When I tell people that I’m studying education, it’s often met with a hesitant or dismissive response. This reaction is frustrating — not because I need validation, but because it highlights how little some people understand the importance of teaching. I want to become a teacher to make a positive difference in the lives of children. I want to be the kind of person who is a safe space for others. It’s discouraging that such a meaningful dream isn’t always met with the same encouragement that other career goals receive — and that’s something I hope to change. As a young student, I was strong academically, especially in reading and math, but I struggled socially. In first grade, I was placed in an advanced reading group because of my skills, but socially, it wasn’t the right fit. Recognizing this, my teacher, Mrs. Lohr, moved me to a different group. At the time, I was frustrated and disappointed, but looking back, I’m incredibly grateful. Mrs. Lohr truly saw me — not just as a student, but as a person. That move helped shape me into the avid reader I am today. I believe those early positive experiences set me up for success later in life, and I owe that to her. As an aspiring educator, my goal is to see my students the way Mrs. Lohr saw me: as whole people with both academic and emotional needs. By the time I reached fifth grade, I was again struggling socially. After a rough fourth-grade year, I felt isolated and unsure of myself. Moving to a new school only added to the stress. But I was lucky — I was placed in Ms. Wells’ class. She was the kind of teacher who cared deeply about her students, not just academically, but personally. She did regular check-ins to make sure we had people to sit with at lunch and that we felt safe and supported at school. Her classroom was a true safe space. She even introduced me to girls who are still my best friends today. I hope to model her compassion and empathy in my own classroom, ensuring that every student feels seen, supported, and valued. In middle school, my academic challenges finally caught up with me — especially in pre-algebra. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t grasp the new and complex concepts. But my math teacher, Mr. Ehle, never gave up on me. He patiently explained each step, working with me until I understood it the best I could. From him, I learned the importance of meeting students where they are. I want to bring that same patience and dedication into my teaching — to help students feel capable, even when they struggle. My goal is to be the kind of educator who makes students feel supported, challenged, and cared for — academically, socially, and emotionally. I’m grateful to have had so many great teachers like Mrs. Lohr, Ms. Wells, and Mr. Ehle, who showed me what great teaching looks like. If I can carry their spirit of kindness, compassion, and persistence into my own classroom, I know I will be able to make a difference.

Essay In order to be successful, we must have people who believe in us—no one can do anything alone. It is because of my strong belief in supporting others that I have chosen to pursue a career in education, with hopes of working in the special education field. I was drawn to special education because of a life-changing experience I had while doing field work for my degree in education. I was placed at a special education school that worked to help big-hearted and wacky children just like. Every day that I spent with the children at this school, I felt immense joy and love. I understand that working with children who have complex needs can be challenging, but I also know it is incredibly rewarding. When working with children who have complex needs, my goal is always to remember that they are human beings with thoughts, emotions, and potential—just like their peers. I aim to create a supportive environment that allows them space to grow and learn at their own pace. I believe in finding and creating moments of joy with each child, whether that means singing a favorite song, being pushed on a swing, or going for a walk. These small, joyful experiences can make a big difference in how children connect with the world and with their learning. Working closely with families is just as important. In order for a child to have success they must be supported in all facets of their lives and that includes their families. As educators it's important that we offer support to families and guide them though the journey of working with their children but its also important that we alow the families to guide us. Families know their children better then anyone and as educators we must have the humility to allow families of children to mentor us to get the best possible results for their children. In addition to my field placement, I’ve had personal inspiration to pursue special education. My mother is a special education paraprofessional who works one-on-one with miracle children. Seeing the joy she experiences in her work and the difference she makes in her students' lives showed me exactly the kind of impact I want to have. She’s also been a fantastic mentor, offering me advice and encouragement as I begin my own journey into this field. That being said, working in special education is fulfilling—but not always financially rewarding. Paying for my education has been difficult. I currently attend college far from home, near the special education school where I hope to work after graduation. However, due to the debt I’ve taken on while attending school, I would not be able to live away from home or accept my dream job without additional financial assistance. This scholarship would help make it possible for me to continue pursuing this calling without being limited by financial constraints. I know the joy that can come from working with incredible students in special education. The huge heart and wacky sense of humor she had in her short life are a reminder that, with the right support, any child can succeed. My hope is to work at a special education school and bring with me a big heart and a sense of humor. Fairy Tale Once upon a time there was a young fairy who lived in the forest. Her name was Meghan. This fairy was a teacher but not just any teacher she was a teacher at an amazing school made for amazing fairy children! Each of the fairy children at Fairy Meghan’s school was special and needed to learn at a special school for special fairies. Some of the Fareis needed help flying, some of the fairies needed help talking, some of the fairies even needed help eating but at this magic school in the forest they all got the help they needed with glitter magic and love. Fairy Meghan worked hard to give each fairy what they needed each day and with the team of other fairies at the school Fairy Meghan was able to help all the fairies reach their goals but the fairy students weren't the only ones that would met their goals Fairy Meghan also met her goal of of working every day with the most amazing fairies in the forest.

As children, many people wish for the newest toys or technology during holidays like Christmas, birthdays, and other gift-giving occasions. However, I always wished for books. One of my favorite Christmas memories is running out to find a basket filled with books just for me. Unlike many children, I carried my passion for reading into adulthood. I still ask for books for my birthday and Christmas, and I’m a frequent visitor at the local library. Books have always been an important part of my life and have shaped who I am today. As a future educator, I am excited to share my love of reading with the next generation. Thinking back on some of the most special moments in my life, books have always been there—offering me an outlet and a way to connect with the world around me. For example, the Harry Potter series was a significant part of my early adolescence. Escaping into the magical world J.K. Rowling created was an unforgettable experience. I couldn’t get enough of all things Harry Potter—from themed candy to bedroom decorations. Beyond the world itself, these books also allowed me to form meaningful connections in real life. Through my love of the series, I bonded deeply with my older cousin, who shared my passion. That connection is something we still cherish today. It’s my hope that I can use books in a similar way to connect with my future students. Books have also opened my eyes to important social issues and helped me grow into a more empathetic, aware individual. During the COVID-19 quarantine, I read The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel. The Hate U Give gave me a new perspective on race and injustice. Growing up white in the suburbs, I was unaware of many of the challenges others face. This book helped me see the world through a different lens and inspired me to work toward a more just and inclusive society. Similarly, Dear Evan Hansen shed light on the topic of mental health. This novel helped me process my own emotions and reminded me that I am not alone in my struggles—that others do care. As a future educator, I want to use books to help students not only fall in love with reading but also develop empathy and awareness of the world around them. In conclusion, books and literacy have been foundational to my life. They have inspired in me a lifelong love of reading and a deeper understanding of the world. As someone entering the field of education, I hope to pass that love and awareness on to my students—helping them see the power that books can have to inform, connect, and transform.

