I am currently a first-year college student working towards a degree in psychology. Upon completion of this degree, I plan to continue my education with the ultimate goal of becoming a school psychologist. I always knew that I wanted to work in a school setting and have spent the past few years considering teaching and other careers working with students, however, I now feel a strong pull towards becoming a school psychologist. I believe that through this role I will have the greatest ability to make a positive impact on the next generation. I feel that this path will also allow me to make a difference and foster the social-emotional well being of every student that I get the chance to work with. In our current world, mental health has become a significant issue and will only continue to worsen if we do not take action. I believe that working with school-aged children concerning mental health is an effective first step towards solving this problem. I want to become a school psychologist so I can make a positive difference in the lives of children and help them work through problems with both behavior and academics. Through this role, I will also be a part of creating a safe and supportive environment where students feel comfortable and cared for. Throughout the past few years, I have had several opportunities to work with kids in various settings. In high school, I had the opportunity to volunteer as a camp counselor at Friend’s Day Camp for two summers. I was in charge of leading a small group of kids through their activities. This was the first experience I had in which I felt that working with kids was something that I wanted to do for the rest of my life. During high school, I was also a member of the Make a Difference Club. Through my participation in this club, I was able to spend time at our elementary schools, building relationships, playing with the kids during recess, and eating lunch with them. These experiences that I have had working with kids have only strengthened my feeling that that is what I was meant to do with my life. I believe that I have the ability to be successful as a school psychologist because of my passion and motivation. It is my goal to do whatever I can to help the next generation grow up to be successful and reach their full potential. I will do everything within my power to help foster the social-emotional well being of every student that I get the opportunity to work with. The education that I am currently receiving while in college is the first step towards my goal of becoming a school psychologist and making a positive impact on our world. Being honored with this scholarship would have a tremendous positive impact on my continued educational journey and help make my career goals more attainable.

I am currently a first-year college student working towards a degree in psychology. Upon completion of this degree, I plan to continue my education with the ultimate goal of becoming a school psychologist. I always knew that I wanted to work in a school setting and have spent the past few years considering teaching and other careers working with students, however, I now feel a strong pull towards becoming a school psychologist. I believe that through this role I will have the greatest ability to make a positive impact on the next generation. In our current world, mental health has become a significant issue and will only continue to worsen if we do not take action. I believe that working with school-aged children concerning mental health is an effective first step towards solving this problem. I want to become a school psychologist so I can make a positive difference in the lives of children and help them work through problems with both behavior and academics. Through this role, I will also be a part of creating a safe and supportive environment where students feel comfortable and cared for. Throughout the past few years, I have had several opportunities to work with kids in various settings. In high school, I had the opportunity to volunteer as a camp counselor at Friend’s Day Camp for two summers. I was in charge of leading a small group of kids through their activities. This was the first experience I had in which I felt that working with kids was something that I wanted to do for the rest of my life. During high school, I was also a member of the Make a Difference Club. Through my participation in this club, I was able to spend time at our elementary schools, building relationships, playing with the kids during recess, and eating lunch with them. These experiences that I have had working with kids have only strengthened my feeling that that is what I was meant to do with my life. I am sacrificing a high-paying career for a meaningful career that I am passionate about. As a school psychologist, I won’t be making a lot of money, but I will be doing something that I enjoy and that will have a positive impact on our world. There are many other jobs I can choose from, but I believe that I was meant to work with kids and help make a positive impact on my community. I believe that I have the ability to be successful as a school psychologist because of my passion and motivation. It is my goal to do whatever I can to help the next generation grow up to be successful and reach their full potential. The education that I am currently receiving while in college is the first step towards my goal of becoming a school psychologist and making a positive impact on our world. Being honored with this scholarship would have a tremendous positive impact on my continued educational journey and help make my career goals more attainable.

