When I was a senior in high school, I was recommended a book by my school's librarian. I was reading Amy Tan's "The Joy Luck Club" when she approached me and handed me a copy of Lisa See's "Snowflower and the Secret Fan." I read it for three weeks on the bus rides home, during my lunch periods, and in the middle of the night. It instantly became my favorite book as its story of friendship resonated with me at the time. The story provides an intriguing look into 19th century China as it relays the tale of Lily and her laotong Snowflower as they endure the trials and tribulations of footbinding, marriage, and war. Their story takes the span of some 30 years as we see the two girls rise into womanhood and are trusted into the difficulties of marriage, childbearing, and death. But the story resonated with me as it highlighted the beauty of friendship at a time when I was losing my best friend. As a high school senior, my friends and I all began to say goodbye to one another as we were heading off to different schools. My best friend, Laura, was attending a university in Oklahoma while I would travel south of our home state to Florida for university. I began reading the story and was immediately reminded of the need to keep in touch with my best friend, like Lily and Snowflower, Laura and I shared a deep bond that I could not let go of. The story taught me to cherish my close friend, maintain, and understand one another no matter how difficult life becomes. This proved essential for me as I attended university and the only thing keeping me sane was the phone calls to Laura. This story saved my friendship.

History is made every day; however, in recent years history is changed every day. We change history by discovering new truths, new facts which occurred in the past and yet we deny its existence or try to cover it up. When I was a little girl, I loved to learn social studies or history. I loved to discover new truths and new cultures different from my own. I loved to take field trips and explore stories and details about the past and the experiences that those before me lived through. I wanted to learn it all. The good, the bad, and the ugly. The older I became, the more history began to look very, very ugly. Some may even say hideous. Yet, history is history. It happened and it is best not to hide it, ignore it, or run from it. It is important to learn historical events, no matter how difficult the information is to hear. When we learn the truth, we learn the mistakes which brought it about, and we learn not to make those mistakes again. When we know the truth, when we embrace history and all its ugliness, we grow as a community, as a society, as a culture, as species. History allows us to evolve socially, consciously, morally, and ethically. When asked this question, "What is one change that you believe would make education better for future generations? Why?" I immediately thought that the best thing to better education for the future is embracing truths. Currently, we live in a world in which political leaders weaponize and politicize historical events, and in doing so, attempt to ignore that they existed. In doing so, children are being taught a historical inaccuracy of their country's culture and history. Students should all have access to good education, but the foundation of a good education is built on the premise that students should learn the truth about their past. They should be exposed to information and topics that, while upsetting and sensitive, encourage them to grow as people to not make the same mistakes our predecessors have. When we learn the truth, we learn to progress, become more empathetic, more knowledgeable, and above all more conscious of the world we live in. Therefore, in answer to the question prompted, I believe that education can be bettered for students of the future by ensuring that students receive equal access to an education that explores the truth of history and their culture, as opposed to keeping them shielded from it.

This boulder is heavy. I push it up and up this hill every day. There are moments where I feel it get lighter and lighter, and I see the top-of-the-hill insight. But, as expected, come nightfall, the boulder slips from my palms, and down the hill, it tumbles. I can do nothing but follow in its path to do the same act again. I'm a modern-day Sisyphus, this boulder is the culmination of all of my anxieties, stresses, and social enigmas I can't seem to conquer. Every day is a struggle, constant stresses of work, academics, societal expectations, the expectations of my parents, the realization of my lack of social life, self-image issues, the feeling of hopelessness, constant anxieties about death, social anxieties, and all of my other fears prohibit my day to day function. I'm not pretty, I have no friends, I'm not smart, I'm too fat, my family rejects, I can't interact with people. So many things that guide me in my day-to-day activities. Taking the long way to work through back alleys and abandoned neighborhoods to avoid expressways for fear of being honked at by angry drivers. These feelings dictate my life, this boulder is too heavy. And every day, it's the same struggle getting no better or any worse, the boulder constantly falling down the hill again and again. But, I want to change this. The best way to start is to admit its existence and recognize I'm not alone. I recently sat down with my mother and we had a great heart-to-heart conversation in which she expressed some of the same anxieties and fears that I have. She stresses over bills, I over student loans. She believes she's fat, I think the same of myself. This was all so shocking to me. My mother is among the most confident, beautiful, and outspoken women I know. In my childhood and my adulthood, I see her as a goddess unable to feel such downtrodden emotions. But like me, she does. But, she and I have different methods of approach. Her method, as she explained, was to not let it control her life, to acknowledge its presence, and to simply ignore it. That won't work. These fears, anxieties, stresses, and self-esteem issues cannot simply be ignored for me. They exist in very fabrics that make up my day-to-day living. If I see myself as fat, I limit what clothing I buy, I limit my food intake and that can lead to even worse issues like eating disorders that can weigh on my physical health even more. I want to change this. I have begun change. I recently, as of March 20th, began to see a counselor for my mental health. Together, we've met and discussed the course of action to begin to change how my mental health affects me and my outlook on the world. While I am new to this, I look forward to seeing what changes can come about through this experience. Everyone struggles with mental health, each individual person dealing with issues stemming from different and similar experiences. I am not alone in my day-to-day struggles, I am not the only one pushing this boulder. But through these counseling sessions, I am beginning, my boulder will begin to weigh less.

