There are many books I could choose, but the one I've read the most is Redwall by Brain Jacques. When I was in high school, I would start the book over again as soon as I finished it. I realize that it is a work of fiction, but sometimes the best lessons are taught through imagined worlds that parallel our own. The main character is a mouse called Matthias who dreams of being a warrior like the famed and long-dead Martin the Warrior, who once protected Redwall Abbey. The young mouse overcomes his fears, evades death, and creates strong alliances with admirable characters. He goes on an impossible quest to find the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior, leaving Redwall practically defenseless against an evil sea rat called Cluny the Scourge. But the once peaceful mice of Redwall Abbey manage to keep the rats at bay while Matthias hurries to return with the sword of Martin the Warrior.  The weak, young mouse should not have been able to overcome the challenges he faced, but he did. Redwall is a classic story of the underdog winning in the face of fear and doubt. But he never faced his challenges alone. He always had a friend he could count on. No one can overcome impossible odds all alone. Everyone needs someone in their corner to cheer them on. Everyone needs to be believed in and have someone else to live for. The hope that glows in this captivating story is what keeps bringing me back for more, and that hope makes me grateful for the friends that I count on and who depend on me. 

Agatha Christie has always been an inspiration to me. I know she's a little bit of an odd choice. I mean, how much difference can a mystery author really make? Christie was just an ordinary girl who experienced love and heartache, and she poured herself into her books. She took risks that no other mystery author ever thought of. She used every resource she had, including her extensive knowledge of poisons due to working as a nurse during World War II. After being repeatedly rejected by publishers, her outside-the-box thinking eventually landed her with the following title: the Queen of Mystery.  She didn't always work alone either. She was a member of the Detection Club and was even the president for a time. Many fellow authors, such as G.K. Chesterton and Dorothy Sayers, were also part of the club, and they all wrote a couple books together. Agatha Christie wasn't afraid of collaboration and trusted her fellow writers as she discussed her ideas with them.  And Agatha Christie has always been a slight mystery herself. She never spoke of her disappearance and never once mentioned it in her autobiography. No one knows what happened to her or why she disappeared, but that shows that mysteries are a part of life. Not everyone will be solved, but the truth should always be sought out and fought for.  As an aspiring writer, I strive to make an impact like Agatha Christie. I am aware of the pressure I put on myself, but Agatha Christie has inspired me to push forward and share my work with the world. 

Children are defenseless and depend on their parents to protect them. When that parent leaves his/her child with a teacher, the role of protector passes to the teacher for as long as the child is in his/her care. Many dangers exist in a school, from heavy equipment to wet floors after a custodian mops a bathroom. But a playground is arguably more dangerous than either of those. I propose that a playground be enclosed, contain adequate equipment for the age group using it, and have a safe design.  However, even if a playground has all three qualities, the safety of the children is not a guarantee. In the dangerous world we live in, no amount of safety is a guarantee. That makes me wonder if we should live in fear.Absolutely not. A life lived in fear is no life at all. We can't protect children with the fear we have of possible danger, but we can prepare.  As a teacher, there are several precautions I would take as I supervise children on a playground. First of all, I would never stand in one place the whole time, nor would I be the only teacher there, especially if the playground is a big one with dozens of children. I would keep an eye on the perimeter, especially if the playground is not enclosed. If something dangerous were to wander onto the property, I would have an emergency plan in place. It would be a plan I would go over with my students, so they would know exactly what to do if something ever occurred.  The other danger on a playground is the equipment itself. Injuries occur when a child does what he/she shouldn't do, such as climbing up a slide or climbing on top of a tunnel that is over ten feet off the ground. They also jump off swings that are going too high or run in front of swings, earning a kick to the head. All such injuries can be prevented with a teacher who is always paying attention.  Playground supervision is essentially common sense put into action, and I'm not entirely sure if there is professional training as a playground supervisor. However, I would take extra measures to learn all I could. As a teacher, I would also work to stay in shape physically, so I can run to intercept a possibly dangerous situation, such as a child running in front of swings that are in use. Any interception like my previous examples should be treated as a teaching opportunity. When situations arise, a teacher should prioritize teaching safety. Punishment and anger will not teach children why they shouldn't run in front of the swings or climb up a slide. They should obey the rules in order to stay safe, not just avoid punishment.  At the end of the day, a teacher is going to be limited in his/her abilities. But he/she can use everything to his/her advantage. There are always children who will tell the teacher when a child is doing something he/she shouldn't be doing. As a teacher, I will use those extra pairs of eyes to my advantage. Certainly, there is a right and wrong way for the students to tell on each other, but the lesson of safety is one of the most important ones in the moment. I, as a teacher, will be limited, but I intend to use whatever I can to my advantage to keep the children in my care safe. Accidents will happen, but let it never be said that I wasn't at least prepared.

