Ever since I had the opportunity to tutor students with special needs, I have been deeply inspired to pursue a career in special education. What began as a volunteer experience soon became a calling that shaped my academic and professional ambitions. Through my time working with these students, I gained a profound understanding of their unique challenges and talents, and I realized that this was the path I was meant to follow. My plan to earn a special education degree stems from this firsthand experience, my desire to make a lasting impact in the lives of children, and my commitment to advocating for those who are often overlooked in traditional educational systems. The journey began when I started tutoring a student with autism. At first, I was unsure of how best to support their learning, but as I got to know the student, I realized that their approach to learning was simply different, not less capable. I began researching teaching methods tailored to students with autism and other special needs, and through trial and error, I discovered strategies that helped the student thrive. The joy of seeing their progress, no matter how small, made me realize the immense potential within every child. This experience not only gave me confidence in my ability to support students with diverse needs, but it also sparked a passion to learn more and pursue a career that could allow me to do this on a larger scale. What stands out the most about my tutoring experience is the deep sense of fulfillment that comes from helping students overcome obstacles. Unlike traditional tutoring, which often focuses on academic subjects, tutoring students with special needs required me to be more creative, patient, and flexible in my approach. I learned to celebrate their unique ways of thinking and adapt my teaching to accommodate their strengths and challenges. This was not just about academic achievement; it was about emotional growth, self-confidence, and developing skills that would help them lead fulfilling lives. This experience led me to realize that special education is not just a profession for me—it’s a calling. With this newfound understanding, I am now focused on how to turn my passion into a tangible career. I plan to pursue a degree in special education at a reputable university. The first step is to enroll in an undergraduate program that offers a comprehensive curriculum covering learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, behavioral interventions, and the legal and ethical aspects of special education. I believe that having a strong theoretical foundation will allow me to be a more effective educator. Additionally, I will look for opportunities to gain hands-on experience through internships or volunteer work in schools that serve students with disabilities, as I know that real-world practice is essential to understanding the diverse needs of these children. Once I have earned my degree, my goal is to work in a public school system, where I can support students with a wide range of disabilities. I also plan to pursue further certifications, such as a certification in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), to enhance my ability to work with students who require intensive behavioral support. My ultimate ambition is to not only be an effective educator but also to advocate for policy changes that will make special education more inclusive and equitable for all students. My plan to earn a special education degree is deeply rooted in my experiences as a tutor for students with special needs. This journey has shown me the profound impact that dedicated educators can have on students’ lives, and I am committed to being part of that positive change. Through further education and hands-on experience, I am confident that I will be able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students with special needs.

Ever since I had the opportunity to tutor students with special needs, I have been deeply inspired to pursue a career in special education. What began as a volunteer experience soon became a calling that shaped my academic and professional ambitions. Through my time working with these students, I gained a profound understanding of their unique challenges and talents, and I realized that this was the path I was meant to follow. My plan to earn a special education degree stems from this firsthand experience, my desire to make a lasting impact in the lives of children, and my commitment to advocating for those who are often overlooked in traditional educational systems. The journey began when I started tutoring a student with autism. At first, I was unsure of how best to support their learning, but as I got to know the students, I realized that their approach to learning was simply different, not less capable. I began researching teaching methods tailored to students with autism and other special needs, and through trial and error, I discovered strategies that helped the student thrive. This experience not only gave me confidence in my ability to support students with diverse needs, but it also sparked a passion to learn more and pursue a career that could allow me to do this on a larger scale. What stands out the most about my tutoring experience is the deep sense of fulfillment that comes from helping students overcome obstacles. Unlike traditional tutoring, which often focuses on academic subjects, tutoring students with special needs required me to be more creative, patient, and flexible in my approach. I learned to celebrate their unique ways of thinking and adapt my teaching to accommodate their strengths and challenges. This was not just about academic achievement; it was about emotional growth, self-confidence, and developing skills that would help them lead fulfilling lives. This experience led me to realize that special education is not just a profession for me—it’s a calling. With this newfound understanding, I am now focused on how to turn my passion into a tangible career. I plan to pursue a degree in special education at a reputable university. The first step is to enroll in an undergraduate program that offers a comprehensive curriculum covering learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, behavioral interventions, and the legal and ethical aspects of special education. I believe that having a strong theoretical foundation will allow me to be a more effective educator. Additionally, I will look for opportunities to gain hands-on experience through internships or volunteer work in schools that serve students with disabilities, as I know that real-world practice is essential to understanding the diverse needs of these children. Once I have earned my degree, I also plan to pursue further certifications, such as a certification in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), to enhance my ability to work with students who require intensive behavioral support. My ultimate ambition is to not only be an effective educator but also to advocate for policy changes that will make special education more inclusive and equitable for all students. My plan to earn a special education degree is deeply rooted in my experiences as a tutor for students with special needs. This journey has shown me the profound impact that dedicated educators can have on students’ lives, and I am committed to being part of that positive change. Through further education and hands-on experience, I am confident that I will be able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students with special needs.

