I knew that I wanted to be a teacher when I was 5 years old. My mom had a job centered around children and learning, so I was exposed to teaching from a young age. I made my younger brother play "school" with me when we were kids and I would use my allowance money to buy "teacher" toy sets. Fast forward to when I was in 4th grade, my music teacher called me in and asked me if I would audition for the district Honor Choir. I always loved to sing but I never thought I was good enough to do anything special with my voice. I went into the audition and to my surprise, I made it in! This was the beginning of my journey to finding my love for music. As time went on, I kept auditioning for more ensembles and continued to advance farther and farther each time. By the time I was a junior in high school, I was in two varsity choral ensembles, cast in the school musical, and was the Social Coordinator for our Choir Council. I am now in the same two choral ensembles, was cast as a lead in the musical, and currently serve as the President of the Choir Council. It has blown my mind to watch where life has led me once I walked through the open doors that were placed in my path. My director has given me so many opportunities and has always been a cheerleader of mine to help me when I was struggling. She’s offered me advice countless times and made sure I knew that her door was always open. We have grown so close over the last 2 years of my time in her program and I aspire to be a music teacher like her. I hope to instill a love of learning in my students and I hope to celebrate the joy that music can bring their lives, just like the joy it has brought mine. Music is singlehandedly one of the reasons why I truly love my life. Being involved in music programs throughout my education has infinitely made my life so much richer. The lessons, the clinics, the concerts, the scary auditions, the memories, the friendships, and most of all, the beautiful music that I have been so lucky to sing and play throughout my 9 years in school music programs.

I knew that I wanted to be a teacher when I was 5 years old. My mom had a job centered around children and learning, so I was exposed to teaching from a young age. I made my younger brother play "school" with me when we were kids and I would use my allowance money to buy "teacher" toy sets. Fast forward to when I was in 4th grade, my music teacher called me in and asked me if I would audition for the district Honor Choir. I always loved to sing but I never thought I was good enough to do anything special with my voice. I went into the audition and to my surprise, I made it in! This was the beginning of my journey to finding my love for music. As time went on, I kept auditioning for more ensembles and continued to advance farther and farther each time. By the time I was a junior in high school, I was in two varsity choral ensembles, cast in the school musical, and was the Social Coordinator for our Choir Council. I am now in the same two choral ensembles, was cast as a lead in the musical, and currently serve as the President of the Choir Council. It has blown my mind to watch where life has led me once I walked through the open doors that were placed in my path. My director has given me so many opportunities and has always been a cheerleader of mine to help me when I was struggling. She’s offered me advice countless times and made sure I knew that her door was always open. We have grown so close over the last 2 years of my time in her program and I aspire to be a music teacher like her. I hope to instill a love of learning in my students and I hope to celebrate the joy that music can bring their lives, just like the joy it has brought mine. Music is singlehandedly one of the reasons why I truly love my life. Being involved in music programs throughout my education has infinitely made my life so much richer. The lessons, the clinics, the concerts, the scary auditions, the memories, the friendships, and most of all, the beautiful music that I have been so lucky to sing and play throughout my 9 years in school music programs.

Successful women are some of the most inspirational people for young women to be mentored by and to observe as they go through life. I have been fortunate enough to have grown up around many strong and independent women, but one of them tops it all, my high school choir director. She is fierce, strong, level-headed, and loyal to the people close to her. She has pushed me out of my comfort zone and brought the best out of me in my 4 years of high school choir. When I was a 14-year-old getting my first high school schedule, I saw that choir was my last class of the day. I always liked having my "fun" classes in the middle of the day so I was a little disappointed. But I soon came to realize that ending my day by doing something I love was the best way to end it. Slowly as time went on, I realized that I wanted to get involved. I joined the "Choir Council" and started volunteering with new friends and getting closer to my director. In my junior year, I became an officer in the program and was a part of the leadership team over the choir. I also auditioned for the top 2 varsity choirs and to my surprise, I got into both of them! This meant I was spending more than double the amount of time with my director than I used to. I absolutely loved this time and it felt so nice to realize I finally had that one teacher that everyone talks about, the one who is a mentor, confidant, and trusted adult. As my junior year came and went, it was time to plan for my last year of high school. I decided to apply for arguably the largest position in my choir program, President. I was so nervous about the application and interview. I didn't want to disappoint my friends or directors. I remember at our banquet at the end of my junior year, I was announced as the President. I was overwhelmed with joy. I still vividly remember that as I was announced, my director came up and hugged me and whispered in my ear, "You have no idea how much I'm going to need you next year." I hugged her even tighter and at that moment I realized that this is what true joy was. I knew that I wanted to follow in her footsteps and become a music teacher and give other students the joy and love that she had given me. My director has given me so many opportunities and has always been a cheerleader of mine to help me when I was struggling. She’s offered me advice countless times and made sure I knew that her door was always open. We have grown so close over the last 2 years of my time in her program and I aspire to be a music teacher like her. I hope to instill a love of learning in my students and I hope to celebrate the joy that music can bring their lives, just like the joy it has brought mine.

