Currently, I am a senior at Indiana Area High School. My life has been one of growth, struggle, service, and learning to stand tall even when the times are not easy. When I returned to Indiana during the third grade, I had fallen behind in class and had a struggle keeping up. It often took extra hard work on my part just to comprehend the information compared to many of the students who seemed to take the learning by instinct. Currently, I can look back on those struggles and say that I now proudly sport a GPA over a 4.0 and High Honors. This experience taught me that success does not come to one who is merely “smart,” but to one who works their hardest and stays committed to their dreams. Additionally, I am involved in other activities outside of class. I am part of Student Government Association, Leadership Seminar, Senior Career Seminar, Key Club, PBIS, Ambassadors, and Indiana High School Dance Team. I am involved in Leadership and Senior Career Seminars in helping to collect funds to support the work of Four Diamonds, which is an organization that supports kids with pediatric cancer. By being part of such groups in my school, I have observed how powerful community is because students in this institution have been able to unite under one cause. Moreover, I volunteer through my teaching internship at Life Skills and Autistic Support schools. I tutor students privately, as well as ensure that they are noticed and appreciated. My aim is for all the students to feel safe, supported, and confident, particularly those that struggle in silence. In addition, in my extracurricular activities, I volunteer at Eat 'n Park, in addition to volunteering as an assistant in a dance teacher at Sue Hewitt Dance Studio. I have also faced struggles in life that have made me who I am. I have experienced cyberbullying on sites such as Snapchat because of my acne, my weight, and what I have gone through in life. Seeing comments that had me feeling embarrassed, insecure, and alone was true at times because I read those comments. Instead of breaking me, I have learned how to stand up for myself and not give in to letting all those negatives come at me by ignoring negativity and taking time to talk about issues with people in my life and knowing I am not defined by people’s comments or words but knowing who I am. Due to this, I am so passionate about children and young people being protected from bullying online and offline. I hope to teach all those in future classes of mine how to treat people and themselves right. Financially, I do have a need as I enter into higher education. My family has gone through many emotionally and financially stressful moments in life: times when my mom went to rehab and I lived with my grandfather, for instance. Although I also work to help support myself, college is still mostly a big financial challenge. Scholarships would allow me to focus more on my education and less on financial stress. I will attend McDaniel College after high school, where I will major in Education PK–12, minor in American Sign Language, and become a Special Education teacher. My goal is to give back by creating safe, supportive classrooms where every child feels understood—especially those who feel different, bullied, or overlooked, just like I once did.

The way Jack Terry's life has inspired me has been through the realization that one can make so many improvements in the world by making the right choices in spite of the struggles and challenges they may be facing. It seems to me that Jack Terry had the idea that one should serve others through kindness and that one should never let tough times get the best of what the future holds in store for them. This message resonates with me greatly in my life. Among the first challenges that I encountered was when I returned to Indiana in third grade, realizing that I was significantly behind the rest of the students academically. “I didn’t know how to grasp concepts that came easily for other kids.” Many times, I found myself to be embarrassed and frustrated, as well as questioning myself many times. However, instead of allowing myself to fail, it took me years to learn how to let people help me, how to stay after school, how to study in different ways. Now, I know that with extra work, patience, and persistence, I can achieve greatness because today, I sit with a GPA over 4.0 with High Honors. The other big challenge in my life occurred during high school years when my entire family faced a very tough time. My mom went to rehab, and my dad tried to move me and my siblings to live with him, even though I did not get along with him. I was forced to move in with my grandfather for a short while as I tried to keep up with everything. I was very scared, mad, and tired emotionally, but still I managed to get up each and every day and get the things done that I had to. It made me learn things quickly and discover that I am stronger and the significance of support systems in life. But then came the loss as my grandmother suffered through alcoholism and then died. To watch a love of mine struggle with addiction is difficult and confusing. I felt all sorts of emotions: sadness, anger, guilt, and questioning whether things could’ve been different. But through all of it, I came to understand that I have no control over what others decide, but I can control how I react. Due to the experiences I have had in my life, I know that I want a career where I am giving back. I will attend McDaniel College and receive a degree in Education PK-12 with a minor in American Sign Language and will attend grad school to receive a master's degree in Special Education. Currently, I am working in the Life Skills and Autistic Support classrooms and teaching students who have difficulties in academics, emotionally, or communication. Some of these children are non-verbal; that is why I minored in ASL. Secondly, I also give back through activities such as students’ events like Student Government, Leadership Seminar, and Senior Career Seminar, through which I help raise funds for the Four Diamonds organization, which is for kids with pediatric cancer. Jack Terry is the inspirational figure who shows me how I should live my life as one who turns their pain into purpose with education that makes the world kinder, more patient, and more inclusive.