As an aspiring writer, my goal is to publish my five-book fantasy series for teens and young adults. I have been working on this intense project for over three years now, and I have the first thirty-five chapter novel under my belt. I am already on the rough draft of my second novel and have over twenty chapters done. I hope to finish this draft and start revising by the end of June 2022. When I first began this series, I planned all my characters and the overarching plot before I even started the first chapter of book one.  The publishing route is going to be tough, but I'm already starting to network. There is a self-publishing company that I'm looking at, but I want to speak with already published authors first. I have a friend who has an aunt who is an author, and I hope to get into contact with her as I start this long and difficult process. But I will not give up. I have worked too hard and put in too many countless hours for me to give up during the publishing stage. It may take another three years, but after working this long on these books, I'm willing to wait and tackle opportunity as it springs.

I took a class on personal finance in high school, and the most important lesson I got out of it was to have a budget and stick to it. It can be very easy to lose control of money if there isn't a set plan for it. When a budget is created, every dollar that comes into the bank account has a purpose. Not only does a budget give control, but having one also diminishes stress over finances. The class I took in high school was created by Dave Ramsey, and he said that when he and his wife didn't have a budget, he was constantly worried that he would be spending the grocery money on the gas bill. It was a stress on his finances and his marriage as a result.  A budget is like a blueprint for finances. It lays out the plan before the building starts, and these blueprints can change. If something isn't in the budget, like a family trip to Universal, then write it into the budget and save for the trip. A budget is not a straight jacket. It is the key to breaking the chains of financial stress.

Graduating from high school is supposed to be a happy time for all seniors as they take that last step together. We don't expect the last weeks of high school to be filled with strife. Mine was. To make a very long and complicated story short, a friendship I had since fifth grade burned in front of me. It was nothing I did wrong, and I couldn't stop it. But even though the last weeks of high school were tough, I was able to stay positive. Even though this friendship was over, my other friendships were strengthened as a result. I'm closer to my sisters than I was before, and my relationship with my parents has only improved. Keeping an optimistic attitude during this time was hard, but I was able to be genuinely happy because of my other strong friendships and my relationship with Jesus Christ. As a Christian, I know that God is in control, and holding to that promise is what gives me peace. I rest in the fact that he holds my future, and I don't have to be afraid. Maintaining a positive spirit is a key part of my life. Living in despair is pointless when there is so much to live for. My happiness is found in Christ.

I have a very active imagination, which is great for writing but terrible when I'm stressed. I get distracted easily when I'm trying to complete homework, and when I pray, my mind wanders. There are a few things that I do to clear my mind.  I like to go for a run when I'm stressed, though I can't do this all the time. Right now, the pollen where I'm at is very bad, and it affects my asthma. Running around campus, especially in the morning when the sun is rising, is very refreshing. I don't normally see anyone while I'm out, and I listen to motivational music to help me keep going.  Since my mind wanders when I pray, I keep a prayer journal. I'll write the date at the top, followed by my prayer to the Lord. I don't leave anything out. I reflect on how I'm feeling and what I need help with. I'll outline what I'm struggling with, but I also thank God for who He is. Writing everything out helps me stay focused on one thing at a time, and it makes me slow down. I've found myself spending close to half an hour in prayer, and I have to make myself stop. What I love about this activity is that I can look back at what I've prayed and see how God has answered that prayer. I have journals dating back several years, and I love looking back to see how far God has brought me.  I don't just write out my prayers, though. As an aspiring writer, I need to write out my thoughts and rearrange them so they will make sense. I also tend to talk to myself as I do this too. Now that I think about it, I talk to myself a lot. Sometimes I just need to take a deep breath and say aloud that everything is going to be fine.  What also helps me is to constantly analyze different perspectives on situations. When I realize that I'm having a sour attitude about, let's say, a rule on campus, I try to look at it from a different perspective. I try to see it as someone in authority, and I will attempt to explain why the rule is important. This mindset has helped me appreciate the rules that are in place, even if I don't always agree with them. Also, this practice helps me to keep a positive attitude as I navigate through my time here at college.

