As I have grown older, my desire to teach special education has only strengthened. My first inspiration to pursue a career in special education started during my sophomore year of high school when I took a class called Student Leadership. Student Leadership was a class in which I would participate in gym class with the special education community at my high school, making and leading games for students with a range of disabilities, including Down syndrome, Cerebral palsy, and Autism. The relationships I built from this class grew so strong that I continued to take it five times in three years, along with becoming the president of the corresponding club, Project Unify. I became influenced to devote myself to a career in special education so that I could continue to be personally connected to individuals who have disabilities beyond high school, as these relationships made me more open-minded, accepting, patient, and empathetic. This class showed me the impact inclusivity makes on a community and that I can foster a life of advocacy for those with disabilities in myself and others. One student, Michael, had a profound impact on me and remains one of my closest friends. Michael has never met a stranger; he is kind to everyone and never fails to put a smile on your face. For Michael’s and my senior year, I decided to campaign for him to be on the Homecoming Court. Not only did he receive enough votes to be on the court, but he also went on to win and be named the Apex High School 2021 Homecoming King. I felt immense pride in my school for celebrating and uplifting Michael and representing unity and inclusion. To this day, Michael proudly reminds everyone that he is the King. Michael, like Margaret, is the world’s biggest NC State fan, and for as long as I can remember, he has cheered for every game and been to many football and basketball games. Additionally, he would tell everyone that one day we would go to NC State, which was quickly overlooked by many due to his disability. Michael inspires me to continue in this field and advocate for those with disabilities because he is now a student at NC State as a part of the Elevate program. Elevate is an inclusive postsecondary education program that provides a college campus experience for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and I have had the privilege to be a Peer Mentor this year for the launch year. His parents once told me, “Michael has always told everyone that he is going to go to NC State, but we never thought that would be possible. Now here he is, we are overjoyed.” This is why I want to teach special education. Society underestimates individuals with disabilities, but if we uplift, support, and advocate for their success, we are giving everyone the opportunity to achieve their dreams. My plan after I graduate in 2026 is to teach special education in North Carolina in an elementary school setting. Currently, I substitute teach in the ECS classes of a Wake County school. Subbing for almost three years has afforded me the experience of teaching Pre-K through 5th-grade special education classes and has taught me how to foster an accessible, supportive, and accommodating classroom that meets the needs of each individual student. I am devoted to making my classroom an unrestricted and inclusive environment for everyone who walks through my doors, and I am excited about the future career I am striving for and what we will achieve together.