One of the teachers who had the biggest impact on my life was my history teacher, who also happened to be my baseball coach. Having him both in the classroom and on the field meant I got to see the same message from two different sides of my life. What he taught me went way beyond history lessons or baseball strategy. He taught me how to approach life. One thing he always said that stuck with me was simple. Do not let anyone outwork you. He said it about baseball at first, but it quickly became clear that he meant it about everything. On the field, that meant putting in the extra reps, staying focused during practice, and taking training seriously even when no one was watching. In the classroom, it meant putting the time into studying, completing work the right way, and not cutting corners. At first it just felt like normal coach talk, the kind of thing you hear in sports all the time. But over time I started to realize he truly lived by it. He showed up prepared every day, both as a teacher and as a coach. He expected a lot from us, but you could tell it was because he cared and believed we were capable of more. That made a difference. Another thing he always talked about was taking advantage of opportunities. He reminded us that not everyone gets the same chances in life, so when something comes your way you should not waste it. Whether it was getting extra playing time in a game or having the chance to learn something in school, he pushed us to take it seriously and make the most of it. Those lessons started to change the way I thought about things. Instead of just going through the motions, I began to focus more on how much effort I was really putting in. I started asking myself if I was truly doing everything I could to improve, both in school and in baseball. His message made me realize that success usually comes down to effort and discipline more than anything else. One moment that really showed me how much his mindset mattered was during a tough stretch in my baseball career. I was struggling and things were not going the way I hoped. It would have been easy to get discouraged and just accept where I was at. But his voice was always in the back of my mind reminding me not to let anyone outwork me. That pushed me to keep practicing, keep improving, and keep believing that things could get better if I stayed disciplined. Looking back, I realize that his influence went far beyond sports or history class. He helped shape the way I approach challenges, opportunities, and my future. He showed me that the effort you give today can change where you end up tomorrow. That experience also helped me realize what I want to do with my own career. I want to become a teacher because I want to have that same kind of impact on students. A great teacher can shape how a student sees themselves and what they believe they can achieve. Sometimes it only takes one person believing in you and pushing you to work harder to change your path. If I can encourage students to work hard, take their opportunities seriously, and believe in their potential the way my teacher did for me, then I know I will be doing something meaningful. That is the kind of influence I hope to have one day in my own classroom.

My name is Nathan Crawford, and I plan to major in secondary education. I have always believed that teachers play a bigger role in students’ lives than people sometimes realize. A good teacher does more than just explain a lesson or assign homework. They help students grow, build confidence, and start to understand what they are capable of. I have been lucky to have teachers who did that for me, and it is a big reason why I want to become a teacher myself. Throughout school, I have had teachers who pushed me to do better, even when I thought I was already doing enough. They believed in me and expected me to work hard. That kind of support sticks with you. It makes you want to live up to those expectations. I want to bring that same mindset into my own classroom one day. My goal is to help students realize their true potential and understand that they are capable of more than they think. One thing I especially want to teach my students is the value of discipline and hard work. No matter what path someone chooses in life, those two things will always matter. Whether a student wants to go into college, a trade, sports, or something completely different, learning how to stay disciplined and put in effort will always benefit them. I want my classroom to be a place where students feel supported but also challenged to grow and improve. A big reason I believe so strongly in hard work comes from my experience playing baseball. During my sophomore year, I faced one of the toughest moments I have had in sports. An upperclassman who normally played ahead of me was out, and I was suddenly put in a big position on the team. It felt like a great opportunity, but things did not go the way I hoped. I struggled on the mound and ended up getting walked off three different times. On top of that, I was not getting many at bats either. It was frustrating, and at times it was honestly embarrassing. When you want to perform well for your team and things keep going wrong, it can be tough mentally. For a while I felt like I had let my teammates down. But after the season ended, I realized something important. If I wanted things to change, I had to change the way I prepared. That offseason I decided to work harder than I ever had before. I spent more time practicing, focusing on improving my pitching and overall game. I stayed disciplined with my training and pushed myself even on days when I did not feel like it. Instead of letting the disappointment from my sophomore year define me, I used it as motivation. All of that work paid off during my junior year. I played much better and ended up earning all league honors. That moment meant a lot to me because it showed that the effort I put in actually made a difference. It also reminded me that failure does not have to be the end of the story. Sometimes it is just the starting point for growth. As a future teacher, I want to share that lesson with my students. Everyone faces challenges at some point. What matters most is how you respond. If I can help students believe in themselves, stay disciplined, and keep working toward their goals, then I know I will be making a positive impact in the world.