I am currently a first-year college student working towards a degree in psychology. Upon completion of this degree, I plan to continue my education with the ultimate goal of becoming a school psychologist. I always knew that I wanted to work in a school setting and have spent the past few years considering teaching and other careers working with students, however, I now feel a strong pull towards becoming a school psychologist. I believe that through this role I will have the greatest ability to make a positive impact on the next generation. In our current world, mental health has become a significant issue and will only continue to worsen if we do not take action. I believe that working with school-aged children concerning mental health is an effective first step towards solving this problem. I want to become a school psychologist so I can make a positive difference in the lives of children and help them work through problems with both behavior and academics. Through this role, I will also be a part of creating a safe and supportive environment where students feel comfortable and cared for. Throughout the past few years, I have had several opportunities to work with kids in various settings. In high school, I had the opportunity to volunteer as a camp counselor at Friend’s Day Camp for two summers. I was in charge of leading a small group of kids through their activities. This was the first experience I had in which I felt that working with kids was something that I wanted to do for the rest of my life. During high school, I was also a member of the Make a Difference Club. Through my participation in this club, I was able to spend time at our elementary schools, building relationships, playing with the kids during recess, and eating lunch with them. These experiences that I have had working with kids have only strengthened my feeling that that is what I was meant to do with my life. I believe that I have the ability to be successful as a school psychologist because of my passion and motivation. It is my goal to do whatever I can to help the next generation grow up to be successful and reach their full potential. The education that I am currently receiving while in college is the first step towards my goal of becoming a school psychologist and making a positive impact on our world. Earning this scholarship would help reduce the amount of student loan debt I will have coming out of college, which will allow me to be able to support myself as I begin working. Being honored with this scholarship would have a tremendous positive impact on my continued educational journey and help make my career goals more attainable.

Throughout the last four years, I have been involved in my school and community in many different ways. I was a captain of the Varsity volleyball team for three years, a member of the Varsity basketball team for one year, and will be playing on the Varsity softball team for my fourth year this spring. The experiences that I have had as an athlete have taught me how to lead both by example and through communication. I have learned how to be a good teammate and push myself and others to work hard and always give everything they have. I have also been involved in my school through my participation in several school clubs. I served on the Student Council for two years as a class representative and two years as class treasurer. I am also treasurer of the National Honor Society and a member of the Make a Difference Club, Varsity Club, and Quizbowl. Outside of school, I have found other ways to be involved in my community. Last year, I helped tutor a younger student in her classes. I have also volunteered as a line judge and scorekeeper at our middle school volleyball games. In addition, I have cleaned up trash in our local parks, helped teachers before school, and delivered food to students in need. Recently, I volunteered through A Night to Shine, an event organized by several local churches to give people with special needs a prom. Through all of my volunteer experiences, I have learned the importance of giving back to your community. You never know what other people are going through, but the things that you do to help your community can have a huge impact on them. Even small acts of kindness can have a big difference in someone else’s life. In the fall, I will be attending the University of Michigan. I plan to major in either education or psychology, to become an elementary teacher or a school psychologist. I want to work with kids, help them succeed, and make a difference in their lives. I have had experience working with children through some of my volunteer work. I have worked as a camp counselor through a local day camp for a few years. I was in charge of leading a small group of kids through their activities. I enjoyed being with the kids and seeing how they learned. I had so much fun and the experience taught me a lot about working with children and helped influence my career decisions. I believe that receiving a college education will greatly increase my ability to help the people in my community. As either a teacher or a school psychologist, I will be directly involved in the lives of all my students. I will have the ability to change their lives. Some kids don’t have a positive role model at home and need to have someone at school who cares about them. I want to work in education so that I can be that person for as many kids as I can. Earning this scholarship would help put my goals within reach. Because working in education is not high paying, I will need all the help I can get to lower the cost of college. Being awarded this scholarship would help to reduce the student loan debt I will have coming out of school, allowing me to support myself as I get my first job and start working with kids. Being honored with this scholarship would have a tremendous positive impact on my future educational journey and career.

