I am a junior in college studying Elementary Education Collaborative Special Education. At Huntingdon College I am a cheerleader, Ambassador, SGA Junior Senator, and Student Recruiter. At home I have a family of six and work as a volleyball coach. At school I work as a nanny outside of practice, games, and extracurriculars. I have my own ministry called H.E.R. Ministry which I started my junior year of high school. My ministry holds me accountable and reminds me to make time for God daily in my busy schedule. My ministry is designed for helping and encouraging young ladies and women. I have devotions written by myself and other women. I am currently working on adding more book studies to what is already posted. I have spoken at youth group events, ladies small groups, and adult services. However, my personal favorite part of the ministry page is the testimony section. I have testimonies from all ages to show women they are not alone and to prioritize trusting God. I believe it is so powerful to read the testimonies of women and see how Christ has moved mountains for them. I lead volleyball camps powered by her ministry which gives girls from first grade to ninth grade the opportunity to play a sport, be fed a meal, and hear a devotional. My faith is what drives me to be the most accountable. I did not understand what it meant to "fear God" for a long time. However, as I have grown in my faith over the past four years and allowed God to take control I understand it fully. I am afraid of letting God down. I am afraid of missing opportunities to further the Kingdom. I am afraid of someone knowing me and not knowing Christ. I am not striving to be perfect but I am striving to make Him proud. As I think about all the little girls God has given me the opportunity to coach and mentor I am reminded to be the role model I needed. I am so honored my college has chosen me for the leadership roles I hold. I am also honored to be apart of such an amazing educational program. Regardless of how time consuming all of this can be, I give each individual aspect my full self. I know that my strength does not come from me and that is how I am able to find success. The success tied to my name I will always give back to God because He is the one who gave me the opportunities and wisdom to obtain it. I take ownership for my wrongs, I am accepting of advice, and I seek growth constantly. My accountability is more than the standards I hold myself to but also to God and those around me. Aside from this I pan, set specific goals, ask for feedback, stay consistent, and evaluate my work. Success looks different for each individual and to each individual. My educational career is a crucial factor for my success as it creates a platform currently but also will lead me to future platforms. In the meantime, I will continue to hold myself accountable as I strive for successes.

I am a junior in college majoring in Elementary Education Collaborative Special Education. When I was six years old I found out I have a learning disability. I was told that dyslexia would define me academically and hold back my growth and success. I had great teachers who showed me having dyslexia does not and did not define me. They did so by showing me my progress throughout the years and not lowering expectations due to my learning disability. Those wonderful teachers all played a part in the academic success I have now. Without my amazing teachers’ encouragement and helping me break standards I would not be doing what I am today. I want to be a teacher to bring hope to students and show them that they are capable of great things, like my teachers did for me. I know that my calling in life on top of becoming a teacher and coach is ultimately to serve others. I have had multiple teachers from elementary to high school who all had long lasting impacts on my life. Specifically, Mrs. French is a teacher who has impacted my life. She taught me to value myself and my abilities. She showed me when you focus on your strengths and have a strong work ethic everything else falls into place. The most important thing she taught me is that perfection is unachievable and there is so much beauty to be found in imperfections. As I work to become a teacher Mrs. French always comes to mind. She was stern and no one wanted to disrespect her but she also was the teacher who was there for everyone. She knew if we had siblings, she came to games and performances, she came to watch us graduate, and so much more. I want to do this for my students and show them they have a consistent supporter with me. Becoming both an educator and a coach gives me the outlet to serve in more than one way. I love volleyball and have had the opportunity to coach younger leagues during high school. I now coach at varsity levels as a college student as well as having my own camps. I would love the opportunity to continue doing so following graduation. Having these two platforms allow me to reach multiple students and positively impact their lives. Each student comes from a different home life and carries a different story. Through my coaching experience, specifically private lessons, I have been able to develop relationships with girls and become mentors for them. My camps are powered by my ministry, H.E.R. Ministry, which I started my senior year of high school. The mission is to reach young ladies and show them who Christ says they are not the world. Everything I do through my ministry is volunteer based and not profit. I love that sports are so much more than a game and have provided me with such a large platform. Sports are outlets for so many people and when used the right way incredible change happens. Being an educator gives me the opportunity to meet student’s needs as best as possible at school that they may not be receiving at home. I plan to do this alongside teaching quality character traits and curriculum. I am passionate about becoming a teacher because teachers can be the bridge between a child having a dream and achieving it. I want to show students there is no limit to their success regardless of stereotypes. I hope to empower students to become the best versions of themselves.

