Hello, my name is Jazmine. I am currently a first-year at Lawrence university! I wanted to start off by thanking you for considering me for the scholarship. My goal is to become a bilingual or ESL teacher. I am committed to making a meaningful impact on youth from diverse backgrounds by bridging language barriers and helping them succeed academically and socially. I intend to attain a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and linguistics, followed by completion of a teacher certification program and eventually a master’s degree. By studying linguistics, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of language structures to most effectively teach others. This knowledge is essential in creating effective strategies for teaching bilingual and non-english speaking students, allowing me to provide the necessary and proper resources to help them succeed. I hope to gain the necessary skills to manage diverse classrooms and foster an environment where all students feel supported and encouraged to keep learning. My ultimate goal is to empower bilingual students to embrace their language abilities, use them as tools for academic success, and inspire youth to enhance their language skills and prepare them for a bright future. The Bright Lights Scholarship will not only allow me to continue to pursue my academic goals, but also empower me to continue striving for excellence, and making a positive impact in the world - because I believe that a little can go a long way. Due to financial barriers, my parents were unable to pursue higher education themselves. Nevertheless, they have always encouraged my siblings and me to value education and aim high academically. Through our pursuit of higher education, they are able to live the dreams they once had for themselves. However, supporting both my sister’s and my education while also balancing other household necessities, rent, bills, etc, has placed a considerable financial strain on my family. The Bright Lights Scholarship would provide meaningful relief from these challenges and allow me to fully invest myself in my education. With reduced financial strain, I could devote more time and energy to my coursework, hands-on teaching experiences, and involvement in activities that prepare me for a career in education. My ultimate goal is to be able to focus on my education, and overall college experience - without being constantly weighed down with the worry of managing finances. I believe that this scholarship will help me achieve this goal, and provide me with the financial support I need to be able to fully take advantage of all that college has to offer without the concern of making ends meet. Ultimately, the Bright Lights Scholarship represents more than financial assistance - it represents opportunity. With your support, I can continue working toward my goal of becoming an educator who uplifts students, bridges gaps in education, and inspires youth to believe in their potential. I firmly believe that even a small act of support can lead to lasting change, and I am committed to paying that support forward through my future career. Thank you once again for the opportunity!

Blank faces turned to me for help. As I rushed across the pool, I caught a glimpse of the desperate eyes of my Ukrainian student. When I got there, my co-workers explained that they were unable to understand what he needed. I looked over and saw him shivering, looking up at me. I began trying to figure out what he needed. I began signaling many basic things such as “bathroom,” “water,” etc. I recognized the familiarity of this moment - I remember my struggle with language, and feeling like no one could understand me. After a minute or so, I figured out that he was hungry and was able to help him. Since that day, he now only comes up to me when he needs something. He knows that I will always figure out what he needs - no matter what. He knows I will never give up - and seeing that type of trust fulfills me in many ways and reminds me why I want to become a teacher. Such realizations began when I immersed myself in an education internship working with fifth graders last summer. My positive experience during those 10 weeks drove me to get a year-round job as an aftercare facilitator. In school, I encountered apathetic students and teachers who showed little interest in making students like me feel comfortable in the classroom. From grades K-3, I took bilingual classes, and was used to primarily speaking Spanish, but began taking full-English classes when I moved. I went from being a very outgoing student, who participated all the time and was very social in the classroom, to someone afraid of voicing their opinions or answering a simple math question. A sense of academic inability lingered since then, and I’ve experienced adversity whilst speaking, writing, and reading in both languages. Turning my biggest challenge into my biggest strength was a crucial turning point in my journey. I realized the importance of being bilingual through my internship - as it allows me to bridge cultural differences within my classroom, and become a role model for my students as a Spanish speaker, and a person of color, whom they can relate to. As an aspiring teacher, I hope to help many understand that language barriers should not be a barrier to caring for others, and most importantly - remind them that simple moments can, unknowingly, create a long-lasting impact on someone. I dream of creating a safe learning environment in which students feel comfortable bringing all that makes them who they are, where they don’t have to conceal parts of their identity when they enter the classroom.