I was extremely lucky to have my grandparents as role models and sources of inspiration when I was growing up. They both devoted their entire lives to working in public education, molding the minds of countless children and leaving a lasting impression on their local communities. I had the honor of attending an elementary school for a few years, where my grandmother, Maw Maw, dedicated her time and energy to teaching, while my grandfather, Paw Paw, worked diligently at a high school. My decision to pursue a profession in teaching has been greatly impacted by their unwavering dedication to education and their clear love of the career. My grandparents introduced me to the world of school at a young age. I was significantly impacted by their interactions with their students and the positive impact they left on the community. They served as mentors, role models, and unwavering sources of support for many in addition to being educators. Their accounts of both the achievements and failures of their students, their unwavering commitment to their positions, and their ability to uplift and develop young minds had a profound impact on me. It became evident that for them, teaching was a calling as much as a career. I experienced an intense sense of grief a few months ago after both of my grandparents passed away. It was heartbreaking to realize that they would never have the opportunity to watch me walk across the graduating stage or see me follow in their footsteps. Nevertheless, this loss didn't make me feel hopeless; instead, it gave me a fresh sense of purpose. Their legacy and the emptiness they left behind have inspired me to strive even harder in order to uphold their memory and carry out their intention. After they passed away, the full scope of my grandparents' influence on their community became even more apparent. It was incredible how much love and respect they received from their coworkers, students, and neighbors. Numerous people related memories about how my grandparents had impacted their life, helped them through challenging times, and motivated them to succeed. In their memory, I promise to grow as a teacher by creating a nurturing and positive learning environment. I want to possess the traits that made my grandparents so adored ᅳpatience, empathy, commitment, and unrelenting confidence in the abilities of their students. They believed in everyone and gave everyone multiple chances regardless of their mistakes. Like my grandparents, I want to build a classroom where children feel appreciated, inspired, and empowered to pursue their dreams. In conclusion, the building block of my desire to become a teacher has been my grandparents' legacy. I wish to pursue a career in teaching, while embracing their passion for education, their unwavering loyalty to their community, and their commitment to their students. Their memory inspires me to work toward changing the world, even though I grieve their passing every day. I want to become a teacher so that I can uphold their legacy, repair the irreplaceable gap in my own life, and motivate the next generation the way they motivated me. I want to support our future students so that they can develop into strong and brilliant individuals who are capable of chasing their dreams.

As an African American, first-generation woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. Throughout all of this, I was extremely lucky to have my grandparents as role models and sources of inspiration when I was growing up. I was extremely lucky to have my grandparents as role models and sources of inspiration when I was growing up. They both devoted their entire lives to working in public education, molding the minds of countless children and leaving a lasting impression on their local communities. I had the honor of attending an elementary school for a few years, where my grandmother, Maw Maw, dedicated her time and energy to teaching, while my grandfather, Paw Paw, worked diligently at a high school. My decision to pursue a profession in teaching has been greatly impacted by their unwavering dedication to education and their clear love of the career. My grandparents introduced me to the world of school at a young age. I was significantly impacted by their interactions with their students and the positive impact they left on the community. They served as mentors, role models, and unwavering sources of support for many in addition to being educators. Their accounts of both the achievements and failures of their students, their unwavering commitment to their positions, and their ability to uplift and develop young minds had a profound impact on me. It became evident that for them, teaching was a calling as much as a career. I experienced an intense sense of grief a few months ago after both of my grandparents passed away. It was heartbreaking to realize that they would never have the opportunity to watch me walk across the graduating stage or see me follow in their footsteps. Nevertheless, this loss didn't make me feel hopeless; instead, it gave me a fresh sense of purpose. Their legacy and the emptiness they left behind have inspired me to strive even harder in order to uphold their memory and carry out their intention. After they passed away, the full scope of my grandparents' influence on their community became even more apparent. It was incredible how much love and respect they received from their coworkers, students, and neighbors. Numerous people related memories about how my grandparents had impacted their life, helped them through challenging times, and motivated them to succeed. In their memory, I promise to grow as a teacher by creating a nurturing and positive learning environment. I want to possess the traits that made my grandparents so adored ᅳpatience, empathy, commitment, and unrelenting confidence in the abilities of their students. They believed in everyone and gave everyone multiple chances regardless of their mistakes. Like my grandparents, I want to build a classroom where children feel appreciated, inspired, and empowered to pursue their dreams. In conclusion, the building block of my desire to become a teacher has been my grandparents' legacy. I'm wish to pursue a career in teaching, while embracing their passion for education, their unwavering loyalty to their community, and their commitment to their students. Their memory inspires me to work toward changing the world, even though I grieve their passing every day. I want to become a teacher so that I can uphold their legacy, repair the irreplaceable gap in my own life, and motivate the next generation the way they motivated me.

As an African American, first-generation college-attending woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up, I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and a rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself, and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive, and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation, where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. My biological mother, whom I had cut ties with a couple of years ago, has been charged with 30-50 years in jail. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. I am currently a junior at the University of Akron and care for my 15-year-old sister who lives with me full time. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've faced, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. I was extremely lucky to have my grandparents as role models and sources of inspiration when I was growing up. They both devoted their entire lives to working in public education, molding the minds of countless children and leaving a lasting impression on their local communities. I had the honor of attending an elementary school for a few years, where my grandmother, Maw Maw, dedicated her time and energy to teaching, while my grandfather, Paw Paw, worked diligently at a high school. My decision to pursue a profession in teaching has been greatly impacted by their unwavering dedication to education and their clear love of the career. They served as mentors, role models, and unwavering sources of support for many in addition to being educators. It became evident that for them, teaching was a calling as much as a career. I experienced an intense sense of grief a few months ago after both of my grandparents passed away. It was heartbreaking to realize that they would never have the opportunity to watch me walk across the graduation stage or see me follow in their footsteps. Nevertheless, this loss didn't make me feel hopeless; instead, it gave me a fresh sense of purpose.

Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. Throughout all of this, I was extremely lucky to have my grandparents as role models and sources of inspiration when I was growing up. I was so incredibly close to my grandma. They both devoted their entire lives to working in public education, molding the minds of countless children and leaving a lasting impression on their local communities. I had the honor of attending an elementary school for a few years, where my grandmother, Maw Maw, dedicated her time and energy to teaching, while my grandfather, Paw Paw, worked diligently at a high school. My decision to pursue a profession in teaching has been greatly impacted by their unwavering dedication to education and their clear love of their career. My grandparents introduced me to the world of school at a young age. I was significantly impacted by their interactions with their students and the positive impact they left on the community. They served as mentors, role models, and unwavering sources of support for many in addition to being educators. It became evident that for them, teaching was a calling as much as a career. I experienced an intense sense of grief in December and then in February after both of my grandparents passed away. It was heartbreaking to realize that they would never have the opportunity to watch me walk across the graduating stage or see me follow in their footsteps. They believed in me so much and it was so important to me that they were there. The passing of them both so close together, really had me shaken for quite some time. As holidays pass, I no longer receive texts from them, or phone calls on my birthday. Nevertheless, this loss didn't make me feel entirely hopeless, but it gave me a bit of purpose. Their legacy and the emptiness they left behind have inspired me to strive even harder to uphold their memory and carry out their intention. After they passed away, the full scope of my grandparents' influence on their community became even more apparent. It was incredible how much love and respect they received from their coworkers, students, and neighbors. In their memory, I promise to grow as a teacher by creating a nurturing and positive learning environment. I want to possess the traits that made my grandparents so adored including their patience, empathy, commitment, and unrelenting confidence in the abilities of their students. I want to become a teacher so that I can uphold their legacy, repair the irreplaceable gap in my own life, and motivate the next generation the way they motivated me. Their memory inspires me to work towards changing the world, even though I grieve their passing every day. They believed I was capable of anything in this world, and I plan on proving them right every day.

I was extremely lucky to have my grandparents as role models and sources of inspiration when I was growing up. They both devoted their entire lives to working in public education, molding the minds of countless children and leaving a lasting impression on their local communities. I had the honor of attending an elementary school for a few years, where my grandmother, Maw Maw, dedicated her time and energy to teaching, while my grandfather, Paw Paw, worked diligently at a high school. My decision to pursue a profession in teaching has been greatly impacted by their unwavering dedication to education and their clear love of the career. My grandparents introduced me to the world of school at a young age. I was significantly impacted by their interactions with their students and the positive impact they left on the community. They served as mentors, role models, and unwavering sources of support for many in addition to being educators. Their accounts of both the achievements and failures of their students, their unwavering commitment to their positions, and their ability to uplift and develop young minds had a profound impact on me. It became evident that for them, teaching was a calling as much as a career. I experienced an intense sense of grief a few months ago after both of my grandparents passed away. It was heartbreaking to realize that they would never have the opportunity to watch me walk across the graduating stage or see me follow in their footsteps. Nevertheless, this loss didn't make me feel hopeless; instead, it gave me a fresh sense of purpose. Their legacy and the emptiness they left behind have inspired me to strive even harder in order to uphold their memory and carry out their intention. After they passed away, the full scope of my grandparents' influence on their community became even more apparent. It was incredible how much love and respect they received from their coworkers, students, and neighbors. Numerous people related memories about how my grandparents had impacted their life, helped them through challenging times, and motivated them to succeed. In their memory, I promise to grow as a teacher by creating a nurturing and positive learning environment. I want to possess the traits that made my grandparents so adored ᅳpatience, empathy, commitment, and unrelenting confidence in the abilities of their students. They believed in everyone and gave everyone multiple chances regardless of their mistakes. Like my grandparents, I want to build a classroom where children feel appreciated, inspired, and empowered to pursue their dreams. In conclusion, the building block of my desire to become a teacher has been my grandparents' legacy. I'm wish to pursue a career in teaching, while embracing their passion for education, their unwavering loyalty to their community, and their commitment to their students. Their memory inspires me to work toward changing the world, even though I grieve their passing every day. I want to become a teacher so that I can uphold their legacy, repair the irreplaceable gap in my own life, and motivate the next generation the way they motivated me.

As an African American, first-generation, homosexual woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. People that taught me that the characteristics that define me, shouldn't be hidden but worn with pride. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles, I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. As of today, I plan on finishing my degree and using it to not only help my community but the children of our future as well.

As an African American, first-generation woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. Throughout all of this, I was extremely lucky to have my grandparents as role models and sources of inspiration when I was growing up. They both devoted their entire lives to working in public education, molding the minds of countless children and leaving a lasting impression on their local communities. I had the honor of attending an elementary school for a few years, where my grandmother, Maw Maw, dedicated her time and energy to teaching, while my grandfather, Paw Paw, worked diligently at a high school. My decision to pursue a profession in teaching has been greatly impacted by their unwavering dedication to education and their clear love of the career. My grandparents introduced me to the world of school at a young age. I was significantly impacted by their interactions with their students and the positive impact they left on the community. They served as mentors, role models, and unwavering sources of support for many in addition to being educators. Their accounts of both the achievements and failures of their students, their unwavering commitment to their positions, and their ability to uplift and develop young minds had a profound impact on me. It became evident that for them, teaching was a calling as much as a career. I experienced an intense sense of grief a few months ago after both of my grandparents passed away. It was heartbreaking to realize that they would never have the opportunity to watch me walk across the graduating stage or see me follow in their footsteps. Nevertheless, this loss didn't make me feel hopeless; instead, it gave me a fresh sense of purpose. Their legacy and the emptiness they left behind have inspired me to strive even harder in order to uphold their memory and carry out their intention. After they passed away, the full scope of my grandparents' influence on their community became even more apparent. It was incredible how much love and respect they received from their coworkers, students, and neighbors. Numerous people related memories about how my grandparents had impacted their life, helped them through challenging times, and motivated them to succeed. In their memory, I promise to grow as a teacher by creating a nurturing and positive learning environment. I want to possess the traits that made my grandparents so adored including their patience, empathy, commitment, and unrelenting confidence in the abilities of their students. They believed in everyone and gave everyone multiple chances regardless of their mistakes. Like my grandparents, I want to build a classroom where children feel appreciated, inspired, and empowered to pursue their dreams. In conclusion, the building block of my desire to become a teacher has been my grandparents' legacy. I wish to pursue a career in teaching, while embracing their passion for education, their unwavering loyalty to their community, and their commitment to their students. Their memory inspires me to work toward changing the world, even though I grieve their passing every day. I want to become a teacher so that I can uphold their legacy, repair the irreplaceable gap in my own life, and motivate the next generation the way they motivated me.