Currently, I attend the twelfth grade at Indiana Area High School, and my journey in life has been filled with growth, overcoming, and learning the value of learning to believe in myself. As a young girl, I knew that success doesn’t come easily, but it will come for those who are ready to work for it. During the time that I went back to Indiana in the third grade, I struggled in academics and found it difficult to understand things as fast as others in my class were learning. However, instead of giving in, I altered my perspectives about learning. I decided to take things a little differently. Now, I look at myself with pride as someone who manages a GPA of over 4.0 and obtains High Honor Roll levels of achievement in academics. Another huge challenge in my life came from family circumstances. At the end of my sophomore year, my mom went to rehab, and my family was put in a very rough spot. My dad tried to take my siblings and me to live with him, even though our relationship was not good. I ended up living with my grandfather for the next few weeks while attempting to keep up with school and sports. At that moment in time, I was terrified, overwhelmed, and emotionally drained. Nevertheless, I showed up every day, completed my work, and leaned on the people who were there for me. In that experience, I was forced to grow up quickly, yet I learned how strong I was, too. These are some of the reasons why I am passionate about becoming a teacher, more specifically a Special Education teacher. Currently, as a senior in high school, I work in the Life Skills class and Autistic Support class as a requirement of my internship. I work directly with the children to ensure that they are confident and supported. Unfortunately, some of these children have difficulty communicating. This is one reason I have come up with the idea to have American Sign Language as my minor. Following high school, I will be attending McDaniel College. Upon completion of my bachelor's degree in Education PK-12, I will eventually go on to obtain my master's degree in Special Education. I hope to become the teacher I have always needed. I am actively involved in my school and my community. Student Government Association, Leadership Seminar, Senior Career Seminar, Key Club, PBIS, Ambassadors, and my dance team are some of the activities I engage in. I, through the Leadership and Senior Career Seminars, currently help raise money for the Four Diamonds charity, which assists families affected by children battling pediatric cancer. Being involved in an activity that assists families during such difficult times in life has been an important learning experience for me. In addition to going to school, I currently work at Eat ‘n Park and help at Sue Hewitt’s Dance Studio. These experiences have taught me responsibility, time management skills, and the importance of others over myself, as I strive to be a support for others in all aspects of my life, be it at work or in a learning environment. The world is something that I plan on impacting in a positive way by creating classrooms in which every child feels seen, feels safe, and feels capable. Through the ordeal that I have faced, I have learned about empathy, about strength, and about determination. It is because of the things that I have been through that I realize how truly powerful one person can be.

As a senior at Indiana Area High School, my high school career has been filled with growth, diligence, and learning to trust in myself and my abilities. When I returned to Indiana in the third grade, I found that I was behind in my education and struggled to keep up in my classes. Often, I simply needed to put in more effort than others just to grasp the concept that was being presented in the classroom. Now, however, I can proudly state that I keep my GPA above a 4.0 and attain High Honors every year that I am in high school, which shows me that success is not the result of being inherently “intelligent.” Involvement in the school is a very crucial aspect of my life. I take part in the Student Government Association, the Leadership Seminar, the Senior Career Seminar, the Key Club, PBIS, the Ambassadors Program, and the Indiana High School Dance Team. These activities that I engage in have contributed significantly to making me a leader and a teammate. Through the programs associated with the Leadership and Senior Career Seminar, I am currently contributing towards raising funds for the Four Diamonds organization. These organizations support the families that have children affected by pediatric cancer. In other activities outside of academia, I am part of the Young Life program, where I develop my faith and make great friendships. In addition, I work at Eat ‘n Park in the takeout section, where I have learned about responsibility and time management skills. I help other people in my work environment in situations where they need assistance by cleaning tables, delivering food, or rearranging orders. I also help a dance teacher at Sue Hewitt Dance Studio. The highlight of my senior year is, in fact, my teaching internship. I find myself stationed in the Life Skills and Autistic Support classes, where I get to help the students one-on-one. In fact, this experience solidified my dreams of becoming a special education teacher. After high school, I plan to attend McDaniel College, major in Education PK-12, and focus in American Sign Language to better equip myself in dealing with the communication needs of the children. Also, obtaining my Master's Degree in the field of Special Education. If it were up to me, the purpose of the charity would be for kids who are struggling with academics, emotions, or social issues. It would benefit students within underfunded schools, especially students with issues with learning disorders or difficult family lives. Volunteers would provide tutoring, mentorship, homework assistance, as well as safe havens for kids where they know they are there for them. My purpose for living is to be a safe haven for other people, much like how schools and teachers were for me when I was young.