Cinderella always struck a chord with me. I was never the coolest or prettiest girl at school, and I always envied those who were. I put unnecessary anxieties onto myself to try and gain the approval of others. Cinderella reminds me of myself because when she was doing seamstress duties for her sisters, (the "pretty" ones), she took her chores on with a smile. She made the best out of a rough situation and soon, she didn't have the desire to be the "prettiest girl" or the "most popular". My "Cinderella moment" began in sixth grade. I hadn't found my place in school and didn't know where little old me fit in the maze-like equation of middle school. I kept trying to find my "perfect fit" and ultimately never felt like I belonged in any group I tried to join. Then, I joined the choir. Being in choir gave me a family and gave me true friends for the first time. I felt like I had the best life in the world and I stopped looking for approval from other people. In the choir room, I could embrace who I truly was. Eventually, as I got through middle school and into high school, I began to work my way up in my choir programs. I joined the choir council in 10th grade and helped out with events, then became an officer in 11th grade. As an officer, I wanted to help my program out; the program that gave me a family. I wanted it to give others a family too. Now as a senior, I am President of my high school choir program. I strongly relate to Cinderella. She felt lost and she didn't fit in or have a place in the castle, so she took on her situation with a smile and waited it out for the perfect moment when she would find out who she was and what was perfect for her life. I never felt like I belonged to something until I joined Choir. Choir was my "perfect fit" and was the "glass slipper" that has changed my life.

Join clubs or organizations and get involved! My freshman year of high school, I couldn’t really find my place. I joined a few clubs and got into the routine of things, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I was lost and didn’t know who my community was or where I fit inside my school, which was now completely virtual. After doing virtual learning for the next year and a half, I finally got to go back in person for my junior year of high school! Knowing this, when it came time to pick my classes, I chose classes where my passions were. I auditioned into the highest choir at my school after being in choir my freshman and sophomore year, and joined my school district’s student teaching program. I am now a senior and still involved in both of those programs that I chose during my sophomore year. I am now the President of the Choir Council and Vice President of our Student Teaching Council. I have made amazing memories and friends throughout these two programs and they have not only given me a school “family”, but opportunities to grow in my leadership skills as well.

Creative freedom. What does the average person think of when you hear the words, "Creative Freedom"? Well, they probably think of some visual art and someone going against the grain and being abstract in their beliefs and views. I view it as a teacher who isn't controlled by their administration. When teachers are given creative freedom in their teaching, they can prevent future mental health issues for themselves, and students can be taught through personalized instruction. Teachers who have the ability to not only decorate their classroom, but "decorate" their instruction through lessons that work for them and their students can make education better for future generations. Teachers will have creative freedom in choosing their lessons, and concepts for their students to learn. By doing this, teachers are more likely to be happier with their job and their students' performance in the classroom. When students are taught through personalized instruction, they have a higher chance of suceeding not only in their academic performance, but in their academic confidence. Personalization in academic lessons can give students creative freedom to learn at their own pace, while being guided by a teacher or academic mentor. Students are more likely to enjoy learning and being in the classroom when they are given creative freedom to learn at their own discretion with teacher guidance. From personal experience, when given creative freedom to assess my learning goals and fabricate a lesson plan for myself to learn, I have statistically done better than when guided by a district or statewide curriculum. Kinesthetic learners like myself also have the chance to succeed in concepts like creative freedom in learning. Most curricula in high school disregard kinesthetic learners and only focus on lectures geared towards visual and auditory learner. To close, by giving teachers and students creative freedom in their teaching and learning environment, they are more likely to associate their job and schoolwork with enjoyment, and they are more likely to succeed.