My plans for the future are deeply rooted in advocacy, education, and empowerment, particularly for families with unique abilities and special healthcare needs. As the founder of the Uniqly Made Foundation, I have dedicated myself to maximizing the quality of life for these families through community outreach, education, and support. My goal is to expand the foundation’s impact, helping more families navigate the complexities of caring for loved ones with medical needs while providing them with the tools they need to thrive. Additionally, I aim to become a special education teacher, combining my passion for advocacy with direct, impactful work in the classroom. However, my journey to this point has been anything but easy. Life has thrown countless challenges my way, from becoming a UniqMom to a warrior with medical complexities to facing the devastating loss of my mother. Raising a child with unique needs has not only shaped my perspective but also fueled my commitment to making a difference for families like mine. The loss of my mother, coupled with the day-to-day struggles of life, made it difficult to stay on track. But through it all, I remained determined to pursue my dreams. Life kept "lifing," as they say, but I refused to give up. Now, I am nearing the finish line of a major goal—completing my bachelor’s degree. This achievement is not only a personal milestone but also an essential step in my broader mission to serve as a stronger advocate for the special needs community. My degree will equip me with the knowledge and skills necessary to take my work with Uniqly Made Foundation to the next level, while also fulfilling my dream of becoming a special education teacher. Additionally, this degree will fulfill my long-held dream of becoming a special education teacher, a role in which I can make a direct, meaningful impact in the lives of children with unique abilities. Through this profession, I will be able to guide students who, like my own child, face daily challenges and require tailored support to thrive. As a teacher, I will not only help these children achieve academic success but also foster a sense of self-confidence and belonging, ensuring they feel empowered to embrace their potential. This scholarship will be instrumental in helping me reach this goal. It will provide the financial support I need to focus on completing my degree without the added burden of financial stress. More importantly, it will allow me to continue turning my personal challenges into opportunities for growth and impact. With your support, I can cross the finish line, not just for myself but for the countless families and children who need an advocate, a voice, and a source of empowerment.

My passion for becoming a special education teacher stems from a deeply rooted desire to advocate for children with unique abilities and ensure they have the opportunity to thrive, both academically and personally. As the founder of the Uniqly Made Foundation, I have spent years working to maximize the quality of life for families with special healthcare needs. Through this work, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges these children and their families face and the transformative power of education and support. My experience with the foundation has solidified my belief that every child, regardless of their abilities, deserves an education tailored to their strengths, needs, and potential. Becoming a special education teacher aligns perfectly with this mission and allows me to take my advocacy one step further, by being in the classroom, directly guiding and supporting the children who need it most. Professor Harold Bloom’s quote, "The purpose of teaching is to bring the student to his or her sense of his or her own presence," deeply resonates with my educational philosophy. To me, Bloom is saying that true education is not merely about imparting knowledge or academic skills but about helping students understand and embrace their unique identity, worth, and capabilities. In the context of special education, this concept is even more profound. Many students with special needs are often seen in terms of their limitations, but my mission as an educator is to guide them toward recognizing their own strengths and sense of purpose. To accomplish this, my approach would involve creating a learning environment that fosters self-awareness, confidence, and individual growth. I will focus on helping my students recognize their abilities, no matter how different they may be from their peers, and use those abilities as a foundation for learning and development. By using personalized teaching strategies, incorporating social-emotional learning, and celebrating their successes—big or small—I aim to guide my students to a place where they feel valued, understood, and empowered. I want them to feel a sense of presence not just in the classroom but in their lives, as confident individuals who can navigate the world with self-assurance. A Brief Fairy Tale: "The Heroine of Uniqly Made" Once upon a time, in a village nestled between towering mountains, there was a young woman named Jamara, the founder of Uniqly Made Foundation. This village was special, for it was home to children with unique abilities. Some could solve puzzles that adults couldn't comprehend, while others saw the world in vivid colors and sounds no one else could. However, the villagers often misunderstood these children, seeing them only for their differences and not the magic they possessed. Jamara, who had spent her life learning the secrets of the heart and mind, believed that each child was a gift, a treasure waiting to be discovered. She knew that if the children could see their own brilliance, they