During our lives we will all face challenges. For me one of the challenges in my life is living with NF1. I have struggled with NF my whole life and it has consistently presented me with various challenges, however it has also served as a reminder for myself that I am able to overcome these challenges and work towards my goals. NF has impacted my life in many different ways one way that it has impacted my is though making my academic journey more challenging. My dysgraphia diagnosis has been attributed to my NF and that has created many academic challenges for me. For example having dysgraphia makes many necessary academic skills extremely difficult such as reading maps, understanding graphs geometry and spelling just to name a few. These challenges have caused me great frustration throughout high school and college as It was difficult for me to do the same things that were seemingly easy to my peers. However it was though the incredible support of the educators that I came into contact with that uplifted and supported me enough to learn and make academic progress. The way that the educators in my life supported me has served as an inspiration and one of the many reasons I decided to go into education myself. My goal as an educator is to support students who have challenges similar to how my educators supported me with the challenges that came along with my NF. I believe that as someone who has experienced challenges myself I can be an asset to supporting students with their own changes as I know first hand the challenges that can come with a diagnosis and I know that that experience will aid me in providing the best support possible to all of my students and hopefully I can inspire them to achieve their goals. In addition to the mental and academic challenges of NF it also comes with physical challenges. I just recently started getting visible fibromas and that has been a challenge for me. Not only are the fibromas itchy and uncomfortable but they also impact my physical appearance which has hindered my confidence. As a young woman hoping to find a significant other and forge a successful career, having visible fibromas takes a toll on my confidence. However I am grateful that I have the support of family friends and educators and my hope is that I can be a support for others as well. One other changeling aspect of having visible fibromas as an educator is the young children I work with pointing out the fibromas as it hinders my confidence however I have chosen to use those moments as teachable ones in which I can help educator the children about NF and help them deepen their understanding of the different challenges in the world around them. In conclusion NF has presented me with many challenges but I have worked hard to overcome those challenges thanks to the support of the wonderful people in my life and my hope is to use the support people have given me during my challenges and use that propel me to support others though their challenges.

I am the opposite of a stereotypical football player. I enjoy musicals, writing poetry, listening to Taylor Swift, painting my nails, going shopping — and yes, I am a girl. Despite these things, I was still able to have meaningful and life-changing experiences on my high school's football team, and that, I feel, is a true testament to the magic of high school football. I was a lost eighth grader when I first dipped my toes into the world of high school football. My physical education teacher pulled me aside in class and asked if I was interested in managing football once I got to high school in the fall. I hesitantly agreed to meet with him to learn more about the opportunity — and that’s when I was first introduced to the uniqueness and amazingness of high school football. I didn't know what to expect when I started my responsibilities with the team, but it was clear to me right away that I was joining a community of people who would have a lifelong positive impact on me. One of the first moments that stuck with me was meeting the head coach. He shook my hand, learned my name, and has used my name ever since. That gave me a real sense of belonging on the team and was incredibly meaningful. It also impacted me because, as I plan to pursue a career in education, it showed me how the simple act of learning and using a student’s name can help them feel seen — something I now see as a goal of mine. Another part of my football experience that impacted me was the amount of respect I received as a manager. Being a football manager is often a thankless job — but that wasn’t my experience. I was consistently thanked for what I did, and I felt genuinely respected. That respect made me feel comfortable, which gave me the confidence to interact with others and work hard to make the most out of my role. The high level of respect that was expected and practiced is something I want to bring into my own future classroom. I know from experience how much respect can boost a student’s confidence and help them succeed. The final aspect of my football experience that I’ll never forget is how inclusive the team was. An inclusive football team may sound like an oxymoron — but that was my reality. The team didn’t make cuts and had a roster of about a hundred athletes. Everyone was welcome to join the football family, and everyone was truly treated like family once they did. That kind of unconditional respect became a model not only for how I want to run my classroom one day, but also how I want to live my life. I was blessed to be part of the team the year we brought home a state championship, and I believe the inclusion and respect our coach instilled in us played a huge role in that success. My football story is not a typical one, but every moment of being part of that team impacted me in a positive way. It inspired me to grow personally and professionally — giving me confidence, showing me how to lead with respect, and teaching me what true community looks like. No matter what I do in the future, I will always carry my football experience with me.

Growing up I always felt different from my peers,I struggled socially, emotionally and at times academically. At the times I was struggling I did not have a good understanding of mental health or how it impacted me. How could I? I was only an elementary school student. I didn't like field trips, substitute teachers, the Christmas concert or anything else that created uncertainty or disruption to my routine. I thought I was just quirky but I later learned that it was clinical anxiety. I am fortunate enough that I was able to receive the support I needed right after my diagnosis and this allowed me to live a more full life with less anxiety. It was because of my struggles growing up that I am pursuing a career in education. My mental health greatly impacted me as a young student and my hope is that as an educator I can have a positive impact on students who may be experiencing similar struggles to what I experienced. Unfortunately I didn't always receive the support I needed from my teachers and that made my anxiety more prevalent giving me a more pessimistic view of the world. Ironically enough it was these teachers that have inspired me to become a teacher because I know that I can do better and help support all students. Experiencing anxiety as a child shaped my perspective on life. Due to anxiety I faced many challenges but it has inspired me to become an educator as I know that I can offer support to student who have had similar struggles to me and be the person that I needed when I was younger.

In order to be successful, we must have people who believe in us—no one can do anything alone. It is because of my strong belief in supporting others that I have chosen to pursue a career in education, with hopes of working in the special education field. I was drawn to special education because of a life-changing experience I had while doing field work for my degree in education. I was placed at a special education school that worked to help big-hearted and wacky children just like Rebecca. Every day that I spent with the children at this school, I felt immense joy and love. I understand that working with children who have complex needs can be challenging, but I also know it is incredibly rewarding. When working with children like Rebecca, my goal is always to remember that they are human beings with thoughts, emotions, and potential—just like their peers. I aim to create a supportive environment that allows them space to grow and learn at their own pace. I believe in finding and creating moments of joy with each child, whether that means singing a favorite song, being pushed on a swing, or going for a walk. These small, joyful experiences can make a big difference in how children connect with the world and with their learning. Working closely with families is just as important. In order for a child to have success they must be supported in all facets of their lives and that includes their families. As educators it's important that we offer support to families and guide them though the journey of working with their children but its also important that we alow the families to guide us. Families know their children better then anyone and as educators we must have the humility to allow families of children to mentor us to get the best possible results for their children. In addition to my field placement, I’ve had personal inspiration to pursue special education. My mother is a special education paraprofessional who works one-on-one with miracles like Rebecca. Seeing the joy she experiences in her work and the difference she makes in her students' lives showed me exactly the kind of impact I want to have. She’s also been a fantastic mentor, offering me advice and encouragement as I begin my own journey into this field. That being said, working in special education is fulfilling—but not always financially rewarding. Paying for my education has been difficult. I currently attend college far from home, near the special education school where I hope to work after graduation. However, due to the debt I’ve taken on while attending school, I would not be able to live away from home or accept my dream job without additional financial assistance. This scholarship would help make it possible for me to continue pursuing this calling without being limited by financial constraints. I know the joy that can come from working with incredible students like Rebecca. The huge heart and wacky sense of humor she had in her short life are a reminder that, with the right support, any child can succeed. My hope is to work at a special education school and bring with me that same big heart and sense of humor—just like Rebecca.