As a junior at the University of Akron, my greatest accomplishment would be prioritizing my education while dealing with grief, stress and exhaustion. This last year has felt like a downfall from losing both of my grandparents in the span of three months, my father losing his home and job and having to obtain a new vehicle due to mine having mechanical issues. Losing my grandparents was absolutely heart wrenching and while I wanted to break down and give up for a few days, I managed to push myself through and continue attending my classes and going to all three of my jobs. I knew my grandparents valued my education and would want me to continue on. Less than a month later, my father lost his job and home which required me to help pay for a roof over their heads along with food and other necessities until he got back on his feet. Lastly my car began to give out a few weeks after my family technicalities requiring me to hurry and find a cheap replacement to be able to transport myself to my classes and work with minimal issues. Each year, there seems to be a new lesson and while I feel defeated at times, I remind myself that I have to push through it because sometimes it takes a few storms to get to the good. If you had asked me in March how my life was going, I wouldn't have been able to put into words how distraught and overwhelmed I was but as someone who has time to process and heal for a few months, I can say I am okay now. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles, I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. I plan on continuing volunteering throughout college but to pay back all of the help I received in foster care; I plan on becoming a foster parent to help other children the way my foster family helped me. Along with that, I plan on using my degree to help low-income families and students as well. I want to do as much good as possible to pay back but also show my appreciation for the incredible support I received throughout my lifetime, that helped me succeed and thrive in my career. I want to do as much good in this world as I can.

As an African American, first-generation woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody a few years later. I know what it’s like to jump over obstacles and face diversity. I have had some incredible teacher role models in my lifetime who helped me get through each phase of my life. I was extremely lucky to have my grandparents as role models and sources of inspiration when I was growing up. They both devoted their entire lives to working in public education, molding the minds of countless children and leaving a lasting impression on their local communities. I had the honor of attending an elementary school for a few years, where my grandmother, Maw Maw, dedicated her time and energy to teaching, while my grandfather, Paw Paw, worked diligently at a high school. My decision to pursue a profession in teaching has been greatly impacted by their unwavering dedication to education and their clear love of the career. They served as mentors, role models, and unwavering sources of support for many in addition to being educators. Their accounts of both the achievements and failures of their students, their unwavering commitment to their positions, and their ability to uplift and develop young minds had a profound impact on me. It became evident that for them, teaching was a calling as much as a career. I experienced an intense sense of grief a few months ago after both of my grandparents passed away. It was heartbreaking to realize that they would never have the opportunity to watch me walk across the graduating stage or see me follow in their footsteps. Nevertheless, this loss didn't make me feel hopeless; instead, it gave me a fresh sense of purpose. Their legacy and the emptiness they left behind have inspired me to strive even harder in order to uphold their memory and carry out their intention. In their memory, I promise to grow as a teacher by creating a nurturing and positive learning environment. I want to possess the traits that made my grandparents so adored ᅳpatience, empathy, commitment, and unrelenting confidence in the abilities of their students. They believed in everyone and gave everyone multiple chances regardless of their mistakes. Like my grandparents, I want to build a classroom where children feel appreciated, inspired, and empowered to pursue their dreams. In conclusion, the building block of my desire to become a teacher has been my grandparents' legacy. I wish to pursue a career in teaching, while embracing their passion for education, their unwavering loyalty to their community, and their commitment to their students. Their memory inspires me to work toward changing the world, even though I grieve their passing every day. I want to become a teacher so that I can uphold their legacy, repair the irreplaceable gap in my own life, and motivate the next generation the way they motivated me.

I was extremely lucky to have my grandparents as role models and sources of inspiration when I was growing up. They both devoted their entire lives to working in public education, molding the minds of countless children and leaving a lasting impression on their local communities. I had the honor of attending an elementary school for a few years, where my grandmother, Maw Maw, dedicated her time and energy to teaching, while my grandfather, Paw Paw, worked diligently at a high school. My decision to pursue a profession in teaching has been greatly impacted by their unwavering dedication to education and their clear love of the career.They served as mentors, role models, and unwavering sources of support for many in addition to being educators. Their accounts of both the achievements and failures of their students, their unwavering commitment to their positions, and their ability to uplift and develop young minds had a profound impact on me. It became evident that for them, teaching was a calling as much as a career. I experienced an intense sense of grief a few months ago after both of my grandparents passed away. It was heartbreaking to realize that they would never have the opportunity to watch me walk across the graduating stage or see me follow in their footsteps. Nevertheless, this loss didn't make me feel hopeless; instead, it gave me a fresh sense of purpose. Their legacy and the emptiness they left behind have inspired me to strive even harder in order to uphold their memory and carry out their intention. After they passed away, the full scope of my grandparents' influence on their community became even more apparent. It was incredible how much love and respect they received from their coworkers, students, and neighbors. Numerous people related memories about how my grandparents had impacted their life, helped them through challenging times, and motivated them to succeed. In their memory, I promise to grow as a teacher by creating a nurturing and positive learning environment. I want to possess the traits that made my grandparents so adored including their patience, empathy, commitment, and unrelenting confidence in the abilities of their students. They believed in everyone and gave everyone multiple chances regardless of their mistakes. Like my grandparents, I want to build a classroom where children feel appreciated, inspired, and empowered to pursue their dreams. In conclusion, the building block of my desire to become a teacher has been my grandparents' legacy. I wish to pursue a career in teaching, while embracing their passion for education, their unwavering loyalty to their community, and their commitment to their students. Their memory inspires me to work toward changing the world, even though I grieve their passing every day. I want to become a teacher so that I can uphold their legacy, repair the irreplaceable gap in my own life, and motivate the next generation the way they motivated me. After graduation, I plan on becoming more involved in my community but also plan on joining an organization that I can maintain a relationship with to help my community. I plan on becoming an elementary school teacher in hopes of helping students who go through the same struggles I did growing up but also becoming a positive and strong role model in my community. I want to continue growing and educating myself every day. I want to create changes in this world during my lifetime, whether it's small or big.