For me, receiving a higher education means opportunity. By completing my college education, I will be one step closer to reaching my goals and living the life I envision for myself. By attending college, I will be getting out of my small town and experiencing something different. I am looking forward to learning and growing into a new person over the next four years. In the fall, I will be attending college at the University of Michigan. I plan to major in either education or psychology, to become an elementary teacher or a school psychologist. I want to work with kids, help them succeed, and make a difference in their lives. I have had experience working with children through some of my volunteer work. I have worked as a camp counselor through a local day camp for a few years. I was in charge of leading a small group of kids through their activities. I enjoyed being with the kids and seeing how they learned. I had so much fun and the experience taught me a lot about working with children and helped influence my career decisions. I believe that receiving a college education will greatly increase my ability to help the people in my community. As either a teacher or a school psychologist, I will be directly involved in the lives of all my students. I will have the ability to change their lives. Some kids don’t have a positive role model at home and need to have someone at school who cares about them. I want to work in education so that I can be that person for as many kids as I can. Being awarded this scholarship would allow me to focus more energy on my studies. I plan on working throughout college. However, if I were able to lower the cost of my college education, I wouldn't have to spend as much of my free time working. I would be able to use that time to study or participate in school activities. I have maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout my high school career and plan to continue pushing myself to achieve the same academic excellence throughout college. Earning this scholarship would help put my goals within reach. Because jobs in education are not high paying, I will need all the help I can get to lower the cost of college. Being awarded this scholarship would help to reduce the student loan debt I will have coming out of school, allowing me to support myself as either a new teacher or school psychologist. Being honored with this scholarship would have a tremendous positive impact on my future educational journey and career.

I have been a very involved and dedicated member of my school and community. I have been active in several clubs and through these organizations have been able to participate in many opportunities to do volunteer work. These valuable experiences have helped me learn the importance of giving back to the people in my community. I am a four-year member of my school’s Make a Difference Committee (MAD). The purpose of MAD is to help make our school a more positive and safe place. We want to create an atmosphere where all students are happy and able to grow and succeed. In the past, we have organized book drives and toy drives for our elementary schools. We also organize events to bring awareness to issues such as the dangers of unsafe driving and alcohol and drug use. One of our most successful programs is the Giving Tree. Through the Giving Tree, we are able to provide presents and necessities for a local family in need during Christmastime. I have also been involved in the National Honor Society (NHS) since my junior year. Through my participation in NHS, I have had lots of opportunities to conduct volunteer work in different areas of my community. I have volunteered to help at youth sporting events, cleaned up trash in our local parks, helped teachers in our schools, and delivered food to students in need. Through this volunteer work, I have learned how important it is to give back to your community. Even small acts of kindness can have a tremendous impact on the people that you are serving. I have also volunteered at my school in other ways. During my Junior year, I tutored during my free time. I was able to help a younger student get back on track in her classes. I also volunteer as a line judge and scorekeeper at our middle school volleyball games. Outside of school, I am also involved in different aspects of my community. During my Freshman year, I volunteered as a counselor at a local day camp. The camp was organized to help kids learn to live healthy lives. Through fun activities, they learned about healthy foods and the importance of mental health and exercise. The experiences I had during the camp were important to me because they influenced my decision to become a teacher. I learned a lot about working with kids during my time there. I have also volunteered at the Night to Shine event. Night to Shine is an event hosted by several local churches and all of the work is done by volunteers. The goal is to give people with special needs a prom night. This event is important to our community because it is a positive experience for all the people who volunteer and attend. I believe that receiving a college education will greatly increase my ability to help the people in my community. I plan to become either a teacher or a school psychologist. In either of these roles, I will be directly involved in the lives of all my students. I will have the ability to have a positive and meaningful impact on their lives. Some kids don’t have a positive role model at home and need to have someone at school who cares about them and their future. I want to work in education so that I can make a difference in the lives of my students. I will strive to help each and every one of my kids succeed. Earning this scholarship would help put these dreams of helping my community within my reach.

Integrity is defined as a firm belief in the reliability, truth, or strength of someone or something. Trust is extremely important to me. I believe in always telling the truth even when it’s hard. I strive to be an honest person who others know they can rely on. My dad was one of the driving forces that taught me the importance of trustworthiness. He would always tell me that if I told the truth about something, I wouldn’t be in as much trouble then if I lied about it. Because of my dad’s influence, I have been able to grow into an honest person who always tries to do the right thing. One way that I have exercised honor in my life is through my participation in sports. I have been involved in sports for most of my life and through my experiences, I have learned the importance of integrity and sportsmanship. One way that I do that is by always being respectful to the player on the opposing team. No matter what is happening in the game, I always show sportsmanship and shake every player's hand after the game is over. I also don’t say anything disrespectful to my teammates or the other team’s players during the game. I have learned integrity and honor from my dad and through my participation in sports. I will take these traits with me throughout the rest of my life and they will continue to benefit me wherever I end up.