I have always enjoyed reading but sometimes struggled with sticking to things which embarrassingly lead me to abandoned many books growing up. However, the Harry Potter books where different for me I was immediately enamored by the masterpieces that are the Harry Potter books. The Harry Potter books where not only amazing works of literature however it was the movies that allowed me to connect deeper with my older cousin which is something that I believe is truly priceless. While reading books is typically a solitary experience its the community of watching a movie that allowed me to enjoy the Harry Potter universe even more. The movies that accompanied the books served as a bit of a motivator for if I was able to finish the books I was then able to watch the movie with my cousin which admittedly was my favorite part. The Harry Potter books and movies where amazing works and literature and film additionally it allowed me to become closer to my family however I don't believe those are the sole reasons for my fascination with Harry Potter. The fact that Harry Potter is a great example of how communities function and showcase the best and worse of people. Even though Harry Potter is set in a fantasy world there is so much realness to it from dealing with complex family dynamics growing up navigating the academic world the Harry Potter books and movies take on so many complex ideas that real life non wizard people deal with on the daily. In conclusion the Harry Potter books where the books that got me started reading books all the way though and also allowed me to bond with the older cousin over our love for Harry Potter. The books and movies are both incredibly impressive pieces of art but those are not the only reasons that I am impressed with Harry Potter its also because of how real the dynamics are and how the characters are navigating very real hardships even though they are in a fantasy world. I know that the Harry Potter books and movies counite to make a positive impact on people and bridges the gap between generations. It was my hope that the Harry Potter books and movies remain as amazing as they are now so that I can share it with my future children and that they will enjoy the experiences of Harry Potter as much as I had.

Struggling with anxiety depression is one of the most complex and lonely challenges that one can face. Growing up with anxiety and depression in a world that is constantly telling you how amazing life is, is to this day one of the most difficult things I have had to deal with. As a child it wasn't clear what was quote on quote wrong with me. I struggled to make and keep friends, to get my homework done and to just be comfortable at school. This made school really hard for me I didn't have friends I didn't feel supported and I overall just struggled as my depression was and still is really good and making me focus on the bad. It was after having these negative experiences with school that I decided that I wanted to go into education. I wish I could say that I had one or more amazing teachers who inspired me to go into education but that's not the case. Which is why I want to become a teacher myself, I know that growing up with a mental illness is challenging and my hope is to be a teacher that supports all students no matter what struggles they may have. In addition to professional goals its my personal goals to counite to take good care of my mental health as I know I cant achieve my other goals if I am not well taken care of. I know how lonely and difficult depression days are which is why I strive to take care of myself in addition to others. I know that if I take care of myself my eating healthy drinking water and getting outside each day that my mental health may be better which will allow me to better pursue my other goals. I also know that sometimes you have to wait out bad mental health days and I am blessed to have a support system that is with me on the more challenging days, however I know that not everyone has that support system or the strong support system is simply not enough. Which is why I aspire to be a supportive teacher for all students. In conclusion I know how terribly difficult it can be to grow up with mental health issues and how it can affect your ability to do typica "kid" things which is why I want to go into education because I did not always have that support system coming from my teachers and I hope that I can be that support that I did not always have. Additionally, I know that taking care of my own mental health is vital in order to be supportive to others which is why I also aspire to do better at taking care of my own mental health so that I can be the support that I know others need. My mental health and supporting the mental health of others are things that I greatly value and I know that my supporting myself I can make an impact on others,

Growing up Disney Chanel was a comfort for many people of my generation. The relatable characters funny plot lines and so much more made Disney shows the best of the best. I thoroughly enjoyed most all Disney Channel shows and remember the excitement when a new episode came out or when a crossover was announced. The excitement of crossovers was one of my favorite parts of the Disney Channel. If I could create my own crossover espoused it would be a crossover of Hannah Montana and Good Luck Charlie these were my favorite shows growing up and it would be so cool to see their universe slide. What I would like to see out of a Good Luck Charlie and Hannah Montana crossover would be the Duncan family from Good Luck Charlie going to a Hannah Montana show and then ending up backstage with Miley and her friends and family. I feel like this would be such a fun story because all of the characters from both shows are so much fun and always have something funny going on with them. I feel as if this crossover would provide a funny look at how all families are different yet similar. Some specific character interactions that I feel would bring the laughs would be Miley and Teddy I feel like this would be funny because they would both be about the same age and it would be so fun to see how their difference and similarities would lead to how they interact and the craziness that may occur. I would also like to see how PJ and Jaxon interact because they are both the goofy older brother and I feel like they have so much in common and would truly get along so it would be really fun to see them interact with each other during the episode. During this episode I would also like to see the younger kids in the Duncan family possibly cause some chaos while the older kids are getting to know each other it would be fun to see Charlie get into some trouble this would be fun and add to the silliness because as the different characters are getting to know each other. All in all, I believe that this crossover episode would be so funny because of the two different families getting to know each other and working through their simulates and differences and the extra chaos that the babies would bring.

Disney has made an impact on the lives of so many people and truly has magical powers to bring people together. Disney has had such an impact on so many lives and that is truly what makes Disney a one-of-a-kind experience for all people. When thinking of my favorite part of Disney it's difficult to choose just one because most everything about Disney is so magical. I love how every movie from the classic Snow White to newer movies like Onword is so well done you can feel the magic through the screen and every time you watch it you feel like a child again. I love how the Disney Channel's original movies gave young adults a voice and taught my generation valuable lessons like how High School Musical taught us how to not put ourselves in a box or how Descendants taught us not to judge people without getting to know them first. I love Disney Channel reached far beyond movies and how shows like Good Luck Charlie and Hannah Montana provide memories and nostalgia for my friends and me to fall back on when we are having a rough day. I love how Disney's programming is something that all ages can enjoy I experienced a magical Disney moment while working at my summer day camp we put on the Disney Movie 101 Dalmations for the campers to enjoy on a day we could not go outside and the magic was evident all the young campers the college-aged counselors and the other staff at camp all enjoyed the movie and experienced the magic that is what I love about Disney how moments like that can truly bring people together and how everything that Disney does is done with everyone in mind so that there can be magical moments that span generations. There is so much to love about Disney but to me, Disney means being loved and being together I was fourtnatnte enough to celebrate my 8th birthday at Walt Disney World in Florida and it was a moment I will never forget as I truly felt loved by all of the cast members as they helped me make magical memories I will never forget. However, that's not the only time I have felt loved because of Disney you won't have to be in the parks to experience the love that Disney can create whether your watching a movie with your family or rewatching a childhood favorite show with some friends there is not a moment when one is experiencing Disney when they are not experiencing love. It is a love like so many experiences when they are experiencing Disney that I hope to pour into my future students as an educator and receiving a scholarship for these magical moments would truly be magical for my family and me.

Taylor Swift and her music truly are iconic and provide a soundtrack for growing up by having amazing songs about high school mean girls, first love, breakups, reminiscing on the good times, asking the big questions, and celebrating milestones. I am a fan of all of Taylor Swift's music because of how true it is and how explores all of the topics that need to be talked about as we are facing the struggles of growing up. For me the song on the "1989" album that I am the biggest fan of is "How You Get the Girl" This song is my favorite on the album because not only does it have a catchy tune that makes you want to get up and dance but I also really like the message. I can relate to the message because in high school I was always around a lot of boys as I was a football manager and I feel like this a song that they all need to hear and that this song is filled with stuff I would want to say to my guy friends and my brother. This song is important because it explains to guys what they should do to make a positive impression on potential female love interests. I also think this song is a comedic take on breakup as this is a breakup album where most of the songs are more traditional breakup songs however this song is more a comedic conversation which is something that I strongly relate to having been in many friendships with guys but is still waiting for the perfect relationship guy to come around. "How You Get the Girl" is such a fun song that I am fortunate to relate to and a song that is so fun and upbeat and truly shows the versatility of Taylor Swift as an artist because of how it's different from the rest of the songs on the album. I truly enjoy listening to a variety of music and am so grateful for an artist like Taylor Swift who put her experiences into songs that are so fun and relatable. Music is a driving force that brings many people together and without artists like Taylor Swift and Albumes like 1989, our world would be a very different place and people would have a harder time connecting. I am so grateful for Taylor Swift's music and can't wait to see the positive impact she counites to have on the world.