would unlock their true potential and be able to share their gifts with the world. Determined to help, Jamara set out on a quest to find the "Mirror of Presence." This magical mirror, hidden deep in the Enchanted Forest, had the power to show each child their own true self, the person they were destined to become. The journey was long and treacherous, filled with towering obstacles and shadowy doubts. But Jamara, guided by her belief in the children, pressed on. Along the way, she met the guardians of the forest. She explained, "I am not just the founder of Uniqly Made Foundation. I want to become a guide, a teacher who can show these children the beauty of their own abilities. I want them to see themselves as I see them—brilliant, capable, and full of potential." Impressed by her devotion, the guardians gifted her the Mirror of Presence. Jamara returned to the village, where she used the mirror to reflect each child’s strengths, talents, and dreams. One by one, the children looked into the mirror and saw themselves not as the world labeled them, but as they truly were, unique individuals with endless possibilities. They stood taller, smiled wider, and walked through the village with newfound confidence. From that day forward, Jamara didn’t need the mirror anymore. She had become the true mirror, guiding the children to their own sense of presence, helping them believe in their own magic. She had accomplished her goal: to empower children not just to learn, but to live fully as themselves, knowing they had a place and a purpose in the world. And so, the village flourished with the bright light of children who knew their own worth, and Ava continued her work, now as a special education teacher, helping every child she met discover the magic within. Conclusion: Just like Jamara in the fairy tale, my goal as a special education teacher is to reflect my students strengths back to them so they can see their own value. My journey as the founder of the Uniqly Made Foundation has given me the insight, empathy, and determination to stand in the gap for children with special needs. Becoming a teacher will allow me to take that commitment even further, guiding my students to a place of self-awareness and confidence, helping them realize that they are truly “Uniqly Made” with their own gifts to share with the world.

Growing up in Miami, Florida in a community called Overtown, under the care of a single mother, my childhood was marked by resilience, perseverance, and a constant awareness of the challenges surrounding us. Overtown, with its rich history yet systemic struggles, shaped my worldview in profound ways. Amidst this backdrop, I often wonder what my path would have looked like had the adults around my mother regularly asked me, “What do you dream of becoming, and how can I help you get there?” Reflecting on my upbringing, I realize that this is the question I wish had been asked more often. In many ways, it symbolizes a deeper recognition of a child's potential, creativity, and ambition. Growing up in an environment where survival was often the priority, conversations about long-term dreams and aspirations were not always at the forefront. My mother, working tirelessly to provide for us, was focused on ensuring we had food on the table and a roof over our heads. This was essential, but it meant that questions about my passions, talents, and aspirations were sometimes sidelined. The absence of this question has had a profound impact on my goals and aspirations today. First, it instilled in me a sense of independence and self-reliance. I quickly learned that if I wanted something, I would have to work for it, often without the guidance or support others might have received. This fostered a deep sense of determination and grit. I became accustomed to setting my own goals, figuring out the steps to achieve them, and pushing through obstacles along the way. However, while this independence has been a source of strength, it has also come with its challenges. Without the consistent encouragement to dream big or to see beyond the immediate hurdles of life, I sometimes struggled to envision a future beyond what I saw around me. Yet, this absence also planted a seed of ambition within me. I became driven by the desire to rise above my circumstances and break the cycle of limitations that often surrounds communities like Overtown. I wanted to prove that where you come from does not have to dictate where you are going. This drive has been a powerful motivator in my journey, pushing me to not only pursue personal success but to think about how I can give back to others who might have grown up in similar situations. I want to be the person who asks young people the very question I wish I had heard more often: “What do you dream of becoming, and how can I help you get there?” I aspire to be successful not just for myself, but as a means of proving that anyone, regardless of where they come from, can achieve greatness if they are given the right tools, encouragement, and opportunities. I also want to ensure that others in my community, especially young people growing up in challenging environments, have the support and guidance they need to dream big. In conclusion, growing up in Overtown with a single mother shaped my perspective on life, ambition, and success. While I was not always asked about my dreams, the absence of that question made me more determined to forge my own path and inspire others to do the same. It taught me the value of resilience, self-reliance, and community support. Most importantly, it has fueled my desire to ensure that my children are not only asked about their dreams but also given the resources and encouragement to achieve them.