It took me a long time to decide that I wanted to be a teacher. My mother is a teacher and encouraged me to take a class that would allow me to visit the elementary school that feeds into my high school. I spent a semester working with a classroom of students with intellectual disabilities. I worked with the teacher doing tasks such as reading to students, helping the students learn to self-regulate, and teaching them how to make simple snacks. I also attended field trips that took place at the grocery store, a swimming pool, and a gymnastics gym. As Vice President during my sophomore and junior years of high school, and currently President of the Unified Champions Club, I have also worked with my peers who have intellectual disabilities while fostering inclusion at my school. I have attended the Special Olympics as a buddy for all of my high school years. I have also been a part of a Unified Pair and became best friends with someone with intellectual disabilities. Together, we traveled to the Special Olympics USA games as a part of the Youth Leadership Experience. All of these experiences helped me to realize that studying to be a special education teacher is how I envision my future. I realize that there is a high need for special education teachers, and I think that it takes a person with patience and love for people with intellectual disabilities to be a good special education teacher. I meet these qualifications, and I have the experience to ensure that this is the path that I want to take which is the reason why I am choosing to further my education. The teacher who changed my life was Mrs. Savannah Sperlazza. She was the teacher who recommended that another student and I apply to be a part of the Youth Leadership Experience with the Special Olympics Team North Carolina. Because of Mrs. Sperlazza, my partner and I were chosen to represent North Carolina at the Special Olympic USA Games. As a part of this experience, I met Special Olympic athletes from all over the world and I got to go to Animal Kingdom in Disney World after hours with the athletes. Without Mrs. Sperlazza's support, I would not have known how much I love working with people of different abilities. Because of Mrs. Sperlazza and my other experiences with the special needs population, I will be a special education teacher after I graduate college.