Faith has always been something steady in my life. I would not say it has made life easy, but it has helped me make sense of difficult moments and keep moving forward when things felt heavy. My faith in God has been a guide for how I deal with challenges, both big and small. Sometimes those challenges are simple, like not making the varsity baseball team. At the time it felt disappointing, but my faith helped me step back and see that one setback does not define who I am or where I am going. The bigger moments are where faith has meant the most to me. Losing both of my grandparents was one of the hardest experiences I have gone through. They were a huge part of my life, and it was difficult to imagine life without them around. During that time, my faith helped me process the grief. Believing that God has a plan and that the people we love are still cared for gave me comfort when things felt overwhelming. It did not erase the sadness, but it helped me carry it. It reminded me that even during painful moments there is still purpose and hope. Faith has also shaped the way I approach school. One thing that being a person of faith has taught me is discipline. Just like taking time to pray or reflect requires consistency, so does working hard in school. I try to treat my responsibilities the same way I treat my faith. That means showing up, putting in the effort, and staying committed even when I do not feel like it. School is not always easy, but staying disciplined has helped me keep my focus on the bigger picture. That mindset is one reason I want to pursue higher education. I have always believed that if you are given opportunities, you should take them seriously and make the most of them. Education is one of those opportunities. It allows you to grow, learn new perspectives, and eventually give something meaningful back to others. Another major influence in my decision to pursue higher education has been my dad. He has always encouraged me to follow what I truly enjoy doing rather than just chasing something that looks impressive on paper. For me, that passion is teaching. My dad has always supported that goal and has never tried to push me into a different path. Instead, he reminds me that if I care about what I do, I will naturally put the work into becoming good at it. His support has meant a lot to me. Knowing that someone believes in you makes a huge difference when you are planning your future. My dad has shown me what it looks like to work hard and stay committed to your responsibilities. At the same time, he has also taught me that success is not just about money or status. It is about doing something that matters and helping other people along the way. That is a big part of why I want to become a teacher. Teachers have the ability to shape how students see themselves and their potential. I have had teachers who believed in me and pushed me to do better, and I want to be that kind of person for someone else. I want to help students build confidence, stay curious, and realize that their goals are possible. When I think about my future, both my faith and my family play a big role in how I see it. My faith keeps me grounded and reminds me to stay patient and focused. My dad’s encouragement reminds me to pursue a career that is meaningful to me. Together, those influences have helped shape the path I want to follow and the kind of person I hope to become. Instagram: craw_nate

I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember. A lot of that comes from my grandma. She was an English teacher at Novi Middle School in Michigan for over 50 years, and growing up I got to see how much time and care she put into her work. I remember sitting at the kitchen table while she graded stacks of papers or worked on lesson plans. I would always ask if I could help her, and she would laugh and tell me I was too young. At the time it just seemed like normal work to her, but looking back I realize how much dedication it took to do that job well for so many years. What really stuck with me was the way her former students talked about her. Even years after graduating, people would still come up to her or send messages telling her how much she meant to them. They would talk about the things she taught them, not just about English, but about life. Seeing that made a big impression on me. It showed me that a teacher’s impact can last long after a student leaves the classroom. That is the kind of impact I want to have on people someday. I want to be the kind of teacher who helps students understand that success does not happen overnight. One of the biggest lessons I have learned through school and sports is that discipline matters. If you work hard every day and stay committed, good things eventually happen. I want to teach students that lesson both in the classroom and on the field as a baseball coach. Sports and academics both teach the same thing. Hard work, patience, and consistency lead to improvement over time. Another teacher who had a big influence on me was my sixth grade English teacher. He was one of those teachers that everyone liked and respected. He always had a positive attitude and made class interesting, which made students want to be there and participate. At the same time, he did not let people slack off. He pushed us to work hard and expected us to take responsibility for our work. What stood out about him was how he balanced being supportive while still holding students to a high standard. He cared about his students, but he also believed they were capable of more. Looking back, that approach really stuck with me. When I think about the kind of teacher I want to become, I think about both my grandma and my sixth grade teacher. They showed me that teaching is not just about delivering lessons. It is about shaping people, building character, and helping students grow into the best version of themselves.