My work ethic is a major part of what makes me unique. I am a hard-working person who strives to do things the right way. I have pushed myself to maintain a 4.0 GPA throughout high school while also taking college dual enrollment classes. This hard work has paid off and I will graduate top of my class this spring. Another aspect that makes me unique is my love for reading. Reading has been one of my favorite pastimes for as long as I can remember. My room is packed with books and I often don’t go anywhere without one. I enjoy reading any subject and any genre, both fiction and nonfiction. I love that depending on what book I choose, I can increase my knowledge of real-life topics or be transported into another world. Another major part of what makes me unique is my passion for hiking. When I think back on some of my happiest memories, I find myself on the trail, carrying a backpack, and surrounded by the awe-inspiring beauty of nature. Hiking has been a part of who I am for nearly half of my life. My dad planned our week-long trip and took me hiking across the remote Isle Royale National Park. The trail took us through forests and along the tops of ridges and mountains. We were surrounded by breathtaking views of the entire island and beyond, to the sparkling water of Lake Superior and the cliffs of the Canadian shoreline. At the end of each day, we would set up our tents in campsites along the shore of Lake Superior. I would fall asleep to the sound of the waves gently lapping the shore and awake to the beautiful and haunting cry of the loons. At the end of the trip, I had learned so much and had become a different person. The experience was the spark that ignited my love for hiking. Every summer since I have gone on a backpacking trip with my dad. Hiking has taught me many important lessons and helped me become the person I am today. Throughout the last four years, I have been a very involved and dedicated member of my school and community. I have been active in several clubs and through these organizations have been able to participate in many opportunities to do volunteer work. I have volunteered as a camp counselor, tutor, and scorekeeper at middle school volleyball games. I have also helped clean up local parks and volunteered at A Night to Shine, which is a prom for people with special needs. These valuable experiences have helped me learn the importance of giving back to the people in my community. I plan to continue volunteering in any way I can throughout college and beyond. In the fall, I will be attending the University of Michigan to major in education. I believe that receiving a college education will greatly increase my ability to help the people in my community. As a teacher, I will be directly involved in the lives of all my students. I will have the ability to have a positive and meaningful impact on their lives. Some kids don’t have a positive role model at home and need to have a teacher who cares about them and their future. I want to be a teacher so that I can make a difference in the lives of my students. Earning this scholarship would put these dreams of helping my community within my reach.

My inspiration for helping my community comes from my family. Both of my parents have jobs in service-related fields. My mom is an elementary teacher. My dad is the fire chief at our local volunteer fire department. They both care greatly about helping other people and have always emphasized the importance of doing the right thing and giving back when you can. Because of this background, I have been a very involved member of my school and community. I have been active in several clubs and through these organizations have been able to participate in various opportunities to do volunteer work. These valuable experiences have helped me learn the importance of giving back to the people in my community. I am a four-year member of my school’s Make a Difference Committee (MAD). The purpose of MAD is to help make our school a more positive and safe place. In the past, we have organized book drives and toy drives for our elementary schools. We also organize events to bring awareness to issues such as unsafe driving and alcohol and drug use. One of our most successful programs is the Giving Tree. Through the Giving Tree, we provide presents for a local family in need during Christmastime. I have also been involved in the National Honor Society (NHS) since my junior year. This year, I took on a leadership role as the treasurer for the organization. Through my participation in NHS, I have had lots of opportunities to conduct volunteer work in different areas of my community. I have volunteered to help at youth sporting events, cleaned up trash in our local parks, helped teachers in our schools, and delivered food to students in need. Through this work, I have learned how important it is to give back to your community. Even small acts of kindness can have a tremendous impact on the people that you are serving. I have also volunteered at my school in other ways. During my Junior year, I tutored during my free time. I was able to help a younger student get back on track in her classes. I also volunteer as a line judge and scorekeeper at our middle school volleyball games. Outside of school, I am also involved in different aspects of my community. During my Freshman year, I volunteered as a counselor at a local day camp. The experiences I had during the camp were important to me because they influenced my decision to become a teacher. I have also volunteered at A Night to Shine, an event hosted by several local churches. It is organized to give people with special needs a prom night. This event is important to our community because it is a positive experience for both the guests and the volunteers. I believe that receiving a college education will greatly increase my ability to help the people in my community. As a teacher, I will be directly involved in the lives of all my students. I will have the ability to have a positive and meaningful impact on their lives. Some kids don’t have a positive role model at home and need to have a teacher who cares about them and their future. I want to be a teacher so that I can make a difference in the lives of my students. Earning this scholarship would help put these dreams of helping my community within my reach.