At some point, every child is asked “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The answers varied and ranged from “scientist,” “firefighter,” or more ridiculously “princess” or “cowboy.” But when I was a child my answer was “a teacher.” At the time, there were three things I was sure of: I liked school, I liked social studies, and I liked to read. I imagined a classroom decorated with cheesy posters with supportive messages and pencil holders loaded with different colored pens and markers, and I fondly saw myself standing in front of a classroom being knowledgeable about a topic and teaching it to inquisitive students who were like my younger self: idealistic, curious, and excited to learn. As I grew older, the dream slowly faded until I went to Jacksonville University and majored in History. There, alongside all the historical information and professional skills I learned, I grew to once again want to become a teacher. During my undergraduate studies of History at Jacksonville University, I was able to take a wide array of courses, engaged in different research and presentation opportunities, and have created important connections with History professors. All of which have prepared me to begin and complete a master’s program with Georgia State. These experiences have helped me to discover that I am more than capable of completing an M.A. program but also awakened a childhood dream of wanting to teach. With an M.A. in History, I will expand my knowledge of the necessary skills of research, analysis, oral delivery, and writing needed to begin a career in higher education. Teaching History in higher education not only allows me to have a career in a subject I am passionate about and enjoy, but also allows me to provide a crucial service to students in an era where history is attempting to be rewritten, hidden, or suppressed. In becoming a teacher, I not only will act as a catalyst for students to learn, understand, and appreciate their historical and cultural backgrounds, I will also act as a mentor and an encouraging figure in their lives. During my time at Jacksonville University, I was able to create relationships with my professors in which they helped to cultivate my knowledge, support my academic and personal pursuits, and provide helpful and necessary tips to get into the field. That bond, this connection, further encouraged me to continue my academic studies and apply for this M.A. in History program. In pursuing a career in education, I want to provide this same experience for students. I want to become a motivational cheerleader for their academic and personal pursuits, to help strive students to become the best they can be and to inspire them to achieve their goals. Becoming an educator was a childhood dream I thought I lost; however, after finishing my undergraduate studies, I’ve come to realize that I now want to seriously pursue the field through teaching history in higher education. My experience at Jacksonville University has helped me realize the fundamental need History teachers provide to our society, acting as conduits to the past and encouraging students to be the best they can be. With an M.A. in History from Georgia State University, I get the opportunity to better my skills needed to be an efficient educator, a knowledgeable historian, and an effective mentor for students. I look forward to beginning this M.A. program with GSU and the future this degree will provide.

At some point, every child is asked “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The answers varied and ranged from “scientist,” “firefighter,” or more ridiculously “princess” or “cowboy.” But when I was a child my answer was “a teacher.” At the time, there were three things I was sure of: I liked school, I liked social studies, and I liked to read. I imagined a classroom decorated with cheesy posters with supportive messages and pencil holders loaded with different colored pens and markers, and I fondly saw myself standing in front of a classroom being knowledgeable about a topic and teaching it to inquisitive students who were like my younger self: idealistic, curious, and excited to learn. As I grew older, the dream slowly faded until I went to Jacksonville University and majored in History. There, alongside all the historical information and professional skills I learned, I grew to once again want to become a teacher. With an M.A. in History, I will expand my knowledge of the necessary skills of research, analysis, oral delivery, and writing needed to begin a career in higher education. Teaching History in higher education not only allows me to have a career in a subject I am passionate about and enjoy, but also allows me to provide a crucial service to students in an era where history is attempting to be rewritten, hidden, or suppressed. In becoming a teacher, I not only will act as a catalyst for students to learn, understand, and appreciate their historical and cultural backgrounds, I will also act as a mentor and an encouraging figure in their lives. During my time at Jacksonville University, I was able to create relationships with my professors in which they helped to cultivate my knowledge, support my academic and personal pursuits, and provide helpful and necessary tips to get into the field. That bond, this connection, further encouraged me to continue my academic studies and apply for this M.A. in History program. In pursuing a career in education, I want to provide this same experience for students. I want to become a motivational cheerleader for their academic and personal pursuits, to help strive students to become the best they can be and to inspire them to achieve their goals. Becoming an educator was a childhood dream I thought I lost; however, after finishing my undergraduate studies, I’ve come to realize that I now want to seriously pursue the field through teaching history in higher education. My experience at Jacksonville University has helped me realize the fundamental need History teachers provide to our society, acting as conduits to the past and encouraging students to be the best they can be. With an M.A. in History from Georgia State University, I get the opportunity to better my skills needed to be an efficient educator, a knowledgeable historian, and an effective mentor for students. Upon completing my M.A program, I plan to find a career that utilizes my degree and involves research or teaching of the subject. This career path will allow me to pay off my student loan debt while also working at a job that I enjoy. Oftentimes you hear fo stories of people being stuck in jobs they hate only to pay off student loan debt. This scholarship will allow me to attend this university in order to pursue a career that will help to eliminate my student loan debt while also working in a field I love and am passionate about. I am excited to begin this new journey and await the future this degree will hold for me.