We all have to overcome many struggles in our life to achieve our goals. For me, one of the biggest and most daunting challenges was living with N.F. 1. Living with this has made it extremely difficult for me to do a lot of the things that typical children and teenagers did while I attending school and growing up. One of the most pressing and difficult challenges for me was my immense social struggle. I struggled to make and keep friends as well as interact with my peers, which made my days in school very lonely and difficult. Due to my N.F 1, I was also diagnosed with none verbal learning disorder making it hard for me to read facial expressions and harder for me to understand the various social situations I was put in. In addition to struggling with social situations, I have also struggled academically likely due to my N.F., in particular, I struggled with spelling as well as graphs, maps, and shapes making classes like math and science extremely difficult. However, even with these struggles, I was still able to work hard and can maintain a 3.0gpa or higher throughout high school. I was allowed to get involved in many different clubs, sports, and activities like managing the football and basketball teams and being in various service organizations those activities have helped me greatly with my social struggles by giving me built-in friends and more social experiences to help me fight my struggles. I have continued to use the resilience I have gained through living with these struggles to be successful at college as I am attending St.Norbert College in De Pere Wisconsin where I am currently studying elementary education and involved in various leadership positions on campus and in my community such as planning activities for the first year residence halls. I was also honored that even with my struggles I was presented with an exemplary leadership award in my first year in college. In conclusion, this scholarship will help me reach my goal of counting to study elementary education and be a leader at an amazing college I had to work so very hard to get into. It would be invaluable to me and my family to financial assistance so that I can continue my education at an amazing institution and to receive financial help from a group that is a champion for my family and my unique struggle would mean even more to me.

Hard work and dedication are the keys to success. This is something that I believe strongly. I had to work harder than most of my peers to get to where I am today throughout my K-12 education I had to suffer through learning disabilities, anxiety, depression, bullying, acadmicdic struggles, and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I never let these struggles get in my way of pursuing a degree in elementary education and I am proud to say that is what I am currently doing. I attend St.Norbert College in De Pere WI where I study elementary education. This truly is a dream come true for me as for as long as I can remember I have always wanted to be a teacher. I am blessed that I am now doing much better socially and with my mental health however when I am in college there is a new struggle with finances. I am a second-generation college student who is currently working 4 jobs to help pay for my education. It can be difficult to have the typical life of a college student when I am working 4 jobs I have missed out on a lot of nights out or days at the pool because I had to work. Having some additional financial assistance would help me be able to devote more of my time to my studies and my social life instead of working as much. The fincachel essence would also help me reach my goal of graduating college with little debt so that I can then focus my finances on living expenses and hopefully spoil my future students. Education is extremely important to me which is why I worked extremely hard to attend college and am now working hard at college to become an educator. Receiving additional financial assistance in the form of scholarships would mean the world to my family and me working hard and dedicating ourselves to our passions is all we know uncourtly passion does not always come with a pay raise this is why scholarships are a crucial part of me being able to fund my education and pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a kindergarten teacher. I would not have been able to finance my first years of college without generous scholarships from wonderful people and won't be able to finish my second year without financial support and hope that you see the passion in me and are willing to help me reach my goals.

If I could have everyone in the world read just one book I would want them to read the book We are All Made of Molecules by Susan Nielsen I would want people to read this book because it tells a very powerful story about how two very different young people were able to connect and overcome the neverending challenges of life. I believe that if everyone read this book it would help our world become a better place because it could help broaden people's horizons and help people realize that everyone is going through a unique struggle and that the best way to overcome those struggles is to connect with others and lift the people in our lives up instead of tearing them down. This book could also help people better understand how every family is unique and that understanding and accpectece are key I find the message about how all families are different partially important as an education major because its a lesson that we can all benefit from as every child comes from a different family and that part of what makes them unique and something they should be proud of. The book shows us how to accept different family dynamics by showcasing the unique family of a recently divorced mom whose ex recently came out as Gay and her hip teenage daughter and the mom's new boyfriend, a recent widower with a nerdy teenage son. The story is tolled from the perspective of the two teenagers and while there is plenty of storage particularly early on in the story it showcases how people can grow over time and how accpectece and partners are the keys to a more just world. In conclusion, all people should read this book because it showcases how differences are not a bad thing but instead are just the opposite and that is a lesson everyone could learn from.

Every person is unique that is what makes this world such a wonderful place. Every person has a unique view of the world and a unique passion and I hope that people will use those passions to help the communities in which they live. One of the qualities that make me unique is that I love to help children. I have worked with children since I was precarity a child myself and it's such an impactful and rewarding way to give back to the places we call home. I am grateful that I found a unique love of helping children at an early age and it is because of that I knew I always wanted to be a teacher it was because of knowing this from a young age that I was able to gain many meaningful experiences that have helped me becoming the educator that I am today. I believe that with my skills experiences and passion, I will be able to give back to my community in a meaningful way by becoming an educator. I believe that public school teachers and all who work in education, especially public education give a truly unique and powerful gift to the communities that they serve by helping foster the next generation of leaders because without impactful teachers we would not have motivated creative, and loving people in our society. I hope that when I get my classroom I will be able to have the impact on my students that many of my teachers have had on me I know that I would not be nearly as useful as I am today without some of my amazing teachers and I hope that I can be that for the next generations of young people. I know that all people have different strengths and passions and it is my wish that everyone works to find their passion and then uses it to make the world a better place to live work and play this is a value that I hope to instill in my students and I feel fortunate to have found my passion so early in life I hope to counite to use my passion of helping children throughout my life. However to achieve this goal of helping children I must first make it through higher education which is not easy for me or my family I currently am working four jobs all of which help people find their passions and I hope that my passions will help me get additional funding so that I do not have to work all four jobs and can focus on being a student and having fun with my friends which is another thing I am passionate about.

Music is an essential part of life. I love listening to music it helps me cope with everything that life throws at me. I have had lots of struggles dealing with bullying and academic challenges throughout high school. I always leaned on music to help me through these difficult times. One of the songs that helped me greatly was Mean By Taylor Swift. This song gave me confidence because it shares the story of how the people that were mean to her in her childhood are not necessarily experiencing success she is this song helped me smile through the hardship because I knew that if I stuck to my values I would experience success and joy and that the people that were being mean to me may not experience that same joy and success that I would one day experience. As a new college student, it is rewarding to hear the song because I see that I am indeed experiencing joy and success and some of the people who were mean to me are still living at home and not expressing the same kind of success that I am. I wish nothing but the best for the people who were mean to me and hope that their current struggles will help them grow just like my struggles helped me grow. However, the song Mean did help me understand that I was in good company with my experiences of being bullied and that it was indeed possible for me to achieve success.