Everyone may have adversity in their life, but it surely is not everyone who wants or needs to learn and grow as a result of it. It is through the experiences of adversity in my life that I have learned that adversity can define a person, but it can never define you. One of the toughest times that have happened in my life was during my sophomore year at high school. This was because of a change in my family circumstances, which made me grow up much sooner than I had anticipated. At the end of my sophomore year, my mom went to rehab. This is a tough time for our family. My dad, who lived a few hours away, got involved and tried to turn my brothers and me out of our school and move us to the other side of our state. At this point in my life, things were tough for me and my dad, and the last thing I wanted was to have to move and be ripped out of everything I knew. I managed to stay in Indiana and spent a few weeks living with my granddad while my mom was in rehab. During this challenging period in my life, I had to attend school and keep up with everything and participate in activities and sports. This is one of the toughest periods in my life. I felt that I was alone and didn’t know what the future held. However, instead of giving in, I decided that I would continue to be present in school, in my practice, and in my duties. I relied on the only people I knew I could trust, held on to my goals, and remembered that this too would pass with time. When my mom came back home, and things eventually settled down in my life, I understood that I had toughened up. This experience has changed me as a person. I have learned independence, strength, and resilience. I realized that I do not have the ability to control what happens to me; however, I have the ability to control how I react to the situation. I have also learned to understand others who may have difficult circumstances. This same experience is actually a factor in my decision to want to be a teacher for special education students. I understand the experience of struggling, feeling invisible, and needing someone caring. If I could give advice to someone in the same situation that I'm in, it would be this: don’t give up on yourself. No matter how heavy life seems, just move forward one step at a time. Reach out when you need help, and don’t ever feel like you’re weak for asking for it. Hard times don’t last, but the strength they bring you does. As a result of my background, I am now more driven, more compassionate, and more determined. Rather than slacking off in school, I work hard there, keeping good grades while being active in leadership, volunteering, dance, and work. Each experience that has been difficult for me has molded me for the future that I want—including one that will enable me to help other people overcome their challenges as well. Adversity did not break me; it made me the person that I am proud to be today.

My experiences growing up in a single-parent household, or rather a mostly single-parent household, influence who I am in more ways than I could personally list. My mom has always been my rock. She has worked tirelessly to support our family, even when things were rough and things didn’t feel promising. Watching her juggle work, stress, and responsibility has shown me what toughness is. My mom always put others first, even when she could barely put herself first. Seeing her persevere, even when things weren’t going her way, has shown me that giving up is never an option. However, I didn’t always have a stable childhood. There were times when the circumstances at home were a lot to handle, especially the point when my mother had to go to rehab during my sophomore year of high school. This was a point when I had to leave with my grandfather for a few weeks while everything at home was being put into place. This was a stage when I learned to become a lot more mature than I originally anticipated. I was learning to control my emotions, focus on schooling, and be strong even though I’m terrified and unsure. Being part of a single-parent family and experiencing all these has taught me the values of being independent, empathetic, and appreciative of the people who are with me each and every day. One of the most major accomplishments in my life is my academic growth. Moving to Indiana in third grade, I was already behind and experienced difficulty catching up with schoolmates. During that time, I had mixed grades; sometimes feeling embarrassed when it seemed that others were grasping things that came way too easily was depressing. I compared myself to my classmates, even to my older brother, who made it look like he did well without any effort. Eventually, I learned comparing myself to others only helped me feel worse. I reshaped how I studied, asked for help, and worked harder than ever before. Today, I keep a GPA above 4.0 and earn High Honors regularly. That success showed me intelligence is not about gifting, but rather about effort, patience, and not giving up. Other realizations came from family experiences. Having to watch the struggle of people I loved-mostly my mom and my grandmother-made me conscious of the fact that everyone has invisible battles. It made me a lot more understanding and non-judgmental. I learned that people do not act the way they do because they want to hurt others, but sometimes because they are just hurting themselves. Having been raised in a single-parent family, I have learned the values of responsibility, resilience, and compassion. At the same time, growing up in such a family allowed me to understand myself much better. I am stronger than I believe, more patient than I think, and more capable of overcoming tough challenges. It is for these reasons that I aspire to be a teacher for Special Education students. I would like to be the individual who understands who my students truly are, who understands their struggles, and who lets them know that they possess the potential. It is not easy growing up the way I grew up, but I am stronger, and this strength would be with me through all the things that I would do in the future.