Lao Tzu said, “[a] leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say; we did it ourselves”. I believe an individual’s perception of that quote shows their experience as a leader. Great leaders bring others to greatness and strive for those around them to become better than they are. I have had the wonderful opportunity to further my education in pursuit to becoming a teacher. Huntingdon College has truly been a blessing by giving me countless situations in which I am able to serve those around me. Pursing a career devoted to service as well as being involved on my campus has taught me how important leadership is. My strong faith in God leads me first in all that I do. My mission in life is to display His love through the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Passion drives all of my leadership roles. It is essential to first have a shared goal with those around me. Understanding the end goal provides opportunity for all voices to be heard as we do not have to follow the same path to achieve it, as long as we work together. I love to go into situations open minded and to try new things. It is important to know that we can all learn from each other. I believe it is crucial as a leader to show having a title does not make me above anyone. By demonstrating healthy communication along side offering empathy allows those around me to trust me. It is important for me to take ownership with my failures and show others how to learn from them rather than shutting down. I find the most joy in watching those around me grow. Before I started college I wanted to go into the medical field simply for money. I finally listened to my calling and switched my major to Elementary Education Collaborative Special Education. Leaders are not just defined by what the world views as success. Education has showed me the beauty in the progress and growth individuals make along the way. Whether it be in an SGA meeting or in a kindergarten classroom, to be apart of something bigger than myself has been a blessing. Showing my students no stereotype defines their success, my classmates how valuable their voices are, or my community the difference they can make, sparks other leaders to do the same. I believe leaders inspire change. Large or small, all leadership roles are just as crucial to achieving the desired goal. I strive to bring out the leader in each individual I work with. The great leaders I have been around have made me who I am today. My role models encourage me to be what they were for others.

I am an upcoming junior majoring in Elementary Education collaborative Special Education. In my future classroom, as I teach I would like to incorporate student-centered learning. It is where the students are involved as much as possible with decision making on how and what they will be learning. This goes hand in hand with the progressivist style of teaching. I believe as a teacher it is important to understand that all students have a preferred way of learning that they benefit from the most. In order to ensure my future classroom is successful all the way around, I want to include all students' needs as often as I can. I want to keep students engaged and for them to be excited to come learn in my classroom. A way I can do this is with learning centers where students are given all the work that needs to be completed but can choose what they do when. Students who need assistance can come to a private table and during that time as well. I would like to incorporate hands-on learning and group work with my students to challenge them to begin to learn to work well with others and listen, even at a young age. Having students learn material and then working together as a group to complete an assignment or project is a great way to advance the learning in my future classroom. I also think that an art-infused curriculum would be great for young students. Art infused curriculum engages multiple parts of the brain as you are learning new information, understanding the information, and then doing something creative related to it. However, according to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a student is not going to be able to be creative to their fullest potential if their basic needs are not met. Due to this I can plan specific content when I know those needs are met, such as after nap time or lunch. Elementary is such an important time in the academic career for students because it is the foundation of their future. I want to learn what is best for my students each year so I can help them grow and become as successful as possible. As I begin my next semester and spend more time in the classroom I am excited to discover more ways to engage students. In my time spent observing I have found hands on learning has been most beneficial. Having options for my students to chose what excites them the most such as book topics are great ways to engage students.

