Growing up, my mother took a job teaching in a preschool to offset the cost of childcare. During this time, I saw my mother's passion for teaching. She loved to listen, guide, and help any child that walked into her classroom. Although she did not complete college or get a degree, it was always her dream to become a high school teacher. That dream was never achieved. During my time in the preschool and watching my mother, I found a passion for helping and teaching children. As, a high school student, that passion grew. Volunteering with our school's Special Olympics basketball team helped me find a love for helping others with special needs. I became known as "Ms. Katie" to them. I started to gain insight on their daily lives, becoming friends, having lunch or helping them get to other classes as needed. I discovered how special these individuals are. They all have their own individual fascinations and have such an excellent way of showing kindness whether it be words of affirmation, hugs and high fives, or beautifully done drawings. It’s like a ray of sunshine that each one of them has beaming off of them. Although we did not win the championship game we made it to the semi-finals. That was the furthest the team had ever made it. They had made so many strides in their lives with just that one season. Also, throughout high school, I was a part of a student-ran club called Leo Club. This club organizes different events during the school year to raise money for pediatric cancer research. My senior year, I was appointed as the Mircale Kids Leader. With this title, I gained access to the children and families affect by pediatric cancer. I learned about them, advocated for them, and helped with any necessities they may have needed. We raised over $22,000 in our final event of the year. After graduating college, I plan to complete my master's degree and begin teaching in my hometown. I want to give back to the community that has shaped me and helped me grow my passion for not only helping students but also helping students who are going through a tough time or may have special needs. To continue to do good, shape young children's lives and minds, and help any child who walks into my classroom is the real drive to accomplishing my goals.

Growing up, my mother took a job teaching in a preschool to offset the cost of childcare. During this time, I saw my mother's passion for teaching. She loved to listen, guide, and help any child that walked into her classroom. Although she did not complete college or get a degree, it was always her dream to become a high school teacher. That dream was never achieved. While growing up in the preschool and watching my mother, I found a passion for helping and teaching children. During my sophomore year in high school, I was introduced to some of the young men and women who are a part of the special education branch at my school: my fellow classmates. Some of those fellow classmates were integrated into general elective classes. I shared a few elective classes with some of these young adults and soon became known as “Ms. Katie” to them. Over the first semester, I started to gain insight on their daily lives, becoming friends, having lunch or helping them get to other classes as needed. I discovered how special these individuals are. They all have their own individual fascinations and have such an excellent way of showing kindness whether it be words of affirmation, hugs and high fives, or beautifully done drawings. It’s like a ray of sunshine that each one of them has beaming off of them. As the first semester came to a close and winter sports began to start, a teacher came to me and asked if I would be willing to help coach the Special Olympics basketball team. Although I took on a new role of coach, the name “Ms. Katie” continued. Throughout that season we had times when we won some games and lost others, moments of joy and a few of sadness, but most importantly we were always there for one another. During both the happy and sad moments I would ask the team to think about their emotions and reflect on how they were feeling. Over time this led to them working so much harder at practice because they didn’t like the feeling of losing. The last game was played with so many emotions because many of the kids were graduating in the spring and would not get another chance to play basketball. Although we did not win the championship game we made it to the semi-finals. That was the furthest the team had ever made it. Despite our loss, in my heart, they were the real winners. They had made so many strides in their lives with just that one season. Whether it was gaining new friendships, learning how to handle emotions a little better, or even just making a basket. They grew and I grew with them. To be able to fulfill not only my dream, but my mother's dream to become a teacher would mean the world to me. To continue to do good, shape young children's lives and minds, and help any child who walks into my classroom is the real drive to accomplishing my goals.

Growing up, my mother took a job teaching in a preschool to offset the cost of childcare. During this time, I saw my mother's passion for teaching. She loved to listen, guide, and help any child that walked into her classroom. Although she did not complete college or get a degree, it was always her dream to become a high school teacher. That dream was never achieved. While growing up in the preschool and watching my mother, I found a passion for helping and teaching children. During my sophomore year in high school, I was introduced to some of the young men and women who are a part of the special education branch at my school: my fellow classmates. Some of those fellow classmates were integrated into general elective classes. I shared a few elective classes with some of these young adults and soon became known as “Ms. Katie” to them. Over the first semester, I started to gain insight on their daily lives, becoming friends, having lunch or helping them get to other classes as needed. I discovered how special these individuals are. They all have their own individual fascinations and have such an excellent way of showing kindness whether it be words of affirmation, hugs and high fives, or beautifully done drawings. It’s like a ray of sunshine that each one of them has beaming off of them. As the first semester came to a close and winter sports began to start, a teacher came to me and asked if I would be willing to help coach the Special Olympics basketball team. Although I took on a new role of coach, the name “Ms. Katie” continued. Throughout that season we had times when we won some games and lost others, moments of joy and a few of sadness, but most importantly we were always there for one another. During both the happy and sad moments I would ask the team to think about their emotions and reflect on how they were feeling. Over time this led to them working so much harder at practice because they didn’t like the feeling of losing. The last game was played with so many emotions because many of the kids were graduating in the spring and would not get another chance to play basketball. Although we did not win the championship game we made it to the semi-finals. That was the furthest the team had ever made it. Despite our loss, in my heart, they were the real winners. They had made so many strides in their lives with just that one season. Whether it was gaining new friendships, learning how to handle emotions a little better, or even just making a basket. They grew and I grew with them. To be able to fulfill not only my dream, but my mother's dream to become a teacher would mean the world to me. To continue to do good, shape young children's lives and minds, and help any child who walks into my classroom is the real drive to accomplishing my goals.

During my sophomore year in high school, I was introduced to some of the young men and women who are a part of the special education branch at my school: my fellow classmates. Some of those fellow classmates were integrated into general elective classes. I shared a few elective classes with some of these young adults and soon became known as “Ms. Katie” to them. Over the first semester, I started to gain insight on their daily lives, becoming friends, having lunch or helping them get to other classes as needed. I discovered how special these individuals are. They all have their own individual fascinations and have such an excellent way of showing kindness whether it be words of affirmation, hugs and high fives, or beautifully done drawings. It’s like a ray of sunshine that each one of them has beaming off of them. As the first semester came to a close and winter sports began to start, a teacher came to me and asked if I would be willing to help coach the Special Olympics basketball team. Although I took on a new role of coach, the name “Ms. Katie” continued. Throughout that season we had times when we won some games and lost other, moments of joy and a few of sadness, but most importantly we were always there for one another. During both the happy and sad moments I would ask the team to think about their emotions and reflect on how they were feeling. Over time this led to them working so much harder at practice because they didn’t like the feeling of losing. Although we did not win the championship game we made it to the semi-finals. That was the furthest the team had ever made it. The last game was played with so many emotions because many of the kids were graduating in the spring and would not get another chance to play basketball. Unfortunately, we lost but, in my heart, they were the real winners. They had made so many strides in their lives with just that one season. Whether it was gaining new friendships, learning how to handle emotions a little better, or even just making a basket. They grew and I grew with them. With the quote Professor Bloom is showcasing that teaching isn’t necessarily about skills or knowledge, it's about helping a student develop a deeper understanding of themself. For students with special needs this is especially important because they often face challenges that can affect their self-esteem, most commonly, bullying. As a special education teacher my role is to help students appreciate their own presence ensuring that students feel both safe and valued in the classroom. While making students feel valued, I intend to identify and build on each student's unique talents and abilities while helping them develop more skills that will allow them to be more self-sufficient. My ultimate mission is to empower my students and help them see their full potentials while being confident in their abilities.