To feel passionate is to feel strongly toward something. A passion is not just a hobby or something to pass time. When you are truly passionate about something you feel it in your heart. I have been lucky enough to be able to take teaching classes at my high school. In this program I am able to attend the elementary school multiple days a week. I am assigned a mentor teacher and get to work with the class in various activities. I never truly understood what it was to be passionate about something until I saw the excitement on one of my fourth graders faces when he finally got his multiplication tables down on the first try. His excitement became mine. Through this program I have truly been able to understand what passion is. My passion has become educating children. I’m not just passionate about standing there teaching to them. I’m passionate about their excitement to learn, the want to succeed, and learning about them as people. Within a short amount of time, I have felt more passion and joy with my group of 18 fourth graders than I ever have before. The passion I have for wanting to educate kids runs deep. Not only has this passion brought me a sense of purpose, it brings me an unimaginable joy.

How do you leave a mark on such a big world? Many question how they can make a change or leave a legacy. For myself, I want to leave my mark by influencing the future generation. My current goal is to become an educator. With this career path, I believe I can influence the future generations and leave a lasting impression. I may not be able to change the whole world, but if I can impact one life, I believe that leaves a lasting mark. As an educator in the future, I want to be there for the next generation. Not only will I strive to teach core classes, but I want to influence them to want to be great people; to make something of themselves. Too many children go to bed every night not feeling like their bed enough. If I can be the one person in this world that makes them feel like they can do anything, then I truly believe I’m making an impact. I believe this not only because that child will aim to do better with their future, but because they can pass on what I have taught them to their children and so on. In the future, I don’t need to invent the latest electronic or be a politician. I know in my heart if I can be the positive force in at least one child’s life, I will be leaving my mark on this world.

Growing up I have been faced with many hardships. As a kid, I watched my parents struggle with drug abuse which ultimately led to divorce. During this period, I lived with my grandparents. Later on, my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer and I was still facing the struggles of addicted parents. Through this, I never lost sight of my goals, if anything it made me stronger. As I have progressed I have seen the effects of addiction, cancer, and low income on my family. Today, I am thankful for these things because I feel prepared to take the on any future challenges. I persevered and I am currently looking at early completion of high school with a 4.0 gpa and a future in education. I believe my struggles made me stronger. I am thankful for every hardship because I believe with these struggles, it has shaped me into a person that strives to get where they are. I also hope these struggles can help me to have a better understanding when becoming a future educator of the next generations.

Personally, I have seen how the world can be harder on those who are different. Growing up I have always been very family oriented. I could never understand why certain family members would get looked at differently while we were in the store or just walking down the street. My aunt, who has always been my aunt to me, is a transgender woman. On the daily the little ridicule I see her face needs to become a thing of the past. I could never understand why someone who is so kind, could be looked at so different. I believe every person deserves fair treatment regardless of their culture, religion, gender, or race. In the future I want to be an educator. With this profession, I want to show the future generations how they deserve to be treated. In the classroom, I want to build the children up for their unique qualities and teach them that their differences are what make them unique. I believe each and every soul deserves a fair chance to be treated as an equal. As a future educator, I truly believe I can help lift up and encourage the future generation. I want our future to know our differences are the best part about each and every one of us.