I was extremely lucky to have my grandparents as role models and sources of inspiration when I was growing up. They both devoted their entire lives to working in public education, molding the minds of countless children and leaving a lasting impression on their local communities. I had the honor of attending an elementary school for a few years, where my grandmother, Maw Maw, dedicated her time and energy to teaching, while my grandfather, Paw Paw, worked diligently at a high school. My decision to pursue a profession in teaching has been greatly impacted by their unwavering dedication to education and their clear love of the career. My grandparents introduced me to the world of school at a young age. I was significantly impacted by their interactions with their students and the positive impact they left on the community. They served as mentors, role models, and unwavering sources of support for many in addition to being educators. Their accounts of both the achievements and failures of their students, their unwavering commitment to their positions, and their ability to uplift and develop young minds had a profound impact on me. It became evident that for them, teaching was a calling as much as a career. I experienced an intense sense of grief a few months ago after both of my grandparents passed away. It was heartbreaking to realize that they would never have the opportunity to watch me walk across the graduating stage or see me follow in their footsteps. Nevertheless, this loss didn't make me feel hopeless; instead, it gave me a fresh sense of purpose. Their legacy and the emptiness they left behind have inspired me to strive even harder in order to uphold their memory and carry out their intention. After they passed away, the full scope of my grandparents' influence on their community became even more apparent. It was incredible how much love and respect they received from their coworkers, students, and neighbors. Numerous people related memories about how my grandparents had impacted their life, helped them through challenging times, and motivated them to succeed. In their memory, I promise to grow as a teacher by creating a nurturing and positive learning environment. I want to possess the traits that made my grandparents so adored including their patience, empathy, commitment, and unrelenting confidence in the abilities of their students. They believed in everyone and gave everyone multiple chances regardless of their mistakes. Like my grandparents, I want to build a classroom where children feel appreciated, inspired, and empowered to pursue their dreams. In conclusion, the building block of my desire to become a teacher has been my grandparents' legacy. I wish to pursue a career in teaching, while embracing their passion for education, their unwavering loyalty to their community, and their commitment to their students. Their memory inspires me to work toward changing the world, even though I grieve their passing every day. I want to become a teacher so that I can uphold their legacy, repair the irreplaceable gap in my own life, and motivate the next generation the way they motivated me.

I was extremely lucky to have my grandparents as role models and sources of inspiration when I was growing up. They both devoted their entire lives to working in public education, molding the minds of countless children and leaving a lasting impression on their local communities. I had the honor of attending an elementary school for a few years, where my grandmother, Maw Maw, dedicated her time and energy to teaching, while my grandfather, Paw Paw, worked diligently at a high school. My decision to pursue a profession in teaching has been greatly impacted by their unwavering dedication to education and their clear love of the career. My grandparents introduced me to the world of school at a young age. I was significantly impacted by their interactions with their students and the positive impact they left on the community. They served as mentors, role models, and unwavering sources of support for many in addition to being educators. Their accounts of both the achievements and failures of their students, their unwavering commitment to their positions, and their ability to uplift and develop young minds had a profound impact on me. It became evident that for them, teaching was a calling as much as a career. I experienced an intense sense of grief a few months ago after both of my grandparents passed away. It was heartbreaking to realize that they would never have the opportunity to watch me walk across the graduating stage or see me follow in their footsteps. Nevertheless, this loss didn't make me feel hopeless; instead, it gave me a fresh sense of purpose. Their legacy and the emptiness they left behind have inspired me to strive even harder in order to uphold their memory and carry out their intention. After they passed away, the full scope of my grandparents' influence on their community became even more apparent. It was incredible how much love and respect they received from their coworkers, students, and neighbors. Numerous people related memories about how my grandparents had impacted their life, helped them through challenging times, and motivated them to succeed. In their memory, I promise to grow as a teacher by creating a nurturing and positive learning environment. I want to possess the traits that made my grandparents so adored including their patience, empathy, commitment, and unrelenting confidence in the abilities of their students. They believed in everyone and gave everyone multiple chances regardless of their mistakes. Like my grandparents, I want to build a classroom where children feel appreciated, inspired, and empowered to pursue their dreams. In conclusion, the building block of my desire to become a teacher has been my grandparents' legacy. I wish to pursue a career in teaching, while embracing their passion for education, their unwavering loyalty to their community, and their commitment to their students. Their memory inspires me to work toward changing the world, even though I grieve their passing every day. I want to become a teacher so that I can uphold their legacy, repair the irreplaceable gap in my own life, and motivate the next generation the way they motivated me.

As an African American and first-generation college-attending woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up, I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody a few years later. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I was extremely lucky to have my grandparents as role models and sources of inspiration when I was growing up. They both devoted their entire lives to working in public education, molding the minds of countless children and leaving a lasting impression on their local communities. I had the honor of attending an elementary school for a few years, where my grandmother, Maw Maw, dedicated her time and energy to teaching, while my grandfather, Paw Paw, worked diligently at a high school. My decision to pursue a profession in teaching has been greatly impacted by their unwavering dedication to education and their clear love of the career. My grandparents introduced me to the world of school at a young age. I was significantly impacted by their interactions with their students and the positive impact they left on the community. They served as mentors, role models, and unwavering sources of support for many in addition to being educators. Their accounts of both the achievements and failures of their students, their unwavering commitment to their positions, and their ability to uplift and develop young minds had a profound impact on me. It became evident that for them, teaching was a calling as much as a career. I experienced an intense sense of grief a few months ago after both of my grandparents passed away. It was heartbreaking to realize that they would never have the opportunity to watch me walk across the graduating stage or see me follow in their footsteps. Nevertheless, this loss didn't make me feel hopeless; instead, it gave me a fresh sense of purpose. Their legacy and the emptiness they left behind have inspired me to strive even harder in order to uphold their memory and carry out their intention. After they passed away, the full scope of my grandparents' influence on their community became even more apparent. It was incredible how much love and respect they received from their coworkers, students, and neighbors. Numerous people related memories about how my grandparents had impacted their life, helped them through challenging times, and motivated them to succeed. In their memory, I promise to grow as a teacher by creating a nurturing and positive learning environment. I want to possess the traits that made my grandparents so adored ᅳpatience, empathy, commitment, and unrelenting confidence in the abilities of their students. They believed in everyone and gave everyone multiple chances regardless of their mistakes. Like my grandparents, I want to build a classroom where children feel appreciated, inspired, and empowered to pursue their dreams. In conclusion, the building block of my desire to become a teacher has been my grandparents' legacy. I wish to pursue a career in teaching, while embracing their passion for education, their unwavering loyalty to their community, and their commitment to their students. Their memory inspires me to work toward changing the world, even though I grieve their passing every day. I want to become a teacher so that I can uphold their legacy, repair the irreplaceable gap in my own life, and motivate the next generation the way they motivated me.