I am an upcoming junior in college majoring in Elementary Education collaborative Special Education. I have chosen to pursue education because of my desire to serve children. Before college I had plans to go to the medical field knowing I would not be happy with my career. I was chasing a salary and not following my heart. God quickly showed me my calling is to become a teacher through working the Special Olympics at my local elementary school and later shadowing elementary teachers. I switched my plans the summer before college and have not looked back. When I was six years old I discovered that I have a learning disability. I was told that it would define me and my academic success the rest of my life. However, I had great teachers and family showing me I could do anything I truly put my mind to. I graduated high school with highest honors, created my own website, and started public speaking. In college I currently hold a 3.77GPA and made the Division III All Academic Conference Team. Without my support system believing in me I never would have had the confidence to create and achieve these goals. I want to become an educator to show students exactly what was shown to me. That students are more than a stereotype and they are capable of great things with no limitations. Becoming a teacher gives me the outlet to positively serve children in countless ways. Each student I will meet has a different story and home life. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs shows how student success comes from physiological needs, such as food, water, and sleep, being met first. Being an educator gives me the opportunity to meet student’s needs as best as possible at school that they may not be receiving at home. I plan to do this alongside teaching quality character traits and curriculum. I am passionate about becoming a teacher because teachers can be the bridge between a child having a dream and achieving it. I hope to empower students everyday to become the best versions of themselves. To be a smiling face they consistently see and can come to. I know that I will achieve the goal of becoming an educator because I could not be more passionate about it. I want to make a positive influence in the life of every child I meet. Through Christ I will be a light for the children who come through my future classroom. I know that without God revealing this plan to me I would have chosen a very different path for myself. I do not know what all this route will consist of but I know God has prepared me with patience, dedication, and passion to fulfill this dream and plan.

When I was six years old I found out I have a learning disability. I was told that dyslexia would define me academically and hold back my growth and success. With the exception of one, I had great teachers who showed me having dyslexia does not and did not define me. They did so by showing me my progress throughout the years and not lowering expectations due to my learning disability. Those wonderful teachers all played a part in the academic success I have now. I graduated high school with highest honors, created my own website, and started public speaking. In college I currently hold a 3.77GPA and made the Division III All Academic Conference Team. Without my amazing teachers’ encouragement and helping me break standards I would not be doing what I am today. I want to be a teacher to bring hope to students and show them that they are capable of great things, like my teachers did for me. I had one negative teacher who also plays a role in why I want to become an educator. The bad experience with her showed me how I can do better as a future educator, most importantly by not stereotyping disabilities and seeing each student as a person first. From experience I know and understand the effects teachers have on students in and outside of education. I also know that my calling in life on top of becoming a teacher is to serve others. My “why” for education comes from many reasons. I am an elementary collaborative special education major with hopes of becoming an elementary teacher and high school volleyball coach. I have had multiple teachers from elementary to high school who all had long lasting impacts on my life. For example, Mrs. Couch, one of my high school teachers, found a font for dyslexia that I could download to my computer to write papers for her English class and then once completed, change it to the required font. Mrs. French and Mrs. Johnson are teachers I had earlier in my academic career who still check on me today. I have also had fantastic coaches that have had influences on my life farther than coaching alone. My former coaches Coach D’eath, Coach Millhoff, and Coach Nails have all helped me grow outside of sports. Whether it be spiritually, with a job, or needing advice, they have all been there for me. Being both an educator and a coach gives me outlets to serve in more than one way. I love volleyball and have had the opportunity to coach younger leagues during high school. I now coach at varsity levels as a college student as well as having camps. I would love the opportunity to continue doing so following graduation. Having these two platforms allows me to reach multiple students and positively impact their lives. Each student comes from a different home life and carries a different story. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs shows how student success comes from physiological needs, such as food, water, and sleep, being met first. Being an educator gives me the opportunity to meet student’s needs as best as possible at school that they may not be receiving at home. I plan to do this alongside teaching quality character traits and curriculum. I am passionate about becoming a teacher because teachers can be the bridge between a child having a dream and achieving it. I want to show students there is no limit to their success regardless of stereotypes. I hope to empower students to become the best versions of themselves.

