
Raleigh, NC
Gender
Female
Ethnicity
Caucasian
Hobbies and interests
Volunteering
Skateboarding
Self Care
Public Speaking
Psychology
Meditation and Mindfulness
Mental Health
Concerts
Community Service And Volunteering
Reading
Academic
Young Adult
Social Science
Self-Help
Reference
Psychology
Education
I read books daily
Credit score
LOW INCOME STUDENT
Yes
FIRST GENERATION STUDENT
Yes
Jessica Blankenship
5,775
Bold Points
Jessica Blankenship
5,775
Bold PointsBio
I am a graduate student pursuing a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Adult Education through Louisiana State University- Shreveport online.
During my time as an undergrad at East Carolina University, I served as Vice President of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology & our Psychology club. Also, while obtaining my undergraduate degree, I learned that my passion is education and that I would love to teach as a college instructor to help students develop tangible skills they can use throughout school, in the workplace, and in life.
Outside of academics, I have volunteered on an event committee as an Event Planning & Fundraising Assistant for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. As a pediatric brain tumor survivor myself, I understand the struggles that both the child & the family go through. Less than 4% of the government's cancer research budget goes towards pediatrics (even less for brain tumor research). Over the past 4 years, I have personally raised over $5,000 towards brain tumor research, and plan to continue raising funds for as long as I can.
Education
Louisiana State University-Shreveport
Master's degree programMajors:
- Curriculum and Instruction
East Carolina University
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Psychology, General
Minors:
- Sociology
Pitt Community College
Associate's degree programMajors:
- Education, General
Miscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- Educational Administration and Supervision
- Curriculum and Instruction
Career
Dream career field:
Education
Dream career goals:
Academic Advisor
Membership Engagement Specialist
YMCA2024 – Present1 yearVice President
ECU Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology2021 – 20221 yearInstructional Assistant
Pitt Community College2019 – 20201 yearEvent Planning & Fundraising Assistant
Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation2018 – 20213 years
Sports
Skateboarding
2020 – Present5 years
Basketball
2006 – 20071 year
Research
Psychology, Other
East Carolina University — Researcher2023 – 2023
Arts
Pitt Community College Choir
Music2017 – 2018
Public services
Advocacy
Jessica's Journey — Event Organizer & Public Speaker2015 – PresentVolunteering
Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation — Event Planner2018 – 2022Advocacy
Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation — Public Speaker2017 – PresentAdvocacy
Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology — Vice President2022 – 2023Volunteering
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention — Supporter2018 – 2023Volunteering
St. Baldrick's Foundation — Event volunteer2015 – 2017
Future Interests
Advocacy
Volunteering
Philanthropy
Therese Ingelaere Murray Memorial Scholarship
My passion for teaching did not come around until I started my Associate's Degree at Pitt Community College. Starting college, I was a Recreational Therapy major, and much of what I learned I was challenged to represent and teach my classmates through creating adaptive activities. That was my first time realizing how much I enjoyed teaching others how to navigate through their mental health. While obtaining my Associate degree, I took a few psychology classes and fell in love with the subject.
Psychology has had a strong impact on my life since I was born. I was diagnosed with a rare ganglioglioma brain tumor when I was only a month old. As a child, I did not understand the depth of what I survived until I became an adult. When I transferred to East Carolina University for my Bachelor's degree in 2020, I majored in Psychology to dig deeper into the subject. Throughout my undergraduate degree, I became a voice for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. I have spoken to thousands of people, educating them on how challenging a brain tumor diagnosis is, my experience, and why it is important to raise funds for a cure. To this date, I have raised thousands of dollars to help find a cure as brain tumors are one of the deadliest forms of childhood cancer.
During my final year at East Carolina in 2023, I realized I did not want to leave college. My professors made a lasting impact on my life, and I discovered that I wanted to make the same impact on other students. I took a gap year in 2024, applied to many graduate schools, and was excitedly accepted to every program I applied to. As of January 2025, I am now attending Louisiana State University- Shreveport online to obtain my Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Adult Education. I am also actively seeking career opportunities and internships in the Raleigh area through Wake Technical Community College, and NC State University.
For me, the primary reason I want to become an educator is because teaching creates lasting impacts on the lives of others. So much of what we can teach students matters in ways that go beyond our daily interactions. What I want to achieve for myself is to have the ability to teach College Student Success which is a course designed for incoming freshmen to learn about personal development, as well as the college's academic resources, and physical and social environment.
Throughout this course, I will have the opportunity to teach students study skills, goal-setting, time management, diversity, communication skills, and how to access resources for them to be successful. My goal for my students is that they learn tangible skills that will enable them to be successful wherever they choose to go in life. Plus, I can integrate what I have learned through my undergraduate degree in Psychology and use it in ways to help students navigate their mental health. College is a big shift in a young adult's life, and it can be overwhelming. However, "It is not what is poured into the student but what is planted that counts." -E.P. Bertin
Thank you for the opportunity to apply to the Therese Ingelaere Memorial Scholarship.