One issue in my community that I have addressed is school pride. Before I even started high school, I heard a lot of negative comments about it. People would say how much they hated it or how bad the experience was. Hearing that before you even walk through the doors can shape how you see a place. When I started at Swartz Creek High School, I decided I did not want that attitude to define my experience or the experience of the people around me. My motivation is a simple yet tough one. I want people to be proud to graduate from Swartz Creek. I want students to look back and feel good about where they went to school, and I want the community to feel the same way. A school is a big part of a town's identity, and I think it should be something people are proud of. To help with that, I have taken part in several leadership programs at school where we focus on building a positive culture. One thing we worked on was creating a community wide acronym that represents the values we want students to live by. It gives people a simple reminder of how we should treat each other and represent our school. I have also taken initiative as a student section leader. That role gives me a chance to help create energy and support for out sports teams. I show up to as many games as possible, cheer loudly, and encourage others to do the same. It might seem like a small thing, but when students come together to support their classmates, it builds a sense of unity and pride. So far, I think my biggest accomplishment and how to expand on my efforts go hand and hand. This is by setting an example. I show that being positive about our school and supporting the people around you is fun, and something worth doing. Setting an example expands on my efforts by the culture that I hope to have set sticking with younger students, and that starts to have a ripple effect. My goal is that students who come after me will carry that same pride and represent Swartz Creek in a way that makes the whole community proud to live, learn, and graduate here.

My name is Nathan Crawford, and I am a high school student who has spent a lot of my time focused on school, sports, and being part of my community. Baseball has been one of the biggest parts of my life. I have played for years, and the game has taught me a lot about discipline, consistency, and doing the little things right every day. Those lessons have shaped how I approach school and the rest of my life. Next year I will be continuing my baseball career at Grand Valley State University. I plan to major in secondary education because I want to become a teacher. Some of the most important lessons I have learned have come from coaches and teachers who cared about more than just results. They taught me that discipline in what you do every day is what leads to success, whether that is in the classroom, on the field, or in life. I want to pass those lessons on to the next generation the same way they were passed on to me. Outside of sports, something that is really important to me is making sure people feel included. My mom and my older brother are both special education teachers, so I grew up seeing how important it is to treat students with special needs with respect and kindness. Because of that, I try to make an effort to include them in everyday moments at school, whether that is talking with them between classes, saying hello in the hallway, or just making sure they feel like part of the same community as everyone else. If I could start my own charity, it would focus on inclusion for people with special needs. The goal would be simple. I would want to create more opportunities for students with special needs to be part of school activities and the local community instead of being on the outside looking in. A big part of the charity would involve volunteers from schools and local sports teams. For example, a high school baseball team could play a Special Olympics team in a slow pitch softball game. Basketball teams could host Special Olympics games at halftime during varsity games so the whole crowd can support them. Events like that would give students with special needs a chance to compete, have fun, and feel recognized by their community. Volunteers would also help with smaller things that matter just as much. They could spend time with students after school, help organize games and activities, or simply make an effort to build friendships. Sometimes inclusion is not about big programs. It is about making sure people feel seen and treated like equals. At the end of the day, my goal in life is pretty simple. I want to teach, coach, and help build communities where people support each other. Whether that is in a classroom, on a baseball field, or through a charity focused on inclusion, I want to help create environments where everyone feels like they belong.