Up until recently, I wasn’t so sure I’d live through high school; I wasn’t sure I’d have a future. But, within the last year, my outlook on life has taken a complete 180. When I was 12-years-old, my mom saw self-harm marks on my wrist. I began going to therapy and started medication a couple months after that. We tried several prescriptions and combinations, and over a couple years found one that really worked for me. I wasn’t 100%, but I was good enough to get by, to keep my head above water. Around the same time, I got involved with the wrong group of people. I was being exposed to aspects of life that were really unhealthy for both my body and mind, all while lying to my mother’s face about it and not caring about the consequences. My mom tried to get me away from all that for a couple years but I thought I knew better than her, because what 16-year-old doesn’t think that? So, in May of my sophomore year, she decided she had no other option: I would move from Utah to Ohio to live with my father. On June 1st, I made the move fifteen hundred miles away from my life. My dad and I had a pretty distant relationship, so I wasn’t all that close with him, my stepmom, or half-sister. Because of this the first few months in Ohio were extremely difficult. I was so full of anger and had a closed mindset about my new situation. School came around, and I was absolutely not looking forward to it. With plenty of reluctance, I played on the tennis team and tried to make friends. Slowly but surely I felt more and more at home, like I might belong. I can’t say exactly when the switch flipped, if it was one pivotal moment or a collection of them that rewired my mind. But since I’ve been here, I have healed my relationship with my mother, which was rocky for years. I have grown immensely closer with my dad and this family and I feel like I’m in the right place. I have made so much progress that I never thought I would be able to make. I wake up every morning grateful, not angry at the fact that I woke up to begin with. I am willing to put in effort in my classes; I want to go to school and get the job of my dreams and genuinely have a future. I want to live. I want to have a full life. And I will. I am extraordinarily proud of myself and the ways that I have healed myself. Withal, I am so very grateful for the people in my life who have helped heal the broken pieces of my soul that I didn’t even realize needed to be fixed in the first place. I have taken control of my life back from mental illness. I will live, and am truly the happiest I have ever been. Life is so precious and full of beautiful moments that I took for granted for far too long. We have to live in the moment and be willing to do just that. And I am.

Up until recently, I wasn’t so sure I’d live through high school; I wasn’t sure I’d have a future. But, within the last year, my outlook on life has taken a complete 180. When I was 12-years-old, my mom saw self-harm marks on my wrist and proceeded to catch me attempting to take my own life. I began going to therapy and started medication a couple months after that. We tried several prescriptions and combinations, and over a couple years found one that really worked for me. I wasn’t 100%, but I was good enough to get by, to keep my head above water. Around the same time, I got involved with the wrong group of people. I was being exposed to aspects of life that were really unhealthy for both my body and mind, all while lying to my mother’s face about it and not caring about the consequences. My mom tried to get me away from all that for a couple years but I thought I knew better than her, because what 16-year-old doesn’t think that? So, in May of my sophomore year, she decided she had no other option: I would move from Utah to Ohio to live with my father. On June 1st, I made the move fifteen hundred miles away from my life. My dad and I had a pretty distant relationship, so I wasn’t all that close with him, my stepmom, or half-sister. Because of this the first few months in Ohio were extremely difficult. I was so full of anger and had a closed mindset about my new situation. School came around, and I was absolutely not looking forward to it. With plenty of reluctance, I played on the tennis team and tried to make friends. Slowly but surely I felt more and more at home, like I might belong. I can’t say exactly when the switch flipped, if it was one pivotal moment or a collection of them that rewired my mind. But since I’ve been here, I have healed my relationship with my mother, which was rocky for years. I have grown immensely closer with my dad and this family and I feel like I’m in the right place. I have made so much progress that I never thought I would be able to make. I wake up every morning grateful, not angry at the fact that I woke up to begin with. I am willing to put in effort in my classes; I want to go to school and get the job of my dreams and genuinely have a future. I want to live. I want to have a full life. And I will. I am extraordinarily proud of myself and the ways that I have healed myself. Withal, I am so very grateful for the people in my life who have helped heal the broken pieces of my soul that I didn’t even realize needed to be fixed in the first place. I have taken control of my life back from mental illness. I will live, and am truly the happiest I have ever been. Life is so precious and full of beautiful moments that I took for granted for far too long. We have to live in the moment and be willing to do just that. And I am.

1. "listen before i go" resonates deeply with me because I have struggled with mental health since I was in elementary school and have survived an attempt to take my own life. These kinds of issues are so common yet still such a big problem that the world has yet to accept. People are told far too often that they're being dramatic or that they just need a little sunshine, when we really need professional help but are unconsciously discouraged to get that help. Also this song makes me cry everytime lol. 2. "male fantasy" is very powerful to me and probably to just about every other woman who has heard it as well. It speaks volumes about common yet 'taboo' things girls deal with on a daily basis, especially girls my age. 3. "everything i wanted" is the most powerful song to me. Before I moved away, my younger brothers and I were very close. One of them, two years younger than me, was close enough to my age so I could really connect with him about my mental health and he helped me so much more than he knows. The lyrics in this song reflect how extraordinarily grateful I am for him.