By far the most rewarding acts of kindness that I have personally experienced have been in the classroom through my senior-year teaching internship. In the Life Skills class that I was placed in, I was paired with a student who had difficulty maintaining focus and could become frustrated when he or she didn’t understand the lessons. Instead of rushing through the assignment for them, I sat one-on-one with the student and helped him or her complete the lessons step by step. It was some days when the hardest accomplishment was getting the student to believe that he or she was even worthy of trying. Then there was a day when the student had come very close to giving up. They put their head down and said that "I’m bad at school." I dropped down beside them and said that "Everyone is different when it comes to learning. If you’re struggling, it doesn’t mean you’re failing. Just because you understand things your own way doesn't mean you’re not good at math. You just get it in a different order." They finally got it when their face lit up with a smile that I will never forget. That was important to me because I understand what it is like to quietly struggle. When my family moved back to Indiana in third grade, I was struggling in school academically. Further, when you are not good enough, it is hard to want to reach out to take care of someone else. Kindness does not always have to be big and spectacular. Kindness can be simply being there with someone when they feel alone, when you believe in someone when they cannot believe in themselves; it can mean reminding someone that they matter. That day taught me just how much kindness can alter someone’s perception of themselves. I have always tried to be someone who brings people together and makes others feel like they belong. I do this through school, work, and my community. In Student Government Association, I help represent students and support events that make people feel included. In Leadership and Senior Career Seminar, I worked on projects like raising money for pediatric cancer through the Four Diamonds organization. Knowing that students were coming together for a cause bigger than themselves showed me how connection can create real impact. At work at Eat'n Park, I try to make connection. When coworkers are stressed or overwhelmed, I step in: cleaning tables, running food, or just encouraging them. In my opinion, the only way teamwork can work is when everyone feels supported. One of the most significant ways that I am able to connect with others is through education. At present, within my internship, I am working with students within Life Skills and Autistic Support classes. Many of these students feel as if they are somehow different or just not understood. My goal is to assure them that they are, in fact, understood, whether that is through using visuals, repeating directions, or just being a source of encouragement. Additionally, I build connections as a dancer. I work as a teacher assistant for dancing classes, ensuring the little ones feel encouraged as well. There are some children who are shy or intimidated, and I make it a point to remind them to not worry, as it is a part of learning. To me, feeling like I belong means knowing I matter. I make it a daily effort to be someone that makes others feel included, appreciated, and safe—something everyone should feel, someone who belongs.

One of the most significant individuals who assisted me in overcoming a difficult period is actually my dance coach when I was in high school. Dancing has always been more than just a physical activity—it is where I feel safe, understood, and confident. However, during my sophomore year, things were literally falling apart outside of school. My mom was in rehab, family problems were abundantly present, and pretty much, everybody was surrounded by fear, stress, and sadness, including me. My coach immediately picked up that something was not right with me. However, she chose not to simply push me harder or be upset with me but took me aside to check if I was fine. She told me that I was fine even when I was not, which was a huge help for me. My coach told me to keep coming, even on days that I wanted to give up. My coach was the first one to believe in me when I did not feel I was good enough myself, which made my escape find me, which was dancing. As I was dancing, I could forget about everything but breathe. She taught me the lesson of perseverance. There were days when I felt that I had had enough—not of dance, but of all things in general. But she would remind me that it’s in the act of pushing through when things get tough that a person develops the strength she needs when she’s struggling. Because of her, I know that it’s not about being perfect; it’s about being present. The attributes David cared about: perseverance, dedication, teamwork, and character. These are the traits I attempt to live each day. I display perseverance through my schoolwork. I struggled a great deal when I was young, particularly when my family moved back to Indiana in third grade. I was falling behind, and I had to work twice as hard as many kids. Presently, I hold a GPA above 4.0, which I received because I refused to give up. My demonstration of commitment includes my dance, work, and school responsibilities. These include being on the dance team, working for Eat ‘n Park, being active with the Student Government, attending the Leadership Seminar, and classrooms through my teaching internship. I manage to balance everything, even with the stressful aspects of life. I demonstrate Teamwork by being a helper to whomever I can—at my workplace when my coworkers need help; at school through my associations or leadership roles; or in a learning environment as I help students. I demonstrate Character by being a kind person even in circumstances not so kind to me. I owe to my coach the discovery of the strength of steady effort rather than of shouting. Her faith in me was important in molding me into what I am today.

