Any other person would be tired, but I am devoted to my students. Sitting in the car, skin sticky with sweat from running around summer camp for the past eight hours, I prepared myself for the part of my day where I get to have a one-on-one with each student I tutor. When I arrived, Anthony was waiting for me. An exceptional student who excels above his grade level. My personal favorite to work with because I see myself in him. As we go through his homework, when I point out a minor mistake, he erases his entire answer. If I think something is correct, I would attempt to defend my stance even if it is just to bring the second party to an understanding, but he didn’t even try. I figured this could be a confidence issue. I’ve noticed that there have been multiple students with the same issue, but I wonder why. To answer the question, “What affects the confidence levels of students?” It is the teachers. Throughout my two years working as a tutor and camp counselor, I’ve seen all the young, bright, passionate, intelligent souls that walk through the door. Souls that have been trapped in cycles of self-doubt at a young age. This is due to the lack of teachers speaking life into them. Not only their school teachers, but also any adult in their life who has the ability to pass down knowledge. The upcoming generation has already been painted in a bad light through internet trends. Trends like “brainrot” on TikTok generalize the entire generation and leave adults saying, “Our future is doomed.” This is far from true. We need more teachers who are willing to uplift their students, teach life lessons, and show them their true potential. I will be exactly that for all my students. Each generation has the capability to achieve more and be better than the last. I want to see that future unfold and help them break out of the cycle of “I can’t” or “I don’t know.” This passion of mine is derived from my personal past, where I had teachers who just weren’t willing to extend that extra hand or praise their students for their work. It is time we make that change and build our future with confident members of society. That starts in the school building. I deem the field of education as one of the most important occupations. I am confident in my ability to take on that challenge. Thanks to the amazing people who carried me to this point. It is now my turn to be a beacon for the youth and teach them more than English, but also lessons about life. Lessons that usually go untaught and are learned through self-reflection. There is nothing that I want more in life than to be a teacher who promotes the success of my students.