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Jessica Blankenship

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Bio

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 program
2025 - 2026
  • Majors:
    • Curriculum and Instruction

East Carolina University

Bachelor's degree program
2020 - 2023
  • Majors:
    • Psychology, General
  • Minors:
    • Sociology

Pitt Community College

Associate's degree program
2014 - 2020
  • Majors:
    • 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
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Education

    • Dream career goals:

      Academic Advisor

    • Membership Engagement Specialist

      YMCA
      2024 – Present1 year
    • Vice President

      ECU Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology
      2021 – 20221 year
    • Instructional Assistant

      Pitt Community College
      2019 – 20201 year
    • Event Planning & Fundraising Assistant

      Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
      2018 – 20213 years

    Sports

    Skateboarding

    2020 – Present5 years

    Basketball

    2006 – 20071 year

    Research

    • Psychology, Other

      East Carolina University — Researcher
      2023 – 2023

    Arts

    • Pitt Community College Choir

      Music
      2017 – 2018

    Public services

    • Advocacy

      Jessica's Journey — Event Organizer & Public Speaker
      2015 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation — Event Planner
      2018 – 2022
    • Advocacy

      Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation — Public Speaker
      2017 – Present
    • Advocacy

      Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology — Vice President
      2022 – 2023
    • Volunteering

      American Foundation for Suicide Prevention — Supporter
      2018 – 2023
    • Volunteering

      St. Baldrick's Foundation — Event volunteer
      2015 – 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.
    Jessica Blankenship Student Profile | Bold.org