My life is built on a foundation of love, struggle, and loss. Perhaps one of the most painful things I've ever had to endure was watching my dear grandmother fight against alcoholism. When I was younger, I didn't understand addiction or what that insidious disease can do to a person. All I knew was that sometimes The most significant people that have touched my life are my mom and my grandparents. My mom is the one who displays strength every day just by overcoming and persevering despite how tough life gets for her. Her loss brought me a whole spectrum of feelings. I experienced sadness, anger, guilt, and confusion all at the same time. I kept wondering whether it could have ended otherwise or whether there was something I could have done. Slowly, I learned a tough but valuable lesson: you can't control the decisions others make, but you can control the way you react to the pain. It was not a lesson that was easily learned, but it transformed me. Loss taught me the value of empathy, courage, patience, and kindness towards people who may appear to be strong but could be fighting battles behind closed doors. Later on, her health began to deteriorate. She fell ill and had to be hospitalized. Later on, she was taken to an old-age home where she was not taken care of properly. Seeing a loved one suffer like that was very painful for me. I was helpless because there was nothing much that I could do to improve it. Losing her was like losing more than my grandmother because it meant that I lost the opportunity to have things be the way they could have been. Losing her was the bringer of so many emotions. I felt the pain of losing her, anger at her departure and at the reasons behind it, guilt over the possibility of having contributed to the departure or the pain I was causing her family and me indirectly. However, I learned a very tough and very important lesson over the years. I learned I do not have control over the decisions and actions of others but can control the way I deal with the pain. I learned a lot about empathy and strength and the power of being a good person. I sought refuge in journaling to help myself heal. Writing has become my safe haven. Whenever I have feelings that I find too heavy or complicated to utter out loud, I write them down. Journaling helps me understand my emotions rather than letting my emotions control me. It has helped me grow stronger, more self-aware, and more at peace with what I cannot change. My experiences influence much of why I want to attend college. I want a meaningful, stable future focused on helping others. I will attend McDaniel College, majoring in Education PK–12 and minoring in American Sign Language. I want to become a Special Education teacher because I know what it's like to struggle silently. I want to be that safe place for students who feel lost, misunderstood, or forgotten. The most significant people that have touched my life are my mom and my grandparents. My mom is the one who displays strength every day just by overcoming and persevering despite how tough life gets for her. My grandparents taught me the values of service, education, the power of love, and perseverance. They showed me how to persevere through the pains and challenges of life and how to show care to other people.

Personal experiences with finance for me have been more about real-life experiences as opposed to classroom learning. I was not raised in an environment where we could afford to turn a deaf ear to finances. Throughout my life, personal experiences with home changes, instill in me an understanding that finances impact every corner of life, including education, stability, and opportunities. As for me, during my earlier years, my family had some transitions, such as divorce and other circumstances, which affected the place where we lived and how stable our lifestyle was. Also, during my years in high school, there were some times when my mom had to work so hard just to make ends meet. Because of this, I realized the value of money and that it doesn’t come easy. One of the largest concepts I understand regarding finances is from my work experience. I currently work at Eat’n Park, where I act as a hostess and in their take-out section. Having a job not only put income in my pockets but also taught me responsibility, time management, and valuing what I earn. It also taught me to prioritize life as a student, involvement in extracurricular activities, family, and work. When I receive compensation in the form of a paycheck, I examine how I can retain what I need versus what I want. I have also developed money management skills through activities related to school. As part of Leadership Seminar and Senior Career Seminar classes, I have been involved in projects that include planning, budgeting, and fund-raising, particularly fund-raising for pediatric cancer patients through the Four Diamonds organization. Witnessing the power that money has to affect families and children has taught me that money is more than just something related to me. Since I intend to further my education at McDaniel College and become a teacher, money management is a very big aspect for me. Teachers do not become teachers to become rich; teachers become teachers to make a difference. This means that as a teacher, I have to be wise with money. As such, I intend to learn more on how to budget, save, and live below my means. When possible, I intend to avoid getting into debt. My intention is to become a Special Education teacher and to work towards getting a Master’s degree in the future. I understand that to achieve these aspirations, some planning and sacrifices are to be made. I am interested in using the knowledge about finances to help me build a life in which I am not concerned about money and can dedicate myself to teaching children. In addition to all this, I also want to instill in my future students an understanding about the importance of being responsible with finances. Growing up in a lifestyle such as mine, kids experience the frustration and unpredictability associated with money in many households. From my experience, the lessons of money include gratitude, discipline, and responsibility. Finances include more than numbers to me. Finances include opportunity, security, as well as the ability to help others. All the lessons I learn about finances will help me build a brighter future for myself, as well as serve my community as a teacher prepared to give back.

