There are certain people who come into your life at exactly the right time, and for me, that person is Mrs. Grotton. What makes her impact even more meaningful is that she wasn’t originally my teacher, she was my younger sister’s kindergarten teacher. But over the past nine months, she has become one of the most important educators in my life. She is my tutor! For as long as I can remember, school made me feel like I wasn’t smart. I struggled with reading and writing, but I didn’t know why. I remember being in elementary school and being asked to read out loud. My heart would start pounding, my face would get hot, and I would stumble over even the simplest words. In sixth grade, I mispronounced “photosynthesis” multiple times while my classmates laughed. Moments like that stuck with me. By seventh grade, when asked to describe myself in two words, I chose “athletic” and “idiot.” That’s how I saw myself. It wasn’t until the end of my junior year of high school that I was diagnosed with dyslexia. While it was a relief to finally have an answer, I still had years of self-doubt and frustration built up. That’s when I met Mrs. Grotton. She teaches kindergarten, and took me on the summer heading into my senior year. she saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself. From the very beginning, she treated me with patience, respect, and belief. She didn’t make me feel behind or incapable. she made me feel understood. She took the time to teach me how to decode words, break things down, and use strategies that actually worked for my brain. For the first time, I wasn’t just trying to survive school, I was starting to learn. More importantly, Mrs. Grotton changed how I see myself. She celebrates my progress, no matter how small, and constantly reminds me that I am capable. In her sessions, I don’t feel judged or embarrassed. I feel seen, heard, and smart. That feeling is something I never had before in a classroom. The last nine months have been life-changing. I’ve gained confidence not just in my academics, but in who I am as a person. I’m starting to believe in myself in ways I never did before. Mrs. Grotton didn’t just help me improve my reading, she’s helping me rewrite the way I think about myself. That’s life changing. All of it. I will carry what she has given me into my future, both in college and beyond.

Being the first person in my family to attend a four-year college is something I am very proud of. It is also a big responsibility that means a lot to me. My journey in school has not always been easy. To be honest, it was awful at times.  I have struggled with reading and writing for as long as I can remember. There were many times when I doubted myself.  I wondered why learning came so easily to my friends, and not me.  At the END of my junior year in high school I was finally identified with mixed dyslexia.  This shed some light on why reading and writing is so hard… it was like a sigh of relief.  The challenges I have faced during my academic journey have only helped me become stronger. I recall in 4th grade, I was asked to read out loud, I could feel my heart pounding, it felt like the whole room was closing in on me and everyone was staring.  I stumbled over words, even small ones, I slumped in my seat and felt incapable. In 6th grade, I mispronounced “photosynthesis” four times while classmates laughed.  We were in the middle of covid and in and out of hybrid learning.     By 7th grade, my insecurity was through the roof.  That year my English teacher asked us to describe ourselves using two adjectives. I chose “athletic” and “idiot.” Looking back, that moment shows how negatively I saw myself because of my learning struggles. It’s still painful to talk about.  Today, my goal is to make sure no student ever feels that way about themselves. Sports played an important role in building my confidence. Playing soccer taught me teamwork, discipline, and how to stay calm under pressure. On the field, I am confident. I am slowly begining to bring that same mindset into the classroom. Since last summer I have been working hard with my tutor.  I am learning decoding and strategies to manage my dyslexia. I also started working with the AT specialist at my school.  For the first time EVER in my educational journey I feel seem.  Thanks to Mrs. Grotton and Mr. Bochman. They have shown me that success isn’t measured in perfection or a  GPA, but from perseverance, showing up, and betting on yourself.  I want to study criminal justice, because this will allow me to make a positive impact. After college, I hope to be a mentor for kids with learning differences, so they never feel alone or like an “idiot.”  My tutor, Mrs. Grotton has a nonprofit and I hope to volunteer for Achievement Unlimited2 and make a positive impression on at least one kid. My experiences have taught me that challenges do not define who you are. What matters most is how you respond and keep moving forward. College will help me move forward by opening doors that were not always available to me. Receiving a scholarship would make this goal possible by easing the financial stress on my mom and allowing me to focus on my education. With this support, I can continue working toward a future where I help kids believe in themselves