As an African-American and first-generation college-attending woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up, I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody a few years later. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I gave a speech and represented the class of 2022. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. This experience taught me the true value of working for what you want but also cherishing absolutely everything. While my time in high school wasn't ideal, I made the best out of the situation. I joined organizations and clubs to help build my skills as a leader. I am very active in the Akron Council of Education Students with hopes of becoming a part of the leadership in my junior year. This scholarship would also mean that I can travel home and get to see my family without the stress of affording it along with school. I'm attending the University of Akron where I can get a dual degree in Special Education and Early Education, but I am originally from Nebraska. After graduation, I plan on becoming more involved in my community but also plan on joining an organization that I can maintain a relationship with to help my community. I plan on becoming an elementary school teacher in hopes of helping students who go through the same struggles I did growing up but also becoming a positive and strong role model in my community. I want to continue growing and educating myself every day. I have plans to hopefully become involved in foster care as well. I want to create changes in this world during my lifetime, whether it's small or big. I owe it to the younger me.

This scholarship would mean a great deal, especially on my educational journey to receive my bachelor's in early education and special education. This support would mean I would get to focus on my studies and wouldn't have to get a third job to afford my education. As an African American, first-generation woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. I plan on continuing volunteering throughout college but to pay back all of the help I received in foster care, I plan on becoming a foster parent to help other children the way my foster family helped me. Along with that, I plan on using my degree to help low-income families and students as well. I want to do as much good as possible to pay back but also show my appreciation for the incredible support I received throughout my lifetime, that helped me succeed and thrive in my career.

I was extremely lucky to have my grandparents as role models and sources of inspiration when I was growing up. They both devoted their entire lives to working in public education, molding the minds of countless children and leaving a lasting impression on their local communities. I had the honor of attending an elementary school for a few years, where my grandmother, Maw Maw, dedicated her time and energy to teaching, while my grandfather, Paw Paw, worked diligently at a high school. My decision to pursue a profession in teaching has been greatly impacted by their unwavering dedication to education and their clear love of the career. My grandparents introduced me to the world of school at a young age. I was significantly impacted by their interactions with their students and the positive impact they left on the community. They served as mentors, role models, and unwavering sources of support for many in addition to being educators. Their accounts of both the achievements and failures of their students, their unwavering commitment to their positions, and their ability to uplift and develop young minds had a profound impact on me. It became evident that for them, teaching was a calling as much as a career. I experienced an intense sense of grief a few months ago after both of my grandparents passed away. It was heartbreaking to realize that they would never have the opportunity to watch me walk across the graduating stage or see me follow in their footsteps. Nevertheless, this loss didn't make me feel hopeless; instead, it gave me a fresh sense of purpose. Their legacy and the emptiness they left behind have inspired me to strive even harder in order to uphold their memory and carry out their intention. After they passed away, the full scope of my grandparents' influence on their community became even more apparent. It was incredible how much love and respect they received from their coworkers, students, and neighbors. Numerous people related memories about how my grandparents had impacted their life, helped them through challenging times, and motivated them to succeed. In their memory, I promise to grow as a teacher by creating a nurturing and positive learning environment. I want to possess the traits that made my grandparents so adored ᅳpatience, empathy, commitment, and unrelenting confidence in the abilities of their students. They believed in everyone and gave everyone multiple chances regardless of their mistakes. Like my grandparents, I want to build a classroom where children feel appreciated, inspired, and empowered to pursue their dreams. In conclusion, the building block of my desire to become a teacher has been my grandparents' legacy. I'm wish to pursue a career in teaching, while embracing their passion for education, their unwavering loyalty to their community, and their commitment to their students. Their memory inspires me to work toward changing the world, even though I grieve their passing every day. I want to become a teacher so that I can uphold their legacy, repair the irreplaceable gap in my own life, and motivate the next generation the way they motivated me.

As an African American, first-generation college attending, homosexual woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. When I entered sixth grade, my sexuality seemed to be less certain, and I came out to my friends as bisexual. Later that same year, I began experiencing bullying that lasted until eighth grade. I was picked on for my sexuality quite a bit. Once I entered high school, I came out to my friends as a lesbian but still hadn't come out to my parents. I didn't come out to my parents until Valentine's Day of 2021. While it wasn't a positive experience, I don't regret it. I slowly came out to more and more people in my family that same year. I've surrounded myself with people who make me feel confident with my differences. People that taught me that the characteristics that define me, shouldn't be hidden but worn with pride. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. I am now attending college as a first generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it.

I was extremely lucky to have my grandparents as role models and sources of inspiration when I was growing up. They both devoted their entire lives to working in public education, molding the minds of countless children and leaving a lasting impression on their local communities. I had the honor of attending an elementary school for a few years, where my grandmother, Maw Maw, dedicated her time and energy to teaching, while my grandfather, Paw Paw, worked diligently at a high school. My decision to pursue a profession in teaching has been greatly impacted by their unwavering dedication to education and their clear love of the career. My grandparents introduced me to the world of school at a young age. I was significantly impacted by their interactions with their students and the positive impact they left on the community. They served as mentors, role models, and unwavering sources of support for many in addition to being educators. Their accounts of both the achievements and failures of their students, their unwavering commitment to their positions, and their ability to uplift and develop young minds had a profound impact on me. It became evident that for them, teaching was a calling as much as a career. I experienced an intense sense of grief a few months ago after both of my grandparents passed away. It was heartbreaking to realize that they would never have the opportunity to watch me walk across the graduating stage or see me follow in their footsteps. Nevertheless, this loss didn't make me feel hopeless; instead, it gave me a fresh sense of purpose. Their legacy and the emptiness they left behind have inspired me to strive even harder in order to uphold their memory and carry out their intention. After they passed away, the full scope of my grandparents' influence on their community became even more apparent. It was incredible how much love and respect they received from their coworkers, students, and neighbors. Numerous people related memories about how my grandparents had impacted their life, helped them through challenging times, and motivated them to succeed. In their memory, I promise to grow as a teacher by creating a nurturing and positive learning environment. I want to possess the traits that made my grandparents so adored ᅳpatience, empathy, commitment, and unrelenting confidence in the abilities of their students. They believed in everyone and gave everyone multiple chances regardless of their mistakes. Like my grandparents, I want to build a classroom where children feel appreciated, inspired, and empowered to pursue their dreams. In conclusion, the building block of my desire to become a teacher has been my grandparents' legacy. I'm wish to pursue a career in teaching, while embracing their passion for education, their unwavering loyalty to their community, and their commitment to their students. Their memory inspires me to work toward changing the world, even though I grieve their passing every day. I want to become a teacher so that I can uphold their legacy, repair the irreplaceable gap in my own life, and motivate the next generation the way they motivated me.