"Creating Connection"- One way I help bring people together at my school is through my role as a student section leader. Our student section leaders meet every week to plan themes for games, talk about what went well, and make sure we are setting the right tone for the crowd. We want the student section to be loud and fun, but also respectful. A big part of our conversations is about sportsmanship and making sure we represent our school in a positive way. As leaders, we try to set that example ourselves. That means cheering for our team without putting down the other team, making sure everyone feels welcome to join the section, and helping create an environment where people feel like they belong. Inclusion is also something that matters a lot to me personally. My mom and my older brother are both special education teachers, so I grew up seeing how important it is to make sure everyone feels included. Because of that, I try to be intentional about including students with special needs in everyday situations. Sometimes it is something small, like starting a conversation with them between classes, saying hi in the hallway, or talking with them when they come into my gym class. Other times it is just making sure they feel like part of the group instead of standing on the outside. To me, creating belonging is often about those small, everyday moments. If someone feels noticed, respected, and included, it can really change their experience at school. I try to do my part to make our school feel like a place where everyone has a spot. "Boldly, Unapologeticlly Me"- A moment that really taught me to be boldly and unapologetically myself happened on the baseball field. As a pitcher, I was surrounded by teammates who wanted to strike everyone out and throw as hard as possible. Velocity was a big deal, and it sometimes felt like that was the only way a pitcher could be respected or successful. For a while, I felt pressure to follow that model. I tried to throw harder and chase strikeouts, even though that was never really my natural style. The more I tried to pitch that way, the more uncomfortable I felt on the mound. I was focused on being something I was not instead of doing what actually worked for me. Eventually I stepped back and thought about what kind of pitcher I really was. I realized my strength was not overpowering hitters with speed. My strength was mixing pitches, changing speeds, and keeping hitters guessing. Once I accepted that, I leaned into it. Instead of worrying about velocity, I focused on location and movement. I worked on getting ground balls and letting my defense work behind me. That approach felt more natural, and my results improved almost immediately. I started getting quick outs and pitching more efficiently, and I felt a lot more confident. That experience showed me that success does not always come from doing what everyone else is doing. Sometimes it comes from understanding your own strengths and trusting them. When I stopped trying to fit into someone else’s idea of a pitcher and started pitching like myself, I became both more effective and more confident.

I’ve wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember. Even when I was younger, I paid attention to the teachers who made class feel meaningful, not just required. They were the ones who noticed effort, challenged us to think, and treated students like people who mattered. That stuck with me. I want to be the teacher students remember years later, not because I was easy, but because I helped them grow and made a real impact on their lives. A big reason I feel this way is my family. My mom and my brother are both special education teachers, and watching them work has shaped how I see education. I’ve seen the patience it takes, the creativity, and the level of care they bring every day. They don’t just teach content. They help students build confidence and find ways to succeed that work for them. Seeing that up close made teaching feel meaningful and real, not just a job. It showed me how much influence a teacher can have on a student’s path. Athletics has also played a huge role in shaping who I want to be as a teacher. My baseball coaches has been one of my biggest influences. He taught me something simple but powerful: hard work and discipline beat talent. Talent might give someone a head start, but it doesn’t replace effort, consistency, or mindset. That lesson applies far beyond baseball. It applies to school, goals, and life in general. It’s a message I want to carry into a classroom and pass on to students who might doubt themselves. Through sports, I’ve learned a lot about who I am. The biggest lesson is that if something were easy, everyone would do it. Sports are hard. Improvement takes time. There are setbacks, frustrations, and moments when quitting feels easier than continuing. What matters is accepting that difficulty is part of the process. Growth happens when you keep working, stay disciplined, and push through challenges instead of avoiding them. I’ve also learned accountability. In sports, effort is visible. Preparation shows up in performance. That mindset has helped me take responsibility for my progress instead of looking for excuses. It taught me patience, resilience, and how to stay focused when things don’t go my way. Those are lessons I want to model for students, not just talk about. Becoming a teacher combines everything that matters to me: helping others grow, building meaningful relationships, and passing on lessons that go beyond academics. I want to create an environment where students feel supported but also challenged to do their best. If I can help students believe in their ability to improve, work through difficulty, and take pride in their effort, then I know I’m making the kind of impact that once inspired me.