I have shown helpfulness throughout my lifetime because I have always made it a point to be of help to the people I have come into contact with. I believe that being a helpful person is important to me because I understand just how important it is to have people to turn to during tough situations. At Eat ‘n Park, where I currently work as a hostess and take-out worker, I strive to extend my efforts past my job. If I notice servers being swamped with work, I consider assisting in cleaning a table here and there, delivering food, a refill on a drink order, and even reorganizing a customer’s order for a positive dining experience. For me, it isn’t extra work. I also demonstrate helpfulness through my involvement in my school. In the Student Government Association, I help other students to coordinate our efforts for our school. In the Senior Career Seminars and Leadership Seminars, I have been involved in projects that show responsibility and service. One of the projects that have been the most rewarding for me is when we raised money for the treatment of children with cancer through the Four Diamonds organization. It was very rewarding to realize that our efforts had the possibility of improving the life of children and families that are dealing with something so difficult. I also demonstrate helpfulness in volunteering and dance teaching assistant roles. At Sue Hewitt Dance Studio, I assisted dance teachers in teaching young dancers how to perform dance steps and how to keep focused and confident while performing. There were some shy or nervous young dancers in the classes I attended, and I made sure to encourage and reassure them and let them know that failure is an important part of learning and success. My academic journey exemplifies my persistence and perseverance. Moving to Indiana in the third grade, I was years behind academically and unable to catch on as quickly as others did. Many times, I compared myself to others who would easily pick up things during class and became discouraged. Instead of giving up, I approached studying differently, seeking extra help and putting in more time. Throughout the years, my effort has begun to pay off: I currently have a GPA over 4.0 and have received High Honors multiple times. I also showed perseverance during difficult family situations in high school. Even when life felt unstable, I kept showing up to school, work, and activities. These experiences taught me that success comes from helping others, working hard, and never giving up—even when things are hard.

I am a motivated individual with a strong work ethic and the ability to relate to others. Throughout my life, I have been influenced not only by opportunities but also by challenges. My life was not one that others may have envied. Yet all the difficulties have contributed to my becoming stronger and more compassionate. As a result of moving back to the state of Indiana for the third grade, I was a year behind in education. This situation led to difficulties in keeping pace with the other students. At first, it embarrassed me when I had to ask for help. Eventually, however, I recognized that when one asks for assistance, one is not necessarily weak but rather willing. In high school, I had to adapt to a whole set of circumstances. Difficulties in my family of origin made it difficult for me to focus in school. I remember struggling to balance my activities while also trying to figure out my family dynamics. I learned to always show up even on my toughest days. I learned that it is not about being perfect; it is about putting in effort. Although I do not have a direct connection to Nigeria or the African diaspora, I hold in high regard learning from individuals who come from backgrounds different than mine. To me, culture extends far beyond geographical location and includes way of belief, tradition, style of communication, and mode of learning. Some of the most important lessons I learned came from working with students who learn and communicate differently than I do. In Life Skills and Autistic Support classrooms, I saw how culture can also mean the way one understands the world. Working with nonverbal students and students needing additional emotional and academic supports has continued to teach me patience, empathy, and flexibility. These experiences taught me that everyone deserves understanding, not judgment. As a result of my education, I have learned new insights about myself and others. In the past, I have found myself comparing myself to other students who appeared to effortlessly achieve success. Currently, I recognize that everyone defines success for themselves. Another important element that I have learned through my education is individuals will perform their best when they feel safe and believed in. These are the experiences that have shaped my academic and professional aspirations. Thus, I intend to major in Education PK-12 and minor in American Sign Language to better serve all students. It is my goal to become a Special Education teacher who develops a classroom environment in which all students feel valued and able. It is also important for me to become that place for these students who feel invisible or misunderstood, as I did. Receiving this scholarship would help minimize financial stress and allow me to focus more fully on my education and service. It would give me the opportunity to grow into the kind of teacher who not only teaches lessons, but also changes lives through compassion, patience, and understanding.