Everyone is afraid of something. Whether it be clowns, spiders, imaginary monsters hiding under your bed, we are all afraid of something. I remember my own fear as a child in school: public speaking. The thought of standing up, all eyes on me, my peers and teachers staring at me waiting for me to mess up would send me into a frenzy of sweats, shaking palms, heavy breathing. It was awful. I was happy to have - to some degree - have grown out of this fear. But then, some many years later, my heart shattered when my niece told me her biggest fear as well: public speaking. She was nine, and her grandmother had signed her up to sing at their local church. A solo. All alone on a stage, with everyone staring at her performing a talent she knew she wants good at. I remember her calling me on the phone two days prior explaining it all and I remember the tremble she had in her voice as she spoke. She was scared, I was the same at her age. She ended our phone call by saying "I wish you could be there. Love you too." I remember the conundrum I was in. I want to go for her. But they live 4 hours away. She wants me there for her. But she has her grandmother, she'll be fine. I want to go for her. I arrived at their house the morning of the performance. $70 less in my bank account. I helped her get ready, fixing her hair in a pretty bun, helping to make sure her dress was ironed, listening to her rehearse the song over and over. Though it was not solving world hunger or curing cancer, I know that my action meant a lot to this little nine-year-old girl. I know because she told me such. It cost me so much in gas, in packing, and traveling, but the reward was getting to see my niece succeed in something she was nervous about. I remember being the same way, nervous for class presentations, sweating and panicking having to stand in front of a crowd and give a speech. I wish someone was there for me that way, I wish I had been able to have someone help me prepare and calm my nerves. I was happy to have done this for my niece. Her performance was great, she didn't stutter. She sang as best as she could and she received a standing ovation. The entire crowd at the church stood and applauded her performance. It was a moment that happens once in a lifetime, and when she stepped off of the podium, he ran to me and gave me a hug. Her fear of public speaking had lessened. It's easy to be selfish. It's easy to ignore a problem that has minimal effect on you. But on that day, I wanted to help my niece conquer a fear that plagued me all of my life. The benefit outweighed the cost. Today, a year later, my niece is always volunteering to speak out in public events. We went to a book convention and she happily volunteered herself to be the center of attention, and she no longer trembled or seemed nervous. This experience taught me the importance of a mentor for children to help develop their social, mental, and emotional health. This experience helped me to see how I could have an impact on students or children and ultimately aim to help better them. This experience further pushed me to want tobecome an educator.

At some point, every child is asked “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The answers varied and ranged from “scientist,” “firefighter,” or more ridiculously “princess” or “cowboy.” But when I was a child my answer was “a teacher.” At the time, there were three things I was sure of: I liked school, I liked social studies, and I liked to read. I imagined a classroom decorated with cheesy posters with supportive messages and pencil holders loaded with different colored pens and markers, and I fondly saw myself standing in front of a classroom being knowledgeable about a topic and teaching it to inquisitive students who were like my younger self: idealistic, curious, and excited to learn. As I grew older, the dream slowly faded until I went to Jacksonville University and majored in History. There, alongside all the historical information and professional skills I learned, I grew to once again want to become a teacher. During my undergraduate studies of History at Jacksonville University, I was able to take a wide array of courses, engaged in different research and presentation opportunities, and have created important connections with History professors. All of which have prepared me to begin and complete a master’s program with Georgia State. These experiences have helped me to discover that I am more than capable of completing an M.A. program but also awakened a childhood dream of wanting to teach. With an M.A. in History, I will expand my knowledge of the necessary skills of research, analysis, oral delivery, and writing needed to begin a career in higher education. Teaching History in higher education not only allows me to have a career in a subject I am passionate about and enjoy, but also allows me to provide a crucial service to students in an era where history is attempting to be rewritten, hidden, or suppressed. In becoming a teacher, I not only will act as a catalyst for students to learn, understand, and appreciate their historical and cultural backgrounds, I will also act as a mentor and an encouraging figure in their lives. During my time at Jacksonville University, I was able to create relationships with my professors in which they helped to cultivate my knowledge, support my academic and personal pursuits, and provide helpful and necessary tips to get into the field. That bond, this connection, further encouraged me to continue my academic studies and apply for this M.A. in History program. In pursuing a career in education, I want to provide this same experience for students. I want to become a motivational cheerleader for their academic and personal pursuits, to help strive students to become the best they can be and to inspire them to achieve their goals. Becoming an educator was a childhood dream I thought I lost; however, after finishing my undergraduate studies, I’ve come to realize that I now want to seriously pursue the field through teaching history in higher education. My experience at Jacksonville University has helped me realize the fundamental need History teachers provide to our society, acting as conduits to the past and encouraging students to be the best they can be. With an M.A. in History from Georgia State University, I get the opportunity to better my skills needed to be an efficient educator, a knowledgeable historian, and an effective mentor for students. I look forward to beginning this M.A. program with GSU and the future this degree will provide.