“Service above self.” This is also something that I try to model my own life after. Through the activities I have been involved in during high school, I have found the joy in serving others and learned that service above self does not necessarily mean that you push yourself to an uncomfortable spot to service others but instead means that you find what service you are passionate find the joy in that service your passionate about and pursue that. For example, I have been a manager for the football team all four years of high school; for me this was very enjoyable; however, it was also service and a sacrifice. I would help with equipment, keep the team hydrated, film practices as well as help out all of the coaches and players in whatever way they needed; in doing this I did, however, have to give up a lot of time energy to the football program including sometimes missing others events that I wanted to attend and being outside in all sorts of weather. This is something that I feel is a prime example of what “service over self” means: it means finding joy in the sacrifice of service and continuing to serve others no matter the situation. Another example of a time that I have found the joy in the sacrifice of service to others is through the Love Begins Here mission trips that I go on each summer with my parish. The idea behind these local missions is to service the local community with other teens by helping those at home that need to most help, for example doing yard work for the elderly, watching a single mother’s children, stocking canned goods at the food pantry, cleaning up local parks as well as other local service, and doing it all with great love even through the discomfort another thing that I believe is part of “service before self” It is because of all the positive experiences that I have had with serving others that I have decided to attend St.Norbert College in DePere WI whose core principle is service. I am also focusing on studying elementary education because I am passionate about serving others, particularly younger children and hope to have a positive impact on the lives of our youngest leaders. In addition to service experiences, I have had experiences in working with younger children as a babysitter, summer teaching assistant and youth programs employee. I am grateful for all of the experiences I have had that have led me to choose a college and career in service. In conclusion, I believe that my countless experiences with service above self and the fact that I plan on counting to service those that need in most and even plan on making it a career mean that I am deserving of the Glenda W. Brennan "Good Works" Memorial Scholarship.

Part of being successful is overcoming obstacles that are put in your way. Some people have to face more obstacles than others due to no fault of their own. I am one of those people. School has always been hard for me in more ways than one. I have always struggled academically I have neurofibromatosis, non-verbal learning disorder, and anxiety disorder all of which make skills like reading graphs spelling, and other visual tasks extremely difficult. My anxiety also made it harder for me to make friends in high school and participate in ordinary high school activities. However, I never let the difficulties I faced stop me from achieving my goals. I worked hard took all the required classes and was even able to take an AP class and still achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher throughout high school. Another struggle that I had was it was always hard for me to make friends I never really had any good friends and found it hard to keep the friends that I did have. Once again I never let this stop me from being involved at my school even though I did not have friends I still worked hard to be as social as possible I was a manager for both the football and girls' basketball teams and a meeting leader for our Above the Influence Club. All of those experiences strengthened me and better prepared me for college. It is through my experiences that I have decided to pursue a career in the education field, I hope that by becoming a teacher I can help struggling students and meet their needs socially and academically. I am currently attending St.Norbert College in De Pere Wisconsin and am truly thriving I hold several jobs on and off campus I also am involved in different clubs and have made lots of social connections. This has been such a meaningful experience for me as I really struggled with my mental health in high school and finding people who supported me through my mental health journey has been so uplifting to meet lots of people who are supportive of my mental health. It is one of the many reasons I am currently thriving. While struggling was not a part of my life plan it has been a blessing in disguise as it has made these moments in college so much sweeter for me. I believe that overcoming anxiety is my superpower I hope that I can use that superpower to be the best teacher I can be.

Education is one of the most important and powerful tools in our society. This is why I am studying elementary education. I hope that as a teacher I can foster positive relationships with all of my students. It's extremely important to me that every student that comes into my classroom will have their social emotional and academic needs met. I know that the only way that students can susscuees is when teachers are supporting them in all facets of their lives and not just the academic areas. That is why I believe that connections should be the first step in education. I know the struggles that can come when a teacher does not make the effort to form meaningful connections with all students and it's important to me that I don't make the same mistake that some of my teachers have made. To foster the minds of gifted students it would be my goal to provide interesting avenues for them to explore and find things that interest them so that they can be the most successful version of themselves. I would also make sure that the gifted students in my classroom can have fun and participate in age-appropriate activities even if they are ahead of their peers academically I would do this because I know how valuable it is to have fun and unique experiences as a child. As it is those experiences that are going to shape the student's social skills and those skills are also important in developing the whole person. Gifted students provide such value to the classroom environment and they often take on leadership roles within their classrooms this is one of the other reasons why I feel it is so important to develop the whole person and focuses on social skills as well as academic skills because having good social skills can help them grow in their leadership skills within those classes as well as help these students make meaningful peer connections which is one of the most important aspects of education. In conclusion, gifted students bring many valuable aspects to our classrooms and as a teacher, I would make sure that the whole person of all gifted students is fostered so that these students still can have the challenging academics that they need but ensure that they do not miss out on any of the greate social and emotional opportunities that their peers have.

Taking risks and making decisions to do things we never thought we would are often the things that can lead us to the most happiness and success. I have had a very profound experience with taking a risk. For me this risk was walking into a room full of 8th grade boys when I would have rather been elsewhere. In the end it worked out and I found my place with something that has positively influenced me since I started. I became a football student assistant. In order to end up as a football student assistant I had to take some mundane risks. The first risk that I took was going out of my comfort zone for a fun day of activities that my school organized. My plan was to sign up for the card game euker that my seventh grade math teacher was hosting. However, my chromebook was being difficult and only let me sign up for the football videotape showing to celebrate the varsity team’s undefeated season. I was ok with this as I knew the varsity team had won state that past season and I was content watching the video. However it was not what I really wanted to do since I knew none of my friends would be there. My first risk in becoming a student assistant was walking into that room filled with 8th grade boys which I was very nervous to do. My real reward for that risk would come in many little moments over the next four years. About a week after I took my first risk of walking into that room I was surprised when I was pulled aside in Phy. Ed. class by the teacher who was running the video showing. I was curious as to why he wanted to talk to me as I have rarely interacted with him before, and thought it was odd he would be talking to me of all people. I honestly was not even sure if he knew my name. So I carefully walked over and listened to his request for me to be a football manager. At first I kind of laughed it off and said I will think about it in a way that was more of a “no thank you” than a “maybe”. I went home and told my parents the bizarre request of that teacher, expecting them to laugh it off just as I had. Instead, they both seemed interested and said this was something that I needed to seriously consider. I was surprised that they felt this way but nonetheless, I took my parents advice and emailed him asking for more information. Once I emailed him I was asked to meet with him to talk about being a football manager, which was yet another risk. I reluctantly walked into his office at the scheduled time having no idea what to expect but once I walked in there it felt surprisingly normal. The walls were covered with family photos and various pocket sized senior photos from football players from over the years. After I made myself comfortable in the rickety office chair across from him I got the spiel. To my surprise it was quite the intense one and he talked a lot about how we are going to be treated well, that managers are going to get everything the players get if not more and other details that all seemed extremely positive. While it was very intimidating at the beginning, it ended up being a perfect fit for me. Being a football managers helped me gain lifelong friendships.

