I once heard a statement that goes, “Change is good, but a transformation is better.” There is a vast difference between the two. While a change is just a minute shift, a transformation is a complete turnaround. However, how do we undergo this transformation? Scripture tells us to “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” College will be the place that I renew my mind by allowing me to think differently; it will change my mindset, and it will help me transform my life into the purpose God created for me. Renewing the mind is so important, but it is a habit to be developed. I have learned over the years to keep my mind fresh with new and challenging ideas. I took AP (Advanced Placement) courses because I wanted to challenge my thinking and escape the monotonous learning in regular classes. I got tired and burned out. One of the characteristics I discovered about myself was my love for learning new things and broadening my intelligence. That is why going to college is so important to me. I desire to be challenged by individuals who come from different beliefs and backgrounds. I thrive on conversations that make me think. I want to be in a place that teaches me new things every day and enlarges my view of the world, allowing my mind to transform from childlike to adultlike. Not only will college transform my mind, but my life. By nature, I am playful and have an outgoing spirit. With these qualities, I have found that I love working with children. College will serve as a launchpad for my desired career in teaching. In my pursuit of a degree in EC-6 Education w/ ESL, I will learn skills that will help me manage the classroom, teach effectively, and ensure the success of my students. These skills will benefit my life as a teacher so I can positively affect lives. College will also prepare me for a career in advocacy. I plan to use my passion for speaking to advocate for quality education in low-income communities and fine arts classes in every curriculum while working for the United States Department of Education. In college, I will learn to grow confident in using my voice to speak out for what I believe in and make a difference in the communities I represent. I do not want college to change me, but rather to transform me. College is important to me because I will have the opportunity to improve my mind and step into the purpose of my life. Like a butterfly, we go through phases in our life. High school was the caterpillar phase. I gained knowledge that helped me grow. Now, it is time for the cocoon phase: college. I will enter this cocoon to develop my life, cultivate my skill set, and mature my mind. When the time comes, I will emerge as the beautiful and mature young woman God created and the one I desire to be.

I grew up on the foundation of Christian faith and principles of diligence and effort. Because of this, my parents never fail to remind me of the importance of putting forth 100% effort and trusting God through every circumstance. I have always been a big dreamer, and my family has encouraged this attitude. I believe it is necessary to dream big because we may never know the potential we may be able to reach if we limit ourselves to what seems impossible based on our current circumstances. Through this belief, I choose to set my sights on bigger and better opportunities and possibilities that life holds. I consider myself to be a passionate, diligent, and motivated individual. I have big goals and life aspirations that I plan to execute so they will benefit my community. I come from a family of well-respected and intelligent educators, such as teachers, administrators, or librarians. All of which had the same mission: to prepare students for success and greatness inside and outside the classroom. Sharing this same passion, I was inspired to pursue a degree in Education and Teaching in hopes of being an elementary school teacher. In the words of William Butler Yeats, "Education is not the filling of the pail, but the lighting of the fire." I want to be an educator that lights the fire in young minds. While they are young, I hope to prepare students to excel in everything they do. In addition to being a successful teacher, I hope to work for a government education agency such as the Texas Education Agency or the US Department of Education. While in this position, I will use my advocacy skills to fight for schools that do not have access to quality education. My dream is to make a big difference in my community, and I believe it should start with the young minds in our society. One of my favorite quotes is “Be better than you were the day before.” This embodies the importance of self-improvement and ensuring that we become better people every day. For myself, I take time out of my day to pray, meditate and read Scripture. As a Christian, this is the primary source of nourishment that I need to be better. In prayer and meditation, I can reflect on certain decisions and ask God for forgiveness and guidance on making better choices. In reading Scripture, I learn the characteristics of a good servant, a faithful believer, and an honest individual. I love helping people, and by nature, I am an encouraging person. I find that when my friends are in certain situations and need a listening ear, I am always there to lift their spirits and reassure them that everything will work out. I am always one to help out when needed. I hope to be an inspiration to anyone I come into contact with in the future. I believe that we were placed on this Earth, not only to succeed but to inspire others in the process.

Choosing a career starts with recognizing one's gifts, talents, and interests. My journey to pursuing the education career path begins as an elementary school student expecting a little brother. My passion for children began in March of 2011 when I held my baby brother in my arms for the first time. It was love at first sight. From that point forward, a fierce and unexplainable feeling came over me. I wanted nothing more than to love, protect, teach and guide him. For example, my mother asked me to help my brother learn his multiplication facts before starting third grade. I took this task very seriously and diligently "played classroom" to keep him engaged. By the time he started, he was ahead of his classmates in math class. At that point, I knew I was bound to work with children. I took on this attitude when my cousins were born years later and when I began volunteering at my church with the children's ministry. During the summer after my freshman year of high school, I volunteered at my church to be a crew leader for Vacation Bible School. I had to supervise a group of 5-6 kids, making sure they went to each station planned for that night. Feeling nervous, I had no idea how to manage a group of kids under the age of 12, but I was reluctant to try. However, I had the best time. I was able to have fun with them while making sure they were still safe and on task. I enjoyed this experience so much that I went back the following two summers to volunteer again. I realized that I loved working with younger children and proceeded to put myself in situations to do so. During the pandemic and the start of my senior year, I needed more volunteer hours. I came across a virtual tutoring platform designed especially for the pandemic called Living Room Tutors. I had to sign up, specify what age group I wanted to tutor, and communicate what subjects I wanted to help. With this information, the staff would match me with a student from anywhere across the United States. I paired with a fourth-grade special needs girl from Minnesota who needed assistance with Reading and Language Arts. She is tenacious and inquisitive and learns fast. So far, I have tutored her for five months and have enjoyed the first-hand experience of working with a student one-on-one, an essential skill needed as a teacher. With steady diligence, I helped her advance two levels higher in her state's curriculum. That was the most rewarding moment of my experience. All of these moments have solidified my choice to pursue the education career path. The main things I have noticed are that I am patient and kind when working with kids. Naturally, I am playful and outgoing, which matches a child's effervescent and joyful nature. I do not doubt that I will become a successful and efficient teacher and educator in the future.

