to help out with the bills and try to save some money for college. I still do not have a car to drive to college, there is so much to figure out and not enough time. My senior year is flying by. All of this is very stressful and then we have to add the scholarship process to the mix. Some require essays, the ones that don't you wonder if they are even legit. Which website should you use? They say to try for local scholarships in your comminuted. How do you find them? You google, can't find anything, you ask friends, businesses, you're still at a loss. You go on social media, look at different sites to use and still feel helpless. One click leads to another click, which leads to another site, and you have forgotten where you started to begin with. I have learned to be patient. I have learned to understand this is all part of the process and not to give up. If I can even get a few of the scholarships that I have applied for then it has been a success. Keep going, don't stop. Yes, it's exhausting, but in the long run, like everything, hard work pays off. Never lose sight of your potential in life, keep striving for the best. Always stay positive, keep an open mind. Dreams can come true. Hold your head up high and keep aiming towards the sky. There are no limits.

High school is ruthless. I had been looking forward to high school all my life, never would I have imagined how my friends from middle school would turn out to be so mean. It seems like it's all about who has the most money, who parties the most, who is the prettiest, who is the most popular. High school these days is never about kids being kids. There was no term "Bullying" back in the old days. My mom says the principal would just paddle them if a kid acted out. In today's society a principle would get in trouble for laying a hand on someone, let alone a paddle. My mom's generation doesn't understand, always asking "Why aren't you friends with this one and that one?" She says when she grew up, everyone wasn't "out to get one another" or "one up each other". She says they may have had a few different cliques, but overall, when my mom grew up everyone was friends with everyone. Even to this day, she remains friends with most everyone she went to high school with. With all this being said, mental health is a real issue in high school. Not only are we under the stress of making the grades to further our education and become successful in life, now we have to deal with the pressure of just being present in high school. I come from a single parent home; therefore, I do not have all the luxuries most do, heck, I don't even have a car to drive, and I am almost 18 years old. I work two jobs during the summer so my mom and I can keep up with the necessities in life. Talk about mental health issues. There are many days when I feel overwhelmed. There are many days that I wonder how I am going to make it through the day pulling a double shift at work. But one thing I can say is that my mom taught me how to be a survivor. Try not to focus on the negative and focus on the positive outcome in the end. To alleviate the stress from my daily routine, I enjoy spending time with my friends on my off days. I have met a couple of good friends throughout my high school years. We enjoy going to the movies, heading over to the local coffee shop to work on school projects, and of course shopping is a favorite as well. I also love to read books. Colleen Hoover is my favorite author at the moment. Once I start reading one of her books, I can't put it down. Reading is a big stress relief for me. These are all ways that I deal with my mental health and well-being. It is very important to stay on top of issues and deal with them as they may come. The best advice I could give someone is to find something you enjoy doing, whatever it may be, and take some time for yourself and do those things that make you happy.

What would we do without educators in our lives? Without these special people, many others would not be able to have jobs. Many of our teachers raise the children who grow up to become the future leaders of the world. They provide them with the basic necessities of life, which further them into becoming the men and women we see today. Teachers start children off on their path of education from ages three to five and work them up until they get their PhDs and graduate college. There are many different types of teachers at each of the stages. In elementary school, educators teach the basic necessities of life, including reading, writing, and adding and subtracting. Once you advance, they teach topics like counting money, telling time, and basic science concepts. One you advance into middle school, you are taught about things such as: basic algebra, earth science, and basic history knowledge. In high school, you get to learn some of the most important topics of life: human anatomy, geometry, and literature. College is some of the last steps of education with an educator. After college, you have to learn about the world from your own perspective, but it all started with your kindergarten teachers. Early childhood teachers are like many parental figures in some children's lives. Many children do not have the privilege of a secure home life, so when they enter their classrooms at school, it automatically becomes a safe space for them. Teachers provide a sense of comfort to those children and for the most part they are playing the role of a parent. Teachers are some of the most selfless people in the entire world and it starts for most children at a very early age. They dedicate their lives to helping others in need. Many of these teachers do their job out of the love they hold in their hearts. A great example of this is the many teachers who are willing to help the mentally and physically challenged students. These teachers are extraordinary angels who have the patience of God. These teachers hold a special place in mine and so many other's hearts, and I hope that someday, I too can become one of them. At this point, I realized what I wanted to do is help other people. I joined a Youth Organization to help teach students critical life decisions. I quickly learned that teaching is not as easy as it seems. There are many ups and downs, but in the end the outcome is rewarding. The students reach out to me and thank me for teaching them skills that they may not have otherwise learned. Within my high school career, I joined a program called Peer Mentoring. Within this program I work with children my age that have disabilities. While speaking to one of the boys with Down syndrome, he told me that he knew what I was going to be when I got older. He said that I was going to be a special Education teacher just like his own, but "I was going to be the boss of everything". After he had mentioned this, I started looking into it and quickly realized that is what I wanted to do. I aspire to be a special education teacher. I am willing to face any challenges head on that God may throw my way, and I am excited to see what the future holds.