It's said that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’” This is a sentiment that I fully believe, education is such an important asset to our society and so are the amazing educators that make it happen for so many children that is why I would like to study to become an elementary school teacher just like some of my favioite educatiors. It it though studying elementar education that I hope to make a postive impact on society and form postive conections with students. That is why I have created a teachering phloysiphy in order to fully express my desiers to make an impact on society and show the true importance of education. I hope that my vaules expressed as an deuctor will help me and my students reach our full potential and make that postive impact on the world. Here is my mission statement. Human connection is at the heart and soul of everything we do as humans that is why my teaching philosophy is to make meaningful connections with my students and co-workers and I believe that once those connections are made is when we can truly thrive. Being a child can be really tough and if they don't have people in their corner people that are willing to truly listen and understand them then they can't be successful in an academic environment which is why I believe that the first step in forming successful students is to get to know them and their families and form those relationships and connections so that they end up having the capacity to be more successful in the academic world. I believe that by working together to foster positive and trusting relationships among all people in our school community we will be able to thrive in all areas. I know from experience that it can be nearly impossible for students to thrive academically when they don't feel cared for and respected by either their peers or teachers. That is why is extremely important to me to create and foster meaningful connections so that all students that come into my classroom know how truly important valued and capable they are. Teaching is a job that is all about people and that is why it will be my teaching philosophy to form meaningful relationships and connections first because I believe that with those meaningful connections my students will be able to thrive academically and socially.

We all have to overcome struggles in our life to achieve our goals. For me, one of the biggest challenges was living with N.F 1. Living with this has made it extremely difficult for me to do a lot of the things that typical children and teenagers did while growing up. One of the most pressing and difficult challenges for me was my social struggle. I struggled to make and keep friends, which made my days in school very lonely and difficult. Due to my N.F 1, I was also diagnosed with none verbal learning disorder making it hard for me to read facial expressions and harder for me to understand the social situations I was put in. In addition to struggling with social situations, I have also struggled academically likely due to my N.F, in particular, I struggled with spelling as well as graphs, maps, and shapes making classes like math and science extremely difficult. However, even with these struggles, I was still able to work hard and can maintain a 3.0gpa or higher throughout high school. I was allowed to get involved in many different clubs, sports, and activities that have helped me greatly with my social struggles by giving me built-in friends and more social experiences to help me fight my struggles. I plan to use the resilience I have gained through living with these struggles to be successful at college as I am attending St.Norbert College in De Pere Wisconsin studying elementary education and hopefully helping the next generation of hard-working and resilient learners and leaders. In conclusion, this scholarship will help me reach my goal of studying elementary education at an amazing college that I had to work so hard to get into. It would mean so much to me to get assistance from an organization that is championing a cure for my and my family's unique struggle.

Not worth a thousand word They say a picture's worth a thousand words But I don't believe that's true The greatest stories ever are the ones right from me and you The photos that I look at are all as happy as can be But there is always something in there that none of us can see Moments that were masked by the crazy perfect pose Trust me not in all my’ḧappy” pictures I felt like a beautiful rose In the strategically arranged photos of my basketball team The arms around me and big smiles do not show that they were mean The straight-lined arms around big smiles pic at football It does not show our real personalities or feelings at all The smiling face in my homecoming pics Well it does not show that I was actually sick My makeup-caked face on prom night Does not show the drama that I tried to fight Pictures are fake As fake as they make They don't tell the whole story Just make people feel their fake glory

Money is not everything however we all know too well that it does have a large impact on our day to day lives. For me a thousand dollars could really change my perspective I am currently working multiple jobs over forty hours a week in order to help pay for my education this is a very taxing thing to be involved but I keep going because education is one of the most valuable things that one can have. However if I was able to have a thousand extra dollars I would be able to take a day off of work and be able to focus on myself and have a day with my friends something that I know would improve my mental health and help me be more successful in my future. In conclusion I know that money is not everything however having some extra money could help relive some stress from my plate and allow not have to constantly overwork myself which I believe could help me be more successful in my future.

Life can be extremely difficult and if we don't have loving friends and family including our four legged ones it can be imposable to face. I have never been blessed enough to have a pet to call my own but have been so blessed by the furry companions of those in my life and can definitely say that they have changed my life. Many different pets come to my mind when I think of the pets that changed my life Clemey, Buddy, Pebbles, Gracie, Gibbs, Quinn and many others. All of these pets have belonged to or belong to beloved friends and family members and all of these pets have made my life so much better it was always a joy go visit my loved ones and get extra love from their pets as someone who has struggled socially it always felt so good to receive the unconditional love that pets have to offer. I hope that I can bring the life changing love that these pets have brought into my life into my future career as an educator and hope that lives will be better because of it.

"In a world where you can be anything be kind" this is the saying that lays on my T-shirt and emphasizes kindness which is the a quality that I value most in my life. I truly believe that kindness has the potential to change to the entire world which is why it is such an important value to me. Growing up I struggled to make friends and a lot of this was due to the unkindness of those around me and I decided that instead of letting that get me down or make me sad I would use the energy that I had from that to become and advocate for kindness for everyone. I realized that being kind can really have a long lasting affect on those you meet. This is one of the many things that inspired me to purse a career in education. As a educator in the future I hope that I can spread kindness to all of my students and instill the values of being to all in them as well. I know the positive impact that kindness can have on others I hope that by becoming and educator I can help all people reach their full potential of living a strong happy life my showing kindness to themselves and others. As a person who is a passionate advocate for kindness to all I believe that you must also show kindness to yourself if you want to be successful l and also that you cant give out what you don't have. I hope that as an educator I will also show my students how to be kind to themselves I believe that kindness to yourself can also have a positive impact on ones own life this is a skill that I believe I learned too late in my life. However once I learned how to be kind to myself I realized that I ended up being better at being kind to others and truly beloved that I was able to make a more positive impact on all of those whom I have surrounded myself in conclusion I believe that being kind is on of the most effective ways that one can change the world and hope that in my future career in education that I will be able to have a lasting kind impact on all of the students who will grace my classroom with their presence.

Life can be extremely difficult and if we don't have loving friends and family including our four legged ones it can be imposable to face. I have never been blessed enough to have a dog to call my own but have been so blessed by the furry companions of those in my life and can definitely say that they have changed my life. Many different dogs come to my mind when I think of the dogs that changed my life Clemey, Buddy, Pebbles, Gracie, Gibbs, Quinn and many others. All of these dogs have belonged to or belong to beloved friends and family members and all of these dogs had made my life so much better it was always a joy go visit my loved ones and get extra love from their dogs as someone who has struggled socially it always felt so good to receive the unconditional love that dogs have to offer. I hope that I can bring the life changing love that these dogs have brought into my life into my future career as an educator and hope that lives will be better because of it.