As an African American, first-generation woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. This scholarship would mean a great deal, especially on my educational journey to receive my bachelor's in early education and special education. This support would mean I would get to focus on my studies and wouldn't have to get a third job to afford my education and the ever-rising cost of living. I plan on continuing volunteering throughout college but to pay back all of the help I received in foster care, I plan on becoming a foster parent to help other children the way my foster family helped me. Along with that, I plan on using my degree to help low-income families and students as well. I want to do as much good as possible to pay back but also show my appreciation for the incredible support I received throughout my lifetime, that helped me succeed and thrive in my career. I want to make a difference in my lifetime, whether it's small or large.

This scholarship would mean a great deal, especially on my educational journey to receive my bachelor's in early education and special education. This support would mean I would get to focus on my studies and wouldn't have to get a third job to afford my education. As an African American, first-generation woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. I plan on continuing volunteering throughout college but to pay back all of the help I received in foster care, I plan on becoming a foster parent to help other children the way my foster family helped me. Along with that, I plan on using my degree to help low-income families and students as well. I want to do as much good as possible to pay back but also show my appreciation for the incredible support I received throughout my lifetime, that helped me succeed and thrive in my career.

As an African-American and first-generation college-attending woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up, I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody a few years later. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I gave a speech and represented the class of 2022. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. This experience taught me the true value of working for what you want but also cherishing absolutely everything. While my time in high school wasn't ideal, I made the best out of the situation. I worked so incredibly hard every step of the way to constantly be ahead and prepared. I joined organizations and clubs to help build my skills as a leader and as a human being. The experience was a very large guiding point in my life. After graduation, I plan on becoming even more involved in my community but also plan on joining an organization that I can maintain a relationship with to help my community. I plan on becoming an elementary school teacher in hopes of helping students who go through the same struggles I did growing up but also becoming a positive and strong role model in my community. I want to continue growing and educating myself every day. I have plans to hopefully become involved in foster care as well. I want to create changes in this world during my lifetime, whether it's small or big.

As an African American, first-generation woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody a few years later. I know what it’s like to jump over obstacles and face diversity. I have had some incredible teacher role models in my lifetime who helped me get through each phase of my life. My middle school social studies teacher had the absolute biggest impact on me. He was a new teacher and was still learning how to be a teacher. He treated us like we were human beings instead of just students. This went a long way, especially on the days where everything going on, hit just a little bit harder. Life was complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my learner's permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I gave a speech and represented the class of 2022. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. I want to be a teacher because I want to help students who may be going through what I went through as a child or just in general may be struggling. I want to help empower our future generations. To show them that they can do anything they put their mind to and to never take no for an answer because they are so incredibly capable. I want to shape their futures and make a change.

As an African-American and first-generation college-attending woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up, I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody a few years later. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I gave a speech and represented the class of 2022. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. This experience taught me the true value of working for what you want but also cherishing absolutely everything. While my time in high school wasn't ideal, I made the best out of the situation. I worked so incredibly hard every step of the way to constantly be ahead and prepared. I joined organizations and clubs to help build my skills as a leader and as a human being. The experience was a very large guiding point in my life. This scholarship would mean that I can afford the next three years of my degree with little to no stress or financial distress. It would mean I could spend more time tutoring during college and more time focusing on my education. I am very active in the Akron Council of Education Students with hopes of becoming a part of the leadership in my junior year. This scholarship would also mean that I can travel home and get to see my family without the stress of affording it along with school. I'm attending the University of Akron where I can get a dual degree in Special Education and Early Education but I am originally from Nebraska. Due to the out-of-state price increases but also the price increases this year due to not being eligible for a tuition guarantee program, the school has become less and less affordable. After graduation, I plan on becoming more involved in my community but also plan on joining an organization that I can maintain a relationship with to help my community. I plan on becoming an elementary school teacher in hopes of helping students who go through the same struggles I did growing up but also becoming a positive and strong role model in my community. I want to continue growing and educating myself every day. I have plans to hopefully become involved in foster care as well. I want to create changes in this world during my lifetime, whether it's small or big. I owe it to the younger me

I believe the overall high school experience was my greatest achievement, I made the absolute most out of everything I could which may seem like a boring answer but as someone who grew up in the foster care system and was constantly told by outsiders that I wouldn't amount to anything, it hasn't been boring. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then had to turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. I am now attending The University of Akron in order to get a dual degree in Early Education and Special Education. The move from Nebraska was challenging especially financially and mentally but educationally, I have thrived. While at times it seems like financially, it isn't going to work out, I push through and do everything in my power to ensure that I can graduate and make my family proud. I want to be the best role model for my siblings. This experience taught me the true value of working for what you want but also cherishing absolutely everything. While my time in high school wasn't ideal, I made the best out of the situation. I worked so incredibly hard every step of the way to constantly be ahead and prepared. I joined organizations and clubs to help build my skills as a leader and as a human being. The experience was a very large guiding point in my life. In the near future, I plan on becoming even more involved in my community but also plan on joining an organization that I can maintain a relationship with. I plan on becoming an elementary school teacher in hopes of helping students who go through the same struggles I did growing up but also becoming a positive and strong role model in my community. I want to continue growing and educating myself each and every day. I want to create changes in this world during my lifetime, whether it's small or big. I owe it to the younger me.

As an African American, first-generation college student , I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. I know what it’s like to jump over obstacles and face diversity. I want to help empower our future generations. To show them that they can do anything they put their mind to and to never take no as an answer because they are so incredibly capable. I want to shape their futures and make a change. Imagining what I went through as a child empowers me to not only do more but to be more as a person.

Blank Space by Taylor Swift from the '1989' album will forever be my favorite. Screaming the words at the top of my lungs with my siblings on our neverending road trips or on the way to the store will not be one of my favorite memories with them. All the words were known by heart and we all could recite them at the top of our lungs with no judgement. As someone who moved away for college, I've realized that you have to hold onto those memories. Not only do you have to hold onto them but you have to squeeze the absolute life out of them in hopes that they will last you until the next time a break is long enough to travel home. When the song first came out, we use to argue over what the actual words were until we would finally google the line and gain immediate bragging rights. Blank Space was the positive and catchy song that was constantly on the radio so it made it so incredibly easy to memorize. It felt like every single car trip, the song was always on the radio. The song came out over nine years ago and I know if I were to get in the car and play this song, the people in the car would be singing louder than Taylor herself. Our favorite line to sing was "Boys only want love if it's torture Don't say I didn't, say I didn't warn ya" not to mention gathering the absolute most attitude and screaming at the top of our lungs " "Oh, my God, who is she?" ". None of us had been in a relationship nor had faced heartbreak but we surely sang all of the words as if we had. Every single word that left our mouth, came out like we had faced the absolute most heartbreaking moment of our lives despite still being mere children. I will forever hold onto these memories with my absolute best friends because while the distance is long, I know we will forever have each other's backs. They are what get me through the long months of college because I know I'm being the best role model for them and that one day we will be able to sing Blank Space in person again. Until then I will reminisce the memories of her song playing on repeat. Forever.