What would we do without educators in our lives? Without these special people, many others would not be able to have jobs. Many of our teachers raise the children who grow up to become the future leaders of the world. They provide them with the basic necessities of life, which further them into becoming the men and women we see today. Teachers start children off on their path of education from ages three to five and work them up until they get their PhDs and graduate college. There are many different types of teachers at each of the stages. In elementary school, educators teach the basic necessities of life, including reading, writing, and adding and subtracting. Once you advance, they teach topics like counting money, telling time, and basic science concepts. One you advance into middle school, you are taught about things such as: basic algebra, earth science, and basic history knowledge. In high school, you get to learn some of the most important topics of life: human anatomy, geometry, and literature. College is some of the last steps of education with an educator. After college, you start to learn new things on your own. You have to learn about the world from your own perspective, but it all started with your kindergarten teachers. Educators are also like many parental figures in some children's lives. Many children nowadays do not have the privilege of a secure home life, so when they enter their classrooms at school, it automatically becomes a safe space for them. Teachers provide a sense of comfort to those children. Some of the ways that teachers do this are: using their lunch periods to help students, staying after school for tutoring, and helping them make new friends. I know countless teachers in my own life that have stayed after school to help me in their classes, and I will be forever grateful to them. They showed me just how much they truly cared about me, and every single one of their students. Teachers are some of the most selfless people in the entire world. They dedicate their lives to helping others in need. Many of these teachers do their job out of the love they hold in their hearts. A great example of this is the many teachers who are willing to help the mentally and physically challenged students. These teachers are extraordinary angels who have the patience of God. They sacrifice their entire lives to helping others. These teachers hold a special place in mine and so many other's hearts, and I hope that someday, I too can become one of them.

High school is ruthless. I had been looking forward to high school all my life, never would I have imagined how my friends from middle school would turn out to be so mean. It seems like it's all about who has the most money, who parties the most, who is the prettiest, who is the most popular. High school these days is never about kids being kids. There was no term "Bullying" back in the old days. My mom says the principal would just paddle them if a kid acted out. In today's society a principle would get in trouble for laying a hand on someone, let alone a paddle. My mom's generation doesn't understand, always asking "Why aren't you friends with this one and that one?" She says when she grew up, everyone wasn't "out to get one another" or "one up each other". She says they may have had a few different cliques, but overall, when my mom grew up everyone was friends with everyone. Even to this day, she remains friends with most everyone she went to high school with. With all this being said, mental health is a real issue in high school. Not only are we under the stress of making the grades to further our education and become successful in life, now we have to deal with the pressure of just being present in high school. I come from a single parent home; therefore, I do not have all the luxuries most do, heck, I don't even have a car to drive, and I am almost 18 years old. I work two jobs during the summer so my mom and I can keep up with the necessities in life. Talk about mental health issues. There are many days when I feel overwhelmed. There are many days that I wonder how I am going to make it through the day pulling a double shift at work. But one thing I can say is that my mom taught me how to be a survivor. Try not to focus on the negative and focus on the positive outcome in the end. To alleviate the stress from my daily routine, I enjoy spending time with my friends on my off days. I have met a couple of good friends throughout my high school years. We enjoy going to the movies, heading over to the local coffee shop to work on school projects, and of course shopping is a favorite as well. I also love to read books. Colleen Hoover is my favorite author at the moment. Once I start reading one of her books, I can't put it down. Reading is a big stress relief for me. These are all ways that I deal with my mental health and well-being. It is very important to stay on top of issues and deal with them as they may come. The best advice I could give someone is to find something you enjoy doing, whatever it may be, and take some time for yourself and do those things that make you happy.

Growing up, I always dreamed of having an English Bulldog, but we could never afford one. When I was in second grade, I got my forever best friend, Libby, also known as "Fat Dog". My mom's friend could not take care of her anymore, so he let us go pick her up and bring her home with us. She was the cutest and sweetest dog I had ever met. And guess what, she was an English bulldog, which I had been dreaming of my whole life. Her first night at home, she fit right in. She cuddled with us all night and was just grateful that she was in a better home. Ever since then, we've grown up together. She has been there through everything with me. She was there when I broke my foot. She went through my first heartbreak and licked my tears off of my face. We have grown so close, that she knows when something is wrong. She can sense my stress and will come and sit with me. She would sit with me while I do my homework and study. She puts a smile on everyone's face. After about a year or so, we decided Libby needed a companion and added another fur baby to our family. Libby has been the best motherly dog anyone could ask for. She has the sweetest demeanor to everyone. When someone walks in the door, she runs to them with her rope in tow and always want to play, even at her age now. She loves to go on car rides, she loves to visit people and will go anywhere you take her. She is the best friend that a girl could ask for, but she is getting old. I do not even remember my life without her, and I do not know what I am going to do when she is gone, in the same token, I am not so sure how she will do when I leave for college. It is going to be very difficult when I leave her for college, but at the same time, having Libby at the house will help my mom get through these times. The quote "Dogs are a girl's best friend" cannot even compare to the love we have for one another. I never realized how much an animal could impact someone's life until I got Libby. I will forever be grateful for the love that she has given myself and my family. I am truly blessed to have Libby in my life.