As someone who struggles with Anxiety and Hesitation, I find myself overwhelmed by my thoughts. When I distance myself from everyone, they start to worry about me. I get why they worry about me but it's my way of finding my zen or becoming calm. I go on walks in my neighborhood listening to my music while the sun is shining and the wind blows through my hair. It's so calming and relaxing to me. I come back home from my walk and I feel like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. That's one of the most refreshing feelings. Other things that I love to help my mental state is taking naps or trying to keep myself busy with cleaning, reading Stephen King books, and listening to music. They all help me get back into that normal state of mind again.

I plan to graduate from Dean College in the year 2026 with a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education to become a preschool or kindergarten teacher. I will be attending Dean College this fall of 2022. Why I'm passionate about becoming a teacher is I love learning new things about certain ways I could teach and become better at it. Also, it would be less complicated for the kids to not get so confused if I have good teaching strategies. I also love being in a learning environment, watching the kids learn and succeed. Teaching is a way we teachers serve our communities! The quote "It takes a big heart to shape little minds", is my favorite because of how accurate it describes the impact we teachers have on kids and the way they learn. I currently work in a childcare center with preschoolers. I love my job so much! Working with kids is my favorite thing to do every day. Seeing their faces light up every morning when I walk in is so heartwarming and it brings me happiness that I can have such an impact on them. There are so many reasons I fell in love with working with kids. People ask me how I deal with kids every day, it takes lots of patience, love, and putting their needs before your own. I am extremely blessed and grateful I get to work with kids every day. I wouldn't change one thing about it.

My favorite hobby is spending time with family. To me, family is everything. I don't know where I would be without them pushing me to do better and to be better. A quality that I take to heart is "Strong families spend enjoyable time together." I can relate to that quality because that's exactly how my family and I are. I love going on trips and the endless laughter. But mostly, the memories we make together are my all-time favorite. My family and I are extremely competitive when it comes to games or anything we can beat each other in. Making my family proud of my accomplishments is all I want in life. The way my mom and dad love and care for my sister and me is unconditional. Friends will come and go but family will always be there to pick you up when you fall.

My dream for my future career is to become an elementary teacher. This fall I will be attending Dean College to major in Early Childhood Education. I will complete my 4 years at Dean, graduate, and earn my bachelor's degree. I love kids they truly make me happy. I currently work at a daycare with 3 and 4-year-olds. They can make my day instantly better. some people ask me how I don't get sick or annoyed with kids and the answer to that is I don't feel that way ever with kids. They have a special place in my heart.

Late-night car rides with the family, the feeling of happiness and delight of the time you and your family share. Spending those cherished moments together makes you wish you had a pause or repeat button. My source of happiness is my unconditional love for my family. Every chance I get with them is things I cherish because you never know what could happen at any given time. Nothing can take away love for family. They will always support you, your decisions, and most importantly, your accomplishments in life. They love watching you succeed. I am grateful for the little things that lead up to my joy and great pleasures in my life. My love for my family is never-ending.

What I do to make my friends and family feel loved is I always check on them and make sure they are feeling good physically, mentally, and emotionally. I love watching how proud and happy they get when they are by my side every step of the way seeing me accomplish my dream. I always try to be positive because they are also going through their own things but I will always be there for them as much as possible just like they are with me. Family and Friends are the most important thing in my life. I don't know what I would do without them at all. They guide and help me through everything and I couldn't be more grateful to have them in my life.

Something that I have learned about myself that I have found valuable is I have become more confident in myself. I take risks and live my life to the fullest because we aren't given a tomorrow. My motto in my life is "YOLO" You Only Live Once. I am just extremely proud of the person I have grown to become. I'm excited about the journeys and experiences I will have in my life.

I am Lauren Noonan, I'm 19 years of age. I am enrolled at Dean College and will major in Early Childhood Education to earn my bachelor's degree. I am currently working at a daycare with 3-4-year-olds. I love working with kids. They make me extremely happy. I was working with School-Age 1 and School-Age 2 but I got moved down to the 3's, which will help me with my major in college, Early Childhood Education. I will have a positive impact in the education field by always making the students feel welcome and less stressed. Checking on a child's mental health is extremely important because school can be extremely stressful, especially for a child. I have been in their position and I know exactly how it feels. I fell in love with working with children for many reasons one of them is how their minds work you know.