The impact that teachers have on students is no secret. My English teacher pushed me to become a better writer, and I miss having her now that I'm in college. She shaped me into the person I am today and encouraged me to keep writing. I have now finished a novel and am in the middle of a second, and I don't know if I would have pursued such a high goal if my teacher hadn't encouraged me or given me valuable communication skills. This is the kind of influence that I want to have on the next generation.  Being a teacher is not easy. Having a mom who is a second grade teacher has shown me that. But I am determined to mould the minds of the young and push them to greater heights that they doubt they can achieve. The children who will be in my care are the future of the country, and they can achieve the goals that they dream of. Becoming a teacher will give me a position of help and encouragement.  Not only have my great teachers inspired me, but also my least favorite one. I had a particular math teacher who was not the best when it came to flexibility. She was a very rigid person (and also my volleyball coach, so that was an interesting dynamic). I was honestly scared of her, and I don't want students to feel that way. She was also my younger sister's teacher. My sister has dyslexia, and she was to be given word banks on tests to aid her, but this teacher would not comply with the requests. She viewed it as "unfair," and my sister continued to struggle.  This is the kind of impact that I want to avoid. There are so many teachers like this in the world today, and I want to even the odds. I understand that I am going to make mistakes. I'm still human. But I will learn from those mistakes and will strive to be flexible with my students. Students with learning disabilities have a special place in my heart, and I want to make sure that they are not left in the dust or cast off as "unintelligent." Every child is special and unique, and none should be forced to struggle just because their brains work differently.  I want to become a teacher to inspire students to aim high and climb to achieve their dreams. All children need to be given the chance to succeed, whether they are autistic, handicapped, or literal geniuses. I am making it my mission to love these children, push them toward success, and help them over hurdles. Every child deserves the chance to be great, and I'm going to give it to them.

What children experience when they are young will stick with them forever, and there are certain people who have more influence than others: parents and teachers. I am pursuing Early Childhood Education because I want to have a positive impact on the children around me. Children are the future of the world. They are our future doctors, authors, lawyers, businessmen, teachers, and scientists. They can accomplish great things, but they first have to believe that they can. Their parents are their first role models, but teachers are next in line. So many teachers squander the influence that they have and don't treasure the power they hold in shaping and encouraging young minds. I am studying to be a teacher to motivate children and guide them as they grow.  I hope to be either a preschool or kindergarten teacher when I complete my bachelor's degree, but I don't intend to stop learning. So much is changing that I can't afford to become complacent. There is always more to learn as a teacher, so I can improve and become a better teacher for my students. There is always new technology or methods of teaching diverse learners. I want to utilize my education in the present as I teach, while looking for more to learn as I go. I know that I'm not going to be perfect. Hey, no one is. If I present myself as perfect, then what will I be teaching my students? I'm still human. I make mistakes, and I will help my students learn from my own mistakes as well as their own. Education is important to me because it is the foundation of a person's childhood. Most children will have the chance to go to school, and the skills they learn there will shape the rest of their lives. The things they learn and experience will stay with them forever. As a teacher's kid, school was my second home. I think I spent more time at school than at home. I believe that the love I have for learning blossomed while I was at school, and I want to pass that love to the kids in my care. They will be learning new things every day of their lives, and if I can help kids love the process, then I am helping them become better people. The influence that I will have is not something that I will take lightly. 