I began playing Minecraft when I was 8 years old. I absolutely loved the concept of the game in both survival and creative modes. Minecraft is such a captivating game because it is personalized to each player. Minecraft was not a game where I tried to beat my siblings or compete with game characters. It was my own personal space to bring my imagination to life. My favorite aspect of the game was the creative mode. I had my own little world where anything I wanted to be possible was. I started creating farms or small homes. Eventually that led to be creating whole cities. I made theme parks, churches, towns, schools, and hospitals. The limitless possibilities created a space of freedom for me. "Creative mode" was exactly as it is called. It taught me with patience and dedication I would be able to create anything I wanted. I loved that I could constantly explore the new and unexpected. I was challenged to use the different landscapes and create something beautiful. It brought out an adventurous spirit of curiosity for me. When I was younger I wanted to do everything exactly as I was intended to, with no errors and precisely following guidelines. However, with Minecraft instead of striving for perfection I found the significance in imperfections. There was no right or wrong way to play, the game is exactly what you made it to be. As I am older I see that corresponds to life. Mistakes will always be made but instead of letting them be defining you can continue to strive for greatness as you learn from them. Life requires you to be creative and patient in order to achieve your dreams, that starts one block at a time.

I am an upcoming junior majoring in Elementary Education collaborative Special Education. During my observation hours at my spring of 2024 semester placement, I witnessed a playground accident. A child's knee was wedged between two poles at the top of the school playground. It took multiple teachers as well as the school nurse to get the child's knee unwedged. Thankfully, the staff was able to do so before the fire department arrived. This was a scary situation for everyone involved, including the classmates nearby. This incident changed my view of playgrounds from a teacher's perspective. The child whose knee was stuck was in a panicked state and continuously crying while trying to force their knee back out. The teachers were not only tasked with calming and watching classmates but also calming the harmed student. They had to do all of this while quickly creating a plan. Playgrounds are a huge factor in the development of children as they provide opportunities for fine and gross motor skills to be developed through play. A safe playground is a fantastic way for children to specifically develop gross motor skills such as walking up and down stairs, learning to balance, and pushing and/or pulling on objects. They also develop socially through play as they work with peers. With a safe playground students are able to learn these skills openly and build confidence while doing so. The safe environment promotes positive memories associated with growth and development. This growth will directly impact students learning inside the classroom. Children learn to problem solve, embrace creativity, and work with others as they increase brain growth and development through play. Educators should always strive to become more knowledgeable themselves in order to provide their students the greatest opportunity for growth possible. That is why as a future educator it is crucial that I receive extensive training in playground safety and supervision. It is important as a teacher that I am actively watching to pick up on any potentially hazardous situations. I need to be able to recognize when equipment is not meeting standards or maintained and could be harmful to students. A very important factor will be that I make sure my coworkers are also educated on playground safety and supervision. This way we can work together in order to assure safety for our students. I also will establish from the beginning of each school year my expectations for playground behavior. As well as giving reminders throughout the school year for students to play safely while being considerate of others playing. Playgrounds are significant for children to grow mentally and physically. That is why it is also important to me that the playgrounds are not only safe but also inclusive. Playgrounds should be safe for all children with accommodating and accessible equipment. With a playground that meets diverse needs safely, all children have equal opportunities to develop physically and socially. Playgrounds should be a place where children have the chance to truly be children. By becoming more knowledgeable about playground safety I will give my future students an outlet to freely and happily learn.