Jesse Owens famously said “We all have dreams, but in order for dreams to come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort.” From countless discussions about school, my education and future, my dad has never failed to remind me about the importance of putting all of my effort into my work. The impact he has made in my life has helped me shape my future. The sacred wisdom he learned from life’s experiences have motivated me to achieve greater things in the future. My father, Erik Edwards, was born on November 4, 1977 in Dallas, TX. He later moved to Houston to spend the remainder of his life. As a child, my father grew up in a household with his single mother. His father passed away at a young age, which caused him to feel hurt and alone. During these times of despair, he often stayed with his grandparents who were ministers and leaders in their church. In the school environment, he transitioned from a private to a public school, which brings different people, attitudes and lifestyles. To overcome these difficulties, my father was constantly encouraged and motivated by family members and mentors that challenged his mindset. He was reminded that certain situations in his life were only temporary and used to test his faith. This lesson always helps me get through tough times. Whenever I have feelings of hopelessness or doubt, my dad reminds me of the scripture in Ecclesiastes, "To everything, there is a season". God puts us through situations to see where we are in our faith and to encourage us to trust in him more. My dad follows these principles daily and encourages me to do the same. My dad graduated high school in 1995 and attended the University of Houston. During his college years, my father had to balance the demands of a part-time job while going to school. At times he was confused about what profession to pursue and he had trouble identifying his strengths and weaknesses. In the end, he graduated and obtained his Bachelor degree in Science and Nutrition. Unfortunately, he did not receive any college awards or recognition, however he achieved his goal of finishing college by persevering and putting forth a lot of effort into his education.This same sentiment has motivated to want to go to college and make something of myself. In my family, education is greatly valued and respected. This has inspired me to want to pursue Elementary Education in college and become a teacher like many of my relatives. As of now, my father is married to my mom of twelve years and has two children: my younger brother and I. We enjoy traveling, eating out together and making each other laugh. He currently works for Southwest Airlines as an Operations Agent. During his 21+ years of service, he received numerous awards for Kicktails, which are SWA’s internal awards given to employees who exude service and professionalism by going above and beyond to achieve the company’s objective. My father displays a great sense of loyalty to Southwest due to his long time service and effort. Without his countless effort, my father would not have been able to teach me the morals of diligence and never quitting what you start. In closing, my dad’s experiences have been rooted in the morals of diligence and effort. He constantly stresses the fact that the amount of effort you put into your work will affect your results. Winston Churchill once said “Continuous effort! not strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking your potential.” Although I don’t tell him as often as I should, I will always appreciate his love and advice, guidance and support.

I come from a family of successful educators. My paternal great-grandmother was an avid bibliophile and was a high school librarian. My paternal grandmother just retired from many years of teaching high school Honors English, and many of relatives and family friends are respected and successful teachers, principals, administrators and superintendents. I plan to be the next and pass the torch along. Upon graduating from college, I will begin teaching at the elementary level. In teaching younger students, I believe I can mold them to start working at a level of excellence. I believe every student should have access to the best education with a stellar teacher. With this in mind, I will manage an organized classroom and incorporate fine arts into my curriculum. I have always been passionate about working with small children and introducing them to the wonderful world of the arts. With this integrated curriculum, I hope to inspire students to further purse or appreciate the arts. I want to be a teacher remembered for her hard work, dedication, and passion for teaching. My goal is to inspire children to love learning so they can grow up to succeed and be their best in life. I want my students to come back years later, thanking me for pushing them to their fullest potential. I will always see potential in my students and have positive expectations because I believe every student can succeed. After teaching for about 15 years, earning my Masters' or Doctorate along the way, I plan to obtain a position at the US Department of Education. While working there, I will advocate for under served communities and schools close to the poverty line. I will make sure these schools get the proper representation they need when the government makes decisions about education policies for the future. So many schools and districts do not have the proper funding or representation to meet the goal of educating all students. Without this funding they are forced to implement cuts on important programs such as athletics and fine arts. What they need is someone that understands their needs and is committed to making it happen. Starting with one school at a time, I will fight for the prevention of cuts to beneficial programs. If teachers today are leading the citizens of tomorrow, they have to be able to do just that with the assistance they need. Leading a better tomorrow is important to me, but I know it starts with my consistency and passion to fight for what is right in today's education system.