I believe that making higher-quality education available to lower-income families would greatly improve education for future generations. High-quality education is often very expensive, and it is the lower income families that need it the most. Children should not be hindered by finances in their educational careers. Each child should have an equal opportunity to learn and grow in their knowledge and skills. Unfortunately, there are many children who do not get the same opportunity to learn as the children on the other side of town, and this is wrong! Children need loving and patient teachers who care about them and their safety and who push them to their highest potential.  However, these teachers are few and far between. Teaching is regarded as low and unfulfilling. It's a low paying job, but teachers have a critically important role in the lives of children. They are shaping the minds of the next lawyers, businessmen, politicians, and maybe even a president! These children are the future, and they need to be given the same opportunities as other children.  My younger sister is dyslexic, and she hasn't been able to get all the help that she needs. We didn't even know she was dyslexic until she was in junior high, and she was teased relentlessly just because her mind works differently. She has to work extremely hard for her grades and wasn't given the help that she needed, like word banks on tests. Her hard work is paying off, but her case is similar to so many other children who need help that they can't afford.  Higher-quality education needs to be made available for all children regardless of the financial state in which their families are. They are the future of the country, and if we slack off, then what are we doing to our country? We can make advances in medicine and technology, but if the next generation is not shaped intentionally, then there will be no one left to further those advances. Our future is in the children under our care. We must do all we can to help them succeed.

Being a teacher is not for the faint of heart. The chance to mold minds and impact children positively is an opportunity that must not be wasted. Teachers are shaping the next generation, and that is not a responsibility to take lightly. Normally, I would describe myself as average, but that really isn't true. God has gifted me with patience for small children and a love for them that cannot be explained. I want to have the chance to impact children positively and push them toward greatness. After watching my mom wield this power for the past several years, I long for that responsibility. I've been given the chance to work with children in high school, so I know what I'm getting myself into. The work will be long and difficult, but I know I can push through. I am not a quitter.  I've played sports since middle school, and I've been taught how to work with a team. When I become a teacher, I will not be working alone. My job will be to partner with parents to educate their children and make them more rounded individuals. I am not a substitute parent. I will need to develop quality communication skills in order to do this well, and as an aspiring writer for the Inkwell Literary Magazine, I'm already developing those skills. But playing sports has taught me more than teamwork. Keeping a level head on the court is difficult when the referees seem to be against you, but I've gotten plenty of practice keeping my thoughts to myself and submitting to their calls. I'm not worried about whether I'll lash out when a parent, student, or fellow teacher screams at me. I know that I can keep myself calm and push forward without losing my temper. These skills are hard to develop and take time, but I've gotten a head start.  Even though schoolwork and sports keep me busy, I've always set aside time to read. When I read, I like to keep a variety of books on my shelf, from science fiction to true crime, but one book in particular has kept my attention for a while. "Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations" by brothers Alex and Brett Harris has broadened my view on life. Even though I'm only nineteen, I can make a difference. My age is not a barrier; it is a gift. Fighting low expectations in this world is a constant battle, and reading this book made me realize that I need to be the one who sets high expectations for myself. Yes, there are people around me who expect me to maintain my high grades and work hard when I'm on the clock at work. However, I'm not being scrutinized every second of every day. That is why I strive to get up early and run a mile or two before class. No one is awake that early, and not many of my friends know I do it, but I'm not out to show off to people. It's a small step in personal discipline that I have to take every morning, whether I feel like it or not.  I may not end up as a famous author or the educator that every child dreams of having with my name shouted for all to hear, but that's not the point. I'm content if I end up forgotten. Let's face it, we will all be forgotten within two to three generations. But my impact on children's lives will last forever, and that is a legacy worth pursuing.

The need to think about finances finally occurred to me as a high school senior when I realized that college was just around the corner. I was taking a course with many of my fellow classmates on personal finance, and, needless to say, I learned a lot. The best piece of advice that I was given was to budget and only spend the money I actually have. Credit cards have their place, but paying with cash is always the better option. Furthermore, we were taught to pay cash for college, and as much as I would love to follow that advice, it is not realistic. I have a twin, so the payments are doubled in my household. As I was pondering all of these factors, the next topic we covered was applying for as many scholarships as we could. The amount of time I spend writing essays and applying for prizes will be worth it in the end.  Since then, I have applied for a lot of scholarships, but I have not won anything yet. But I am not going to give up. I was advised to get submissions in early as that would hopefully help me stand out from the other applicants. I do not know if I am ever going to win any money, but I am going to keep trying. I am going to use any free time I get to write even more essays and apply for more scholarships. This is the best advice that I can truly work with as I work my way through college.