When I was six years old I found out I have a learning disability. I was told that dyslexia would define me academically and hold back my growth and success. With the exception of one, I had great teachers who showed me having dyslexia does not and did not define me. They did so by showing me my progress throughout the years and not lowering expectations due to my learning disability. Those wonderful teachers all played a part in the academic success I have now. I graduated high school with highest honors, created my own website, and started public speaking. In college I currently hold a 3.77GPA and made the Division III All Academic Conference Team. Without my amazing teachers’ encouragement and helping me break standards I would not be doing what I am today. I want to be a teacher to bring hope to students and show them that they are capable of great things, like my teachers did for me. I had one negative teacher who also plays a role in why I want to become an educator. The bad experience with her showed me how I can do better as a future educator, most importantly by not stereotyping disabilities and seeing each student as a person first. From experience I know and understand the effects teachers have on students in and outside of education. I also know that my calling in life on top of becoming a teacher is to serve others. My “why” for education comes from many reasons. I am an elementary collaborative special education major with hopes of becoming an elementary teacher and high school volleyball coach. I have had multiple teachers from elementary to high school who all had long lasting impacts on my life. For example, Mrs. Couch, one of my high school teachers, found a font for dyslexia that I could download to my computer to write papers for her English class and then once completed, change it to the required font. Mrs. French and Mrs. Johnson are teachers I had earlier in my academic career who still check on me today. I have also had fantastic coaches that have had influences on my life farther than coaching alone. My former coaches Coach D’eath, Coach Millhoff, and Coach Nails have all helped me grow outside of sports. Whether it be spiritually, with a job, or needing advice, they have all been there for me. Being both an educator and a coach gives me the outlet to serve in more than one way. I love volleyball and have had the opportunity to coach younger leagues during high school. I now coach at varsity levels as a college student as well as having camps. I would love the opportunity to continue doing so following graduation. Having these two platforms allows me to reach multiple students and positively impact their lives. Each student comes from a different home life and carries a different story. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs shows how student success comes from physiological needs, such as food, water, and sleep, being met first. Being an educator gives me the opportunity to meet student’s needs as best as possible at school that they may not be receiving at home. I plan to do this along side teaching quality character traits and curriculum. Becoming a teacher means everyday I get to do something that I am passionate about. It is an opportunity to better the lives of children every day. To show up for them and share love, energy, peace, and knowledge.

When I was six years old I found out I have a learning disability. I was told that dyslexia would define me academically and hold back my growth and success. With the exception of one, I had great teachers who showed me having dyslexia does not and did not define me. They did so by showing me my progress throughout the years and not lowering expectations due to my learning disability. Those wonderful teachers all played a part in the academic success I have now. I graduated high school with highest honors, created my own website, and started public speaking. In college I currently hold a 3.77GPA and made the Division III All Academic Conference Team. Without my amazing teachers’ encouragement and helping me break standards I would not be doing what I am today. I want to be a teacher to bring hope to students and show them that they are capable of great things, like my teachers did for me. I had one negative teacher who also plays a role in why I want to become an educator. The bad experience with her showed me how I can do better as a future educator, most importantly by not stereotyping disabilities and seeing each student as a person first. From experience I know and understand the effects teachers have on students in and outside of education. I also know that my calling in life on top of becoming a teacher is to serve others. My “why” for education comes from many reasons. I am an elementary collaborative special education major with hopes of becoming an elementary teacher and high school volleyball coach. I have had multiple teachers from elementary to high school who all had long lasting impacts on my life. For example, Mrs. Couch, one of my high school teachers, found a font for dyslexia that I could download to my computer to write papers for her English class and then once completed, change it to the required font. Mrs. French and Mrs. Johnson are teachers I had earlier in my academic career who still check on me today. I have also had fantastic coaches that have had influences on my life farther than coaching alone. My former coaches Coach D’eath, Coach Millhoff, and Coach Nails have all helped me grow outside of sports. Whether it be spiritually, with a job, or needing advice, they have all been there for me. Being both an educator and a coach gives me the outlet to serve in more than one way. I love volleyball and have had the opportunity to coach younger leagues during high school. I now coach at varsity levels as a college student as well as having camps. I would love the opportunity to continue doing so following graduation. Having these two platforms allows me to reach multiple students and positively impact their lives. Each student comes from a different home life and carries a different story. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs shows how student success comes from physiological needs, such as food, water, and sleep, being met first. Being an educator gives me the opportunity to meet student’s needs as best as possible at school that they may not be receiving at home. I plan to do this along side teaching quality character traits and curriculum.