I am a very quiet person by nature, but through my involvement in sports, I have learned how to be a leader. Throughout the last four years, I have been involved in my school’s volleyball, basketball, and softball programs. The experiences that I’ve had in these sports have taught me valuable leadership skills that I will continue to use for the rest of my life. Because of my quiet personality, I have always felt more comfortable following other people instead of being a leader myself. But, this changed during my junior year of softball. It was my first year starting as the center fielder and in that position my coaches needed me to be a leader in the outfield. So, during the first few weeks of practice, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and tried my best to become a vocal leader. I started talking loudly and communicating with my teammates before, during, and after plays. I was constantly encouraging the other outfielders and giving them advice and reminders. It was very uncomfortable for me at first, but the more I did it the more it felt natural. My coaches continued to work with me on my leadership skills throughout the rest of the season. I learned how to lead both by example and by being vocal. I gave 100% effort every day and encouraged the other girls to follow my lead and do the same. I also learned how to be a positive role model for the other girls on the team. Even when things get tough, a good leader stays calm and continues to encourage the people around them. I came a long way from the beginning of the season, but there were still ways I could learn to be a better leader. Almost immediately after the softball season ended, we jumped right into volleyball practices and open gyms. I continued to use and build my leadership skills. As a senior on a generally quiet team, I knew I needed to step up and be a leader. My coaches were shocked by my change since the last season. Because of my hard work during softball, I found it much easier to speak up and be the leader that my volleyball team needed. During the season, I not only became more comfortable being a leader, but I also learned that sometimes the role is difficult. There was a lot of drama on the team, and as a team captain, it was my job to address it and have those hard conversations with my teammates. I learned that being a leader means saying the things that need to be said even when it's hard or not everyone agrees with it. At the end of the year, I was given the coaches' award for leadership. I had worked hard to step outside of my comfort zone and step up as a leader, and it had paid off. These lessons that I learned from sports will continue to benefit me throughout the rest of my life. No matter where my future takes me, having the ability to step up and be a leader will help me succeed.

I am a very quiet person by nature, but through my involvement in sports, I have learned how to be a leader. Throughout the last four years, I have been involved in my school’s volleyball, basketball, and softball programs. The experiences that I’ve had in these sports have taught me valuable leadership skills that have impacted my life and helped me become a better person. I will continue to use the skills that I learned for the rest of my life. Because of my quiet personality, I have always felt more comfortable following other people instead of being a leader myself. But, this changed during my junior year of softball. It was my first year starting as the center fielder and in that position my coaches needed me to be a leader in the outfield. So, during the first few weeks of practice, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and tried my best to become a vocal leader. I started talking loudly and communicating with my teammates before, during, and after plays. I was constantly encouraging the other outfielders and giving them advice and reminders. It was very uncomfortable for me at first, but the more I did it the more it felt natural. My coaches continued to work with me on my leadership skills throughout the rest of the season. I learned how to lead both by example and by being vocal. I gave 100% effort every day and encouraged the other girls to follow my lead and do the same. I also learned how to be a positive role model for the other girls on the team. Even when things get tough, a good leader stays calm and continues to encourage the people around them. I came a long way from the beginning of the season, but I knew that there were still ways I could learn to be a better leader. Almost immediately after the softball season ended, we jumped right into volleyball practices and open gyms. I continued to use and build my leadership skills. As a senior on a generally quiet team, I knew I needed to step up and be a leader. My coaches were shocked by my change since the last season. Because of my hard work during softball, I found it much easier to speak up and be the leader that my volleyball team needed. During the season, I not only became more comfortable being a leader, but I also learned that sometimes the role is difficult. There was a lot of drama on the team, and as a team captain, it was my job to address it and have those hard conversations with my teammates. I learned that being a leader means saying the things that need to be said even when it's hard or not everyone agrees with it. At the end of the year, I was given the coaches' award for leadership. I had worked hard to step outside of my comfort zone and step up as a leader, and it had paid off. These lessons that I learned from sports will continue to benefit me throughout the rest of my life. No matter where my future takes me, having the ability to step up and be a leader will help me succeed.