I have struggled with mental health for as long as I can remember, it has been a very difficult journey the struggled that I have faced my whole life has prevented me from making friends and patriating in many normal teenage and childhood activities. However going though these struggles have thought me how to never give up no matter what and it made me want to be successful regardless and that I did I was able to be on honor role all four years of high school be active in clubs and sports and even win a state championship while being on my high schools football team. However I was not able to achieve these accomplishments without the understanding and generous teacher and coach's who worked with me to help me overcome my mental health struggles and also shared a goal of helping me be successful no matter what. It is those people who have helped inspire me to pursue a career in the education field because I have seen how impactful a good educator can be how impactful they can be partially for those students who have struggles and that is what I want to do. It would mean so much to me to be able to impact students the way that my coaches and teachers have impacted me and I feel like with my first hand experiences with mental health and social struggles I can better serve the underserved students and hope that by doing so the future students that I have will fondly remember me just as I have fondly remembered people like my Spanish teacher who always listed to me and my metal health and served as not only a teacher but I low grade therapist and tutor. Or how my football coach was always there to say "hi" to me whenever he saw me helping ease my social anxiety by giving me someone familiar to talk to in all situations. I could go on and on about how much of a positive impact educators have had on me and how I want to be an educator because of them but something I feel is equally as important is to talk about one other reason I would like to be an educator as a mental health advocate and those are the teachers who were not helpful when in comes to my mental health struggle. It is also because of the hurt that some educators have caused me that I feel like its important to have mental health warriors in education berceuse if more understanding people go into educator we can hopefully advocate for all students and make our world and communities better because of it. In conclusion I have struggled with mental health my whole life but would like to go into education because of the positive and negative impact that educators have had on my mental health and how I have realized that it is truly important to and meaningful to have understanding educators in teaching if we want al students to succeed.

Life can be extremely difficult and if we don't have loving friends and family including our four legged ones it can be imposable to face. I have never been blessed enough to have a dog to call my own but have been so blessed by the furry companions of those in my life and can definitely say that they have changed my life. Many different dogs come to my mind when I think of the dogs that changed my life Clemey, Buddy, Pebbles, Gracie, Gibbs, Quinn and many others. All of these dogs have belonged to or belong to beloved friends and family members and all of these dogs had made my life so much better it was always a joy go visit my loved ones and get extra love from their dogs as someone who has struggled socially it always felt so good to receive the unconditional love that dogs have to offer. I hope that I can bring the life changing love that these dogs have brought into my life into my future career as an educator and hope that lives will be better because of it.

Growing up the 21st century has not been easy. The world that I grew up in has been constantly pledged with shootings death violence and even a pandemic and it does not take long to become discouraged by these events. However I have learned that life is so much better when one counites to have an optimistic outlook. Things that have helped me have helped me have a more optimistic outlook are the people that I have surrounded myself with I have learned that having positive people around you makes being more optimistic much easer. I have also learned that by being optimistic ones productivity can increase greatly with has helped me in all areas of my life. In conclusion while its hard to be optimistic it is worth it in the long run.

As someone who is interested on becoming an educator I believe that there is always something to learned in all situations academic or not. For me many od the best things that I have learned have nothing to do with academics and more to do with how to live a life that is dedicated to helping others and still being the best version of yourself. One of the first things that has come to mind when I think of the many things I have learned about serving others while being the best version of myself is that you need to give yourself the same grace that you give others. This piece of wisdom came to me from a very special teacher I had in high school it taught me that if I want to make it my mission to serve others and be gentle with them I must first be gentle and kind with myself as I am only capable of putting out to others what I give myself. This is a skill that I hope to keep using in my career as an educator because I know that in order to be successful as an educator you have to give your students lots of kindness and grace but there is no one to teach them if you don't give yourself grace and love you can't put that back into teaching your students. I feel like as a society if we want others to keep learning and teaching we must first give ourselves empathy grace and love as we can only put out to others what we put into ourselves. I hope that as an educator I will be able to help students experience new perspectives just like my teacher have me a knew perspective.

“Be the light” to me means being a source of love and hope for all the people around you even when you are struggling it's putting others before yourself and your struggles to make the world a brighter place. These qualities are something that I know Cade embodied and qualities that I try to embody every day. I also know that struggling with an invisible illness added an extra level of difficulty to one's ability to be a light I struggle with anxiety and depression and this adds obstacles to my ablity to be a light but I know that it is often through the struggle that we can help others the most as we are also suffering. Areas in which I feel like I was able to shine a light in our wonderful community of Waunakee was through managing football and girls basketball I feel like I was able to be a light to these teams because I was able to help them and ease the burdens of running of the team for the coaches and athletes by helping them any way they needed something I feel was a great light to both programs. One other thing that I did in an attempt to be the light for my community was being actively involved in the Above the Influence club which has a mission of supporting and empowering the community through prevention efforts and making our comminty a positive palace for all. I was also the youth representative on the Comminty Cares Collection that works to make our community kind and healthy and resonates with a motto I believe we should all live by. I feel like all these activities have prepared me to be a light in the next chapter of my life as I plan to go to St.Norbert College in De Pere WI to study elementary education and serve my fellow students as a member of the ALIVE team. It's important to me to show others that they can do great things even with struggles and that they can be a light to others regardless of what they are going through and that we need more people that are willing to light in the darkness of this world. I truly believe that by becoming an educator I can work hard to bring light to students who are struggling and can make a difference in the lives of the student's families and the community that I will serve. In conclusion, I have worked hard to be a light for others through high school even though my struggles and I hope to show everyone that anyone can be a light and make a positive impact in our community.

I believe that the key to being successful is having challenging yet attainable goals for your future. For me big goal for my future is to make a positive impact on those around me for me I plan on doing this by becoming an elementary school teacher and studying elementary education at St.Norbert College in De Pere WI. I truly believe that all of us have the power to positively impact those around us and that is why my goal for the future is to impact others by becoming an educator. I have worked hard to achieve my goals during high school by taking hard classes having success in sports and clubs and I truly believe that practice with setting goals will help me reach my ultimate goal of becoming an impactful educator and inspire the next generation of learners and leaders to work hard to achieve their goals for the future.

It takes a lot to step back and realize how blessed you are. This is something that I myself have struggled with as it's so easy to see what others have that you don't and feel envy. However, I believe that constantly looking at what others have that you don't can cause lots of sadness. This is why I try to look at what I do have and be grateful for all of the blessings in my life each and every day I believe that practicing graduate will help me reach my goal of becoming an educator. The main thing in my life that I am grateful for is my family both blood and chosen. I have been so blessed with many different people in my life that have always been there to support me through all the ups and downs and I am truly grateful for them every day. It is through their support and the financial support of generous organizations like yours that I will achieve my goal of studying elementary education at St.Norbert College in De Pere WI and hopefully help teach my students how to practice gratitude every day.

Having an impact on others is something that we all strive for. As someone who strives to be a leader among my peers, I understand the pure joy that being a leader and a mentor can have on others. For me being a mentor means leading by example and making others feel welcome in all situations. The impact that I hope to have as a mentor and leader is giving people positive experiences in the areas in which I am a mentor. For example, I have been a football manager all four years of high school and had a positive experience with it as an underclassman due to the mentors that I had and as I got to be an upperclassman I hoped to give others that same positive experience. I hope to continue to have a positive impact as a mentor in college as I will be on the ALIVE peer ministry team at my college and with my role there I hope to also be a mentor to other students and give them a positive experience in the peer minestery to hopefully give them a place to belong. I hope to be a mentor in my future career as an educator by taking my experiences of creating a place where people feel like they belong to have an impact in the classroom.