I believe the overall high school experience was my greatest achievement, I made the absolute most out of everything I could which may seem like a boring answer but as someone who grew up in the foster care system and was constantly told by outsiders that I wouldn't amount to anything, it hasn't been boring. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. This experience taught me the true value of working for what you want but also cherishing absolutely everything. While my time in high school wasn't ideal, I made the best out of the situation. I worked so incredibly hard every step of the way to constantly be ahead and prepared. I joined organizations and clubs to help build my skills as a leader and as a human being. The experience was a very large guiding point in my life. In the near future, I plan on becoming even more involved in my community but also plan on joining an organization that I can maintain a relationship with. I plan on becoming an elementary school teacher in hopes to help students that go through the same struggles I did growing up but also become a positive and strong role model in my community. I want to continue growing and educating myself each and every day. I want to create changes in this world during my lifetime, whether it's small or big. I owe it to the younger me.

As an African American, first-generation, homosexual woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. When I entered sixth grade, my sexuality seemed to be less certain, and I came out to my friends as bisexual. Later that same year, I began experiencing bullying that lasted until eighth grade. I've surrounded myself with people who make me feel confident with my differences. People that taught me that the characteristics that define me, shouldn't be hidden but worn with pride. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. I am now attending college as a first generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. My plans to help my community are to begin volunteering with my schools garden this upcoming school year, volunteer in a few different food shelters but I also plan on keeping myself informed about what’s going on in my community and ensuring that I am as informed and involved as I can be. I plan to continue these efforts even after college and hopefully will be able to reach out and do way more and help more and more.

As an African American, first-generation woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. I know what it’s like to jump over obstacles and face diversity. While in high school, I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. I want to earn my degree in Early Childhood Education and use it to be a kindergarten teacher. I want to get my certification in ASL, First Aid and CPR as well to empower myself and have the maximum ability to assist. I have volunteered at a shelter and I have also helped with my community garden as well. I want to continue to find ways to help my community in the future whether it's hosting free classes to learn needed skills, volunteering at a local shelter, attending events or donating. I want to give back to organizations that helped me when I was a child. I want to help empower our future generations. To show them that they can do anything they put their mind to and to never take no for an answer because they are so incredibly capable. I want to shape their futures and make a change. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am.

I am currently getting my dual degree in elementary education and also in special education. I long to eventually earn several certificates to better prepare me for the future such as ASL, First Aid, CPR and AED. I want to use these achievements to pursue my dream career as a kindergarten teacher. I want to use the next three years of my educational journey to grow as a person and to get the absolute most that I can get out of my education. As an African American, first-generation woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. I was also a constant victim of bullying from elementary school into early high school but I've surrounded myself with people who make me feel confident with my differences. People that taught me that the characteristics that define me, shouldn't be hidden but worn with pride. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it.

As an African American, first-generation, homosexual woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug-addict mother and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. When I entered sixth grade, my sexuality seemed to be less certain, and I came out to my friends as bisexual. Later that same year, I began experiencing bullying that lasted until eighth grade. I was picked on for my sexuality and being a light-skinned biracial person. I've surrounded myself with people who make me feel confident with my differences. People that taught me that the characteristics that define me, shouldn't be hidden but worn with pride. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles, I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. I plan on using what I've learned from the obstacles I've faced to work harder and receive the education that the younger me would have wanted us to get. I plan on becoming an elementary school teacher and later getting my certification in foster care. I also want to help spread awareness of addiction and how to get help because one of the hardest moments in life, is to watch your mother, whom you look up to, struggle with addiction. I also want to spread greater awareness of foster care along with so many other things. I believe my place in this world is to help children and their families who struggled like I did growing up and to show them that so much more is possible. I want to help my community by teaching brave, confident and educated children.

As an African American, first-generation, homosexual woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. I want to teach future generations that they are strong and can accomplish so much in this lifetime. I want to push them to overcome hardships and obstacles. I want to help shape our future.

As an African American, first-generation, homosexual woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. When I entered sixth grade, my sexuality seemed to be less certain, and I came out to my friends as bisexual. Later that same year, I began experiencing bullying that lasted until eighth grade. I was picked on for my sexuality, weight, and being a light-skinned biracial person. Once I entered high school, I came out to my friends as a lesbian but still hadn't come out to my parents. I didn't come out to my parents until Valentine's Day of 2021. I slowly came out to more and more people in my family that same year. I've surrounded myself with people who make me feel confident with my differences. People that taught me that the characteristics that define me, shouldn't be hidden but worn with pride. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. I am now attending college as a first generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it.

As an African American, first-generation, homosexual woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. When I entered sixth grade, my sexuality seemed to be less certain, and I came out to my friends as bisexual. Later that same year, I began experiencing bullying that lasted until eighth grade. I was picked on for my sexuality, weight, and being a light-skinned biracial person. Once I entered high school, I came out to my friends as a lesbian but still hadn't come out to my parents. I didn't come out to my parents until Valentine's Day of 2021. I slowly came out to more and more people in my family that same year. I've surrounded myself with people who make me feel confident with my differences. People that taught me that the characteristics that define me, shouldn't be hidden but worn with pride. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. I am now attending college as a first generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it.

As an African American, first-generation, homosexual woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. When I entered sixth grade, my sexuality seemed to be less certain, and I came out to my friends as bisexual. Later that same year, I began experiencing bullying that lasted until eighth grade. I was picked on for my sexuality, weight, and being a light-skinned biracial person. Once I entered high school, I came out to my friends as a lesbian but still hadn't come out to my parents. I didn't come out to my parents until Valentine's Day of 2021. I slowly came out to more and more people in my family that same year. I've surrounded myself with people who make me feel confident with my differences. People that taught me that the characteristics that define me, shouldn't be hidden but worn with pride. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it.

Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am but I wouldn't have been able to do it without quite a few of my teachers. They pushed me to get involved and focus on the good. While it was hard, it was so incredible to have such support from an educational standpoint. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. I want to use my PITP education degree to become an elementary school teacher and help students the way teachers helped me. I want to show my future students that they can obtain their goals and that they can genuinely do anything they put their minds to. I want them to know that it's okay to be scared of the unknown but that it does get easier and life has so much to offer. I wish for the children of our future to grow to be strong, independent, and smart individuals who know what they want and will push to get it. I want to teach our nation's next scientist, ballerina, doctor, engineer, and so much more.

As an African American, first-generation, homosexual woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. I've surrounded myself with people who make me feel confident with my differences. People that taught me that the characteristics that define me, shouldn't be hidden but worn with pride. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. I'm passionate about early childhood education because I want to be like the teachers who helped make my life easier growing up with obstacles. I want to help children feel like school is a safe place and that they can achieve so much. The world can be overwhelming and scary so I just hope to make my classroom a haven.

As an African American, first-generation, homosexual woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. When I entered sixth grade, my sexuality seemed to be less certain, and I came out to my friends as bisexual. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. I want to make a difference in the world whether it's small or large. I plan on becoming a teacher and helping children grow and become the best that they can be. The world is a big and scary place and I want to help make it a little bit less scary in anyway that I can.

As a child, I was asked what I want to be when I grow up. Every year was a different answer from being a princess to being a doctor but as I got older, I lost sight of what I wanted to do until 7th grade when I met Mr. Macoubrie. He was my absolute favorite teacher and I was going through so much especially after transferring schools and just leaving the foster system a couple of years previously. He went out of his way to explain topics in class, create really fun learning experiences and be there for the students who needed it. He made school a safe place and made it easier to do good. He is super kind and I still email him occasionally to update him on my everyday life. As an African American, first-generation, homosexual woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. When I entered sixth grade, my sexuality seemed to be less certain, and I came out to my friends as bisexual. Later that same year, I began experiencing bullying that lasted until eighth grade. I was picked on for my sexuality, weight, and being a light-skinned biracial person. Once I entered high school, I came out to my friends as a lesbian but still hadn't come out to my parents. I didn't come out to my parents until Valentine's Day of 2021. I slowly came out to more and more people in my family that same year. I've surrounded myself with people who make me feel confident with my differences. People that taught me that the characteristics that define me, shouldn't be hidden but worn with pride. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. I am now attending college as a first-generation college attendee. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it.

As an African American, first-generation, homosexual woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I want to use the obstacles I've overcome and help children. I want to be the teacher who makes the day go by just a little bit easier, makes lessons seem understandable and make sure that no child that I ever teach, ever feels the way I did growing up. I want to further a higher education, so I can continue on to becoming an elementary school teacher.

In high school, I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I also worked a minimum of 30 hours a week, managed to do all of my homework and pass my classes. I managed my time by making sure to write all my homework and assignments down in a calendar so I could make sure one didn't slip my mind. I also made sure that none of my events overlapped in time and to coordinate previously so super busy days could run smoothly. Now in college as a full-time student, I attend meetings for ACES monthly and make sure I try to go to any extra ones they plan. I am currently doing a work-study at my school's HR and volunteering at my school's Transfer and Adult program for a scholarship, so time is often tight any time before 5pm. I print off calendars and plan accordingly so that all of my events, classes and homework don't get forgotten.

As an African American, first-generation, homosexual woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. While it was hard, I learned how to survive and how to conquer. People that taught me that the characteristics that define me, shouldn't be hidden but worn with pride. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles, I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. I plan on using what I've learned from the obstacles I've faced to work harder and receive the education that younger me would have wanted us to get. I plan on becoming an elementary school teacher and later getting my certification in foster care. I also want to help spread awareness of addiction and how to get help because one of the hardest moments in life, is to watch your mother, whom you look up to, struggle with addiction. I also want to spread greater awareness of foster care along with so many other things. I believe my place in this world is to help children and their families who struggled like I did growing up and to show them that so much more is possible. I plan on becoming an elementary school teacher and making a difference.

As an African American, first-generation, homosexual woman, I have faced diversity in many ways. Growing up I had a rough childhood due to a previously absent father and a mother who was facing addiction. As a child, I moved around quite a bit and struggled to stay caught up in school. Despite being advanced in some classes due to natural intelligence, I struggled in other classes due to my absence from class and rough home life. I was bullied for having a drug addict mother, an absent father, and for being African American in a town that was primarily Caucasian. At a young age, I constantly heard rumors about not only my mother but my siblings and myself as well. I struggled to try to fit in and remain happy in such a complicated situation. I was placed into foster care when I was 9 years old and remained in foster care until my father gained custody when I was almost 12 years old. When I entered sixth grade, my sexuality seemed to be less certain, and I came out to my friends as bisexual. Later that same year, I began experiencing bullying that lasted until eighth grade. I was picked on for my sexuality and being a light-skinned biracial person. Once I entered high school, I came out to my friends as a lesbian and came out to my parents on Valentine's Day of 2021. I've surrounded myself with people who make me feel confident with my differences. People that taught me that the characteristics that define me, shouldn't be hidden but worn with pride. I've worked so incredibly hard to get to where I am. I joined my school's leadership cadre and LGBTQ club. The next year I became an officer of the LGBTQ club. I took summer classes to get ahead, so I only had 1-2 classes my senior year and had more time to work to save up for my car. Life was even more complicated due to not having a physical copy of my birth certificate, a social security card, or even an ID. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get my birth certificate by myself and then turn around and get my permit at the end of March 2022. Towards the beginning of May 2022, my step-grandpa started teaching me how to drive and I passed my driver's test within a couple of weeks and purchased my first used car by myself not too long later. A week later, I drove myself to my graduation where I got to represent the class of 2022 and gave a speech. Despite all the uncertainty and obstacles, I've had to face, I know that as long as I keep pressing forward and staying positive, I can get through it. I plan on using what I've learned from the obstacles I've faced to work harder and receive the education that younger me would have wanted us to get. I plan on becoming an elementary school teacher and later getting my certification in foster care. I also want to help spread awareness of addiction and how to get help because one of the hardest moments in life, is to watch your mother, whom you look up to, struggle with addiction. I also want to spread greater awareness of foster care along with so many other things. I believe my place in this world is to help children and their families who struggled like I did growing up and to show them that so much more is possible.

Do what you like to do and want to do, don't just do things to make someone else happy because a few years from now, you're going to regret not doing what you actually wanted to do. Chances are if you have to change yourself and change what you like to do for someone, you aren't going to be friends or dating them for long. instagram - khaliyawoods