As a student, right now is the best time for me to start learning how to manage my finances. I am still living with my parents so they are here to guide me and teach me the best ways to be financially smart. They are there to answer all of my questions and help me as I learn to become independent from them. Next year, I will be in college and living on my own. This means that I need to have already learned good financial management skills. It is also important for me to manage my finances now so that I can start saving up for college. Attending college is extremely costly. I need to be smart with my money now in order to pay for my future education. In order to manage my finances now, I try not to spend unnecessary money. I do my best to only spend money on needs not wants. Doing this makes it easier for me to save money instead of spending it. This skill will continue to benefit me throughout the rest of my life, especially when I am first out of college. I am also still working to improve my financial knowledge. I am currently taking an Advanced Personal Finance class which is offered by my high school. In the course, we study both real-world concepts and the math behind them. So far in the class, I have learned about many financial concepts including loans, credit cards, bank accounts, the stock market, and taxes. I have also learned how to set and follow a budget. It was important for me to take personal finance because I did not know much about most of these topics before the class. So far, I have gained a lot of knowledge that I will continue to use throughout the rest of my life. I also plan to continue learning more about financial topics after high school. In our class, we are required to read financial literacy books. At the start of the class, we were presented with a list of books we could choose from. This is a list that I will be able to use later in my life. Because I am still in high school, a lot of the books weren’t written for people my age. As I get older, more of the financial literacy books will pertain to my life. I will continue to read and learn as much as I can about finances throughout college and as I start my career. In the past six months, I have learned a lot about various financial concepts. As a high school senior, I am starting to learn how to manage my money as I become more independent from my parents. I plan to continue learning more throughout my life and share what I learn with others. Understanding finances is important because managing your money correctly can help you live a happier life.

I believe that educators are some of the most important people in our society. They are responsible for teaching and inspiring the next generation and through this work, they play a part in influencing the future. Without teachers, the changemakers in our world would never achieve their full potential. By teaching and inspiring their students, teachers actively play a major role in making the world a better place. An educator’s responsibility is to teach their students and set them up for a successful future. Teachers are the backbone of our society. Without them, no one would be able to reach their full potential and we would be living in a very different world. Teachers prepare their students to be hardworking members of their community. They teach them to have a strong work ethic and not to give up when things become tough. Every day in classrooms around the world, educators are teaching our youth how to be good people, do the right thing, and work hard. They are playing a major part in influencing and inspiring the next generation. Teachers also play a very important role in the personal lives of their students. They have the ability to make huge differences in the lives of our youth. Some kids don’t have a good role model at home and need that positive influence at school. Teachers fill this role and have the ability to change a child’s life for the better. Having just one person believe in them and push them to succeed can change the trajectory of a child’s life. This is the major reason why I believe teaching is so important. The work that educators do has the power to change a child’s life. It is my goal to have this positive impact on the lives of all my students. In the fall, I will begin my journey toward a degree in elementary education. I enjoy working with kids and look forward to my future career. I want to ignite a love of learning in the children who are the future of our world. As a teacher, I will strive to do my best and help every one of my students succeed. I want to work with kids, help them learn, and make a difference in their lives. Earning this scholarship would help make these dreams a reality. It would have a tremendous positive impact on my future educational journey and career.

Throughout the next few years, I will work to become a more financially literate individual. There are ways that I am currently learning and many ways that I can continue to learn in the future. I can also help others become financially literate by sharing what I learn throughout my education. I am currently taking an Advanced Personal Finance class which is offered by my high school. In the course, we study both real-world concepts and the math behind them. So far in the class, I have learned about many financial concepts including loans, credit cards, bank accounts, the stock market, and taxes. I have also learned how to set and follow a budget. It was important for me to take personal finance because I did not know much about most of these topics before the class. So far, I have gained a lot of knowledge that I will continue to use throughout the rest of my life. I also plan to continue learning more about financial topics after high school. In our class, we are required to read financial literacy books. At the start of the class, we were presented with a list of books we could choose from. This is a list that I will be able to use later in my life. Because I am still in high school, a lot of the books weren’t written for people my age. As I get older, more of the financial literacy books will pertain to my life. I will continue to read and learn as much as I can about finances throughout college and as I start my career. I can also help others become financially literate by sharing the information that I learn. By having conversations about finances, I can help change the way others are thinking about their money. I can recommend many of the resources that I have used to learn more about finances. There are lots of books, videos, and websites available to help people increase their financial knowledge. I can also share with others the way that I am managing my money. This information would include how I save money, budget, and invest. In the past six months, I have learned a lot about various financial concepts. I plan to continue learning more throughout my life and sharing what I learn with others. Understanding finances is important because managing your money correctly can help you live a happier life.