Throughout my career attending public school, I have been fortunate enough to have had incredible teachers who have been incredibly kind and supportive of me both inside and outside of the classroom. This is the impact that I want to have on the students that will eventually teach. I want to be the teacher that they come to when they are having a hard time with anything. I want to be the teacher that stops in the hall to walk and talk with you when you are walking alone. I want to be the teacher that enthusiastically welcomes students at the door every day before class starts. I want to be the teacher that makes sure the struggling students are not struggling anymore and get a unique help that they need. I want to do this because I have been the student who needed to talk to someone when I was struggling. I have been the student walking alone in the hallway. I have been the student who needs to pick me up before class starts. I have been a struggling student who needs a different approach to the lesson. I hope that by becoming a teacher I can make a difference through the little things and make sure my students know that they are loved and not alone just like so many educators did for me. It was because of the educators who worked hard to support me that I was able to hold leadership roles throughout my high school career these roles included co-head football manager head girls basketball manager and Above the Influence club meeting leader I Feel like these roles helped prepare me for being an educator because they showed how to be a strong leader as well as teach others how to be leaders something that educators often do and I hope to counite to do as hope to inspire the next generation of learners and leaders. In conclusion, becoming an educator is important to me because it was through the endless support of countless educators that I was able to achieve my dreams and I hope that when I beomce an educotr I can help countless students reach their goals.

Life can be very difficult at times and in order to be successful, it's necessary to slow down and enjoy the simple things. I have learned that getting into the habit of enjoying simple things can help with anxiety depression and overall success. For I like to enjoy the simple things in life in order to relax and improve my mental health. Some of the simple pleasures that I enjoy are hiking reading trying new foods and listening to music. I enjoy hiking because I always feel better when I spend time outdoors and it's always refreshing to see what's happening in nature. I enjoy reading because other people are so much better at putting feelings into words and it just makes me feel heard. I enjoy trying new foods because they can give me a sense of adventure that I don't typically have. I enjoy listing to music because it allows me to be alone with my thoughts. I hope to count to find simple pleasures as I go off to college to study education. I also hope to teach my future students to joys of simple pleasures and hope that all who I teach can find the joys in the simple pleasures that are around them every day.

Showing others empathy has always been one of my core values. Its import to treat others with empathy and kindness because everyone is deserving of being treated with love and kindness regardless of who they are. If you want to truly make an impact on others you can do it simply by being kind and empathetic something that I always strive to do. I feel like having the skills of being able to constantly show others empathy will help me as I go onto college and then as I go on to become a teacher in the future. I hope to teach my future students the skills of showing empathy toward others as well as showing empathy to them. Empathy is an important skill that I believe everyone should learn as well as practice as much as they can in order to make the world a more loving place for all who live in it.

Whether we know it or not each day we are impacting those around us and leaving a legacy for ourselves. The legacy that I want to leave behind for myself is one of kindness compassion and inclusion. For me, it's important to leave a legacy of these qualities because I have not always had people in my life who have treated me with kindness compassion, and inclusion for me it's important to be remembered for the good things so that's what I strive for every day. For me leaving a legacy does not mean that anything extraordinary has to be done and I believe that we can all leave a positive legacy on those who we come into contact with simply by being kind compassionate and including others. That is something that I strive for every day in order to make a positive impact on all those who we come into contact with.

A group of people can't be successful without strong leaders however I believe that leaders can come in all forms and that leaders are not always who people see in the spotlight. I am grateful that I have had many different leadership opportunities through my high school experiences. One of the appetites that I got in high school to be a leadership position was being the co-head football manager my senior year my school has a football program that takes everything very seriously and it was an honor to be trusted with such a large role in this role I was responsible for setting up practice for three teams all by myself loading busses and organizing equipment and helper the underclassmen managers find their way. This was a meaningful experience and I feel gave me the necessary skills to be a useful educator which is my career goal. One other leadership opportunity that I was able to participate in was being our meeting leader for Above the Influence club as a club we work to support and empower ourselves each other the student body and the community I have been fortunate enough to lead are meetings for the past year and have been able to realize how truly powerful leadership can be and with the right leadership in a group, not only that group but the whole community becomes more powerful allowing the missions of everyone to be accomplished. In conclusion, though being involved in leadership roles I have learned how truly important leadership is to the communities in which we live and how being in a leadership position can help instill confidence in people and truly help amplify the voices of a group and a community showing how to import stong leaders truly are and the impact they can have.

Finding time to relax and take of yourself is something that is essential to human experiences. Everyone has different things that stress them out and cause them to need some time to themselves and therefore everyone has different ways that help them calm down and relax. This I something that I feel is important to recognize in ourselves and others that what might relax us might not relax others this is a big part of becoming a more accepting world. For me personally, my favorite things to do to relax go on hikes I love exploring state parks and always feel so much calmer once I have spent some time outdoors. One other thing that calms me is listing to music and writing poetry I like to listen to music because it is something that I can do in the concert of my own home and it really helps me center myself. I enjoy writing poetry because it allows me to get all of my big feels out and helps me feel like I physically get rid of my stress. In conclusion, it's important to use self-care no matter who you are so that you can be a healthier person overall.

To love and to be loved. This is something that every human being strives for and something that I personally strive to do in my everyday life. For myself, I believe that the best way to show love to others is to simply be there for them. I feel like I do this by working hard to always invite in people who may not have a place for example as an officer for my school's Above The Influence Club I work hard to invite all people into our community and make sure that they feel loved and welcomed when they are involved in our activates. I also try to make sure that I am constantly communicating with my friends and family I know that even a small text message can make a big difference and make people feel more loved. While many feel that love has to be a grand gesture I truly believe that you can show love to those around you just by letting them know that you are thinking about them and value their presence.

For those struggling with their mental health, the already difficult teenage years can become even more challenging than their peers who are not struggling with mental health. I sadly know this struggle all too well. However, I feel like these struggles have given me the skills of resilience and open-mindedness skills that I feel will greatly help me both in college and my further career as an educator. When it comes to struggling with mental health I truly believe that it's a personal journey and you need to find out what skills will work best for you those skills are defiantly not the same for everyone and as someone who struggles with mental health in a community of those who struggle need to realize that what works for you may not be the best ways for others to do well with their mental health. For me personally one of the most effective ways for me to have better mental health ways are my treatment of therapy and medication this really helps me get things under control on the more formal level and allows me to go to school and try my best every day! However, not everyone always has access to the more formal treatments and I know that to manage my mental health I need to do much more than just treatments to keep myself healthy. Some activities that I have realized help me stay mentally healthy are going on long hikes this really allows me to clear my mind and get fresh air which really helps me feel much calmer. one other tip that helps me is getting involved with different activities that the school offers I was a football and girls basketball manager, as well as a meeting leader for our Above the Influence club all of these activities, helped me gain confidence which always helps me feel better about my mental health. In conclusion mental health struggles are unique to each person but for me going on hikes getting involved and seeking treatment really helped me get through school successfully.

We find our joy by helping others. This is a sentiment that I truly believe, helping others has truly been my passion through high school. I started to manage the football team even before I started high school and that truly showed me the joy in helping others because the task was too small as long as it helped the team I was willing to do it and saw that it brought joy to the team and therefore brought joy to me and the other managers. Football was not the only aspect that I was passionate about helping others with I also went on local mission trips with my church each summer which allowed me to help others in our community with simple tasks this was another place that I found joy in and realized that there are always people in the community in need of help you just have to seek them out and offer your unique skills. In conclusion, I am passionate about helping the community and hope to counite to do so in college and after as I plan to become an educator and hopefully instill the value of helping others into my future students.