My goal is to inspire the youth through my career as an elementary teacher. I will strive to make learning fun and engage the kids in lessons. I will show my students that school doesn’t have to be boring. I want to pass on my love of learning to the next generation. I will also be a positive role model for the kids and inspire them to be good people. As a teacher, I will be directly involved in the lives of all my students. I will have the ability to change the lives of my students for the better. Some kids don’t have a good role model at home and need to have a teacher who cares about them and wants to see them succeed. I will teach them to do things the right way, be honest, and always give everything they have. I will work hard to be a teacher who helps my students grow into good people. Next year, I will take the first step toward my degree in elementary education. My dream is to influence and inspire the next generation. I want to ignite a love of learning in the children who will be the future of our world. I will strive to do my best and help every one of my students succeed. Earning this scholarship would help put these dreams within reach.

The summer before my first year of high school, I volunteered as a counselor at a local day camp. The camp was part of a program that helped kids learn to lead healthier lives. My friend and I were in charge of a group of nine seven-year-olds. Through fun activities, the kids learned about food and the importance of mental health and exercise. I had so much fun and learned a lot about working with kids. I loved getting to know each of them and seeing the learning and growth that took place during that time. This experience was important to me and played a major role in influencing my decision to become a teacher. In the fall, I will begin my journey toward a degree in elementary education. My dream is to make a difference in the lives of the students I teach. I want to ignite a love of learning in the children who are the future of our world. I will strive to do my best and help every one of my students succeed. Kids need teachers who care and want to see their futures filled with great things. I want to have that positive and meaningful impact on all of the students that I teach. I am sacrificing a high-paying career for a meaningful career that I am passionate about. As a teacher, I won’t be making a lot of money, but I will be doing something that I enjoy and that will have a positive impact on our world. There are many other jobs I can choose from, but I believe that I was meant to be an educator and help inspire the next generation. I am interested in teaching in early childhood education because I am fascinated by the brain development that takes place during that time. When kids are little, they are learning so much. The change in a child from the start of a school year to the end is amazing. They are also starting to figure out their personality and who they are. Kids in the lower elementary grades are still eager to learn and fun to work with. As a teacher, I will enjoy getting to work with these young kids and seeing all of the learning and success that they are able to achieve. I know I will enjoy my job and always look forward to coming to school and seeing my students. I believe that receiving a college education will greatly increase my ability to help the people in my community. As a teacher, I will be directly involved in the lives of all my students. I will have the ability to change the lives of my students for the better. Some kids don’t have a positive role model at home and need to have a teacher who cares about them and wants to see them succeed. I want to be a teacher so that I can make a difference in the lives of all my students. Earning this scholarship would help put these dreams within my reach.

The characteristics that I value most in myself are my hardworking attitude and work ethic. I always push myself to do things right and to do them well. I am someone who always gives my all no matter what I am doing. By having this attitude when things get tough, I have learned that hard work is the best way to overcome the struggles that you will face throughout life. I believe that my hardworking attitude has helped me in many areas of my life. One of the most significant ways that this attitude has helped me is in school. I have worked hard and pushed myself to maintain a 4.0 GPA throughout high school. I have also gotten ahead in my classes by taking advanced high school classes and dual enrollment classes through a local community college. My hard work has paid off and I will be graduating as the valedictorian of my class. My work ethic has also helped me in sports. I have been involved in volleyball, basketball, and softball throughout the last four years of high school. In each of these sports, I always give everything that I have to my team. I work on things that I am struggling with outside of practice. I also work hard every day in practice and encourage my teammates to do the same. Through these experiences, I have learned how to have a good work ethic and how to be successful in stressful situations. Sports have also taught me that hard work will get you positive results. I know that being a hardworking person will continue to benefit me throughout the rest of my life. It will help me to be successful as I continue my educational journey and attend college next year. By working hard throughout high school, I have learned how to do well in challenging classes and be successful. These are skills that I will take with me as I begin my college education. My hardworking attitude will also benefit me in my future career. I plan to study education and become an elementary teacher. This job will require hard work in order to help each and every one of my students succeed. I will work hard to have a positive influence on the lives of the kids. This is something that I know I am capable of. Through hard work in my future career, I will be able to positively impact the lives of my students and my community.

The summer before my first year of high school, I volunteered as a counselor at a local day camp. The camp was part of a program that helped kids learn to lead healthier lives. My friend and I were in charge of a group of nine seven-year-olds. Through fun activities, the kids learned about food and the importance of mental health and exercise. I had so much fun and learned a lot about working with kids. I loved getting to know each of them and seeing the learning and growth that took place during that time. This experience was important to me and played a major role in influencing my decision to become a teacher. My mom has also affected my future decisions. She has taught both preschool and second grade. Almost every Sunday, I go with her to her classroom and help with prep work for the next week. I also have had the opportunity to help her students in class. These experiences have helped me get a feel for what teaching is actually like. In the fall, I will begin my journey toward a degree in elementary education. My dream is to make a difference in the lives of the students I teach. I want to ignite a love of learning in the children who will be the future of our world. I will strive to do my best and help every one of my students succeed. I want to have a positive and meaningful impact on all of the students that I teach. I am interested in teaching in early childhood education because I am fascinated by the brain development that takes place during that time. When kids are little, they are learning so much. The change in a child from the start of a school year to the end is amazing. They are also starting to figure out their personality and who they are. Kids in the lower elementary grades are still eager to learn and fun to work with. As a teacher, I will enjoy getting to work with these young kids and seeing all of the learning and success that they are able to achieve. I know I will enjoy my job and always look forward to coming to school and seeing my students. I believe that receiving a college education will greatly increase my ability to help the people in my community. As a teacher, I will be directly involved in the lives of all my students. I will be able to change my students' lives for the better. Some kids don’t have a positive role model at home and need a teacher who cares about them and wants to see them succeed. I want to be a teacher so I can make a difference in the lives of my students. Earning this scholarship would help put these dreams within my reach.

The summer before my first year of high school, I volunteered as a counselor at a local day camp. The camp was part of a program that helped kids learn to lead healthier lives. My friend and I were in charge of a group of nine seven-year-olds. I had so much fun and learned a lot about working with kids. I loved getting to know each of them and seeing all the learning and growth that took place during my short time with them. This experience has had an impact on my future plans. In the fall, I will begin my journey toward a degree in elementary education. My dream is to make a difference in the lives of the students I teach. I want to ignite a love of learning in the children who will be the future of our world. My passion is working with children and helping every one of them to succeed. Throughout high school, I have been very involved in sports. For most of my four years, I was a triple sport athlete and participated in volleyball, basketball, and softball. The experiences that I have had in these sports have taught me how to be a strong person. I have learned how to push through adversity and not give up when things get tough. All of my coaches have stressed the importance of having a good attitude and a positive mindset. Through their lessons, I have learned how to persevere despite challenges in life. In addition to sports, I have also been involved in several clubs at my high school. I am a member of the National Honor Society, Make a Difference Committee, Student Council, and Varsity Club. Most of these clubs are service-based and have gotten me lots of volunteer experience. Through these service opportunities, I have learned the importance of giving back to my community. A service project that is very important to me and my community is Backpack Buddies. Backpack Buddies is a program, run by NHS, in which we pack bags of food and deliver them to schools in our district. This food is very important to some of our younger students who don’t have enough to eat at home. This project impacted me and helped me to understand how important it is to help other people. If we didn’t deliver the food, these kids wouldn’t have anything to eat over the weekend. It helped me to learn that volunteering can change the lives of the people you are serving. I plan to find ways in which I can continue to give back to my community throughout college and beyond. One of the factors that I am considering when choosing a college is the availability of volunteer organizations and volunteer opportunities in the community surrounding the college. I want to continue to help give back because I know how important it is to the people you are helping. Even small acts of kindness can have a huge impact on someone’s life.