Discriminatory, condensed, stringent, money-hungry, infested, juvenile holding cell. Those are only a few words to describe my middle school. That entire experience was far from enjoyable. The cons outweighed the pros, day after day. Seemingly unqualified teachers were being hired and treated as robots who were only taught to gossip. Teachers shoving inadequate information into my classmates’ heads was the least of my problems. Nonetheless, Graduating from that “school” was the very first time I cried happy-tears and I watched my classmates cry with me because we had finally been released from the 5-days-a-week prison, free, relieved, and reborn. Coming to high school was a much better chapter of my life. Students were happy to be there, there were accommodations for some, accomplishments were acknowledged, and students actually want to go to class and learn something new. There was one particular thing that I noticed while observing my class and the classes after me. We are treated as a number; a 0.000 percentage in a convoluted, incomprehensible, self-sabotaging system. There has to be a better way. I knew that I had to be an advocate for the adolescent population. I knew that I had to make that better way. My experiences have guided to me help the youth be their best, through Elementary Education. I saw how important it is for students to have that critical foundation in elementary and middle school. Encouragement, optimism, proper hygiene information, and a well-rounded education of basic knowledge and real-world skills. If these necessary components of a sprouting child’s life are not met, then we are failing the world’s next generation of architects, pilots, lawyers, chefs, and entrepreneurs. I plan to be the best Elementary school teacher; the teacher that the kids run to their parents, saying, “Guess what we did in class today?”; the teacher that the students listen to because they want to, not because they have to; the teacher that parents come to, saying, “I’m not sure what you’re doing, but it’s working. Thank you so much.” I feel the need to make significant changes in all school systems because I shouldn’t be able to come up with more negative adjectives than positive to describe places of education. Earning my Master’s degree in Elementary Education will always put me somewhere in the education field. If I’m not an elementary teacher, than I am a high school teacher, repairing the pieces of foundation that students missed in elementary and middle school. If I am not a teacher, then I am the secretary of the Department of Education, ensuring that students, teachers, and principals are well taken care of. With all of those jobs, I will always make sure that every party in the equation—parents, students, teachers, principals, and other faculty—are all being well advocated for, because if not now, then when? If not me, then who?

My feet ached, my shoulders stung, my hands cramped, and my back perspired as I stood there holding number cards, waiting on the correct answer. After one hour, “No you didn’t just say 42!” I exclaimed. “Yes I did!” they laughed. “Let’s try something different now,” I pointed to lowercase d. “Um, little d?” they shouted. “No you did not just say little d?” I shouted back. Mrs. Robinson, the director, had given me the opportunity to intern at her local enrichment center for three weeks in the summer of 2022. While working there, I was responsible for teaching four of her youngest pupils, their letters, and numbers. Those three weeks changed my life, including but not limited to, learning how kids learn, how unclean they can become throughout the day, and how challenging it is to teach such adolescent minds. During my last week, on a bright and sunny Thursday, all four of “my” kids had mastered all 26 letters and numbers from 1-100. Their parents were ecstatic when their child rushed to them saying they got their numbers and letters right. Not only did my kids comprehend their letters and numbers, but they wrote them as well. My mission was complete. I felt the tears well up behind my eyes, but I couldn’t let the kids see that vulnerable side of me. I felt like a true teacher. I have learned many things after that major accomplishment, such as, the value of positive reinforcement and constructive criticism without ridiculing and dehumanizing, contrary to my middle school experience. Throughout my entire educational career, I have observed few teachers I will aspire to be and many I will not. Learning the value of patience, repetition, and understanding has fueled my passion for studying elementary education. I knew that teaching was my true purpose. That accomplishment was the cherry on top, the icing on the cake, the highlight of my life. I thought in my head, “Wow, this is really what I’m going to do in a few years.” I was full of joy, glee, relief, and a certain satisfaction I didn’t know existed. Watching my personal impact on the community confirms my choice to pursue my career in education, and guided me to, eventually, obtain my Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. Once I realized that I could and will be the most understanding, effective, and patient teacher, I realized the sky wasn’t the limit. Becoming an educator will serve as a channel to positively impact my community. I want to be the teacher that the children run to their parents, to tell them all about their good day and good grades with me. I want to be the teacher that the children remember at their high school graduation. I want to be the teacher that parents question, “How is she so good with my child? Is she a magician?” After everything I had been through, all the lessons I have learned, and all the tears I almost cried, I knew my personal call to action; to nurture, educate, and inspire all adolescent minds. To aid them through hardships and to help them seek refuge. I will not stop until my mission to prepare upcoming generations for the world that awaits them is fulfilled.

I sat back and observed as I witnessed my classmates being subjected to discouragement, bias, and insect infestations at my middle school; as my classmates fail academically and figuratively at my high school; as this child attempted to learn and play just like the other kids during my internship. Watching him be excluded from regular activities and antagonized by the teachers made me step up and talk to him like a developing human being. Seeing that child struggle through his primary period of development was the true confirmation of my career path; Elementary Education. In my judgement, this is the most important stage of development because, not only have I seen the consequences of a poor elementary education, but I also see the necessary character development that occurs during this stage. That experience has given me the drive to not only earn my Bachelor’s, but my Master’s degree in Elementary Education, so I can continue to positively impact my community and the world. Obtaining my Master's degree in Elementary Education from Delaware State University allows me to harness my enthusiasm for changing the world for the better—even if I'm not around to witness it. I can exercise my entitlement to a balanced education, which my ancestors have battled for repeatedly, because I attend an HBCU. Additionally, it enables me to learn from peers that resemble myself. This is important because, as they say, representation counts, and I plan to follow in their footsteps by advocating for Black female educators globally.

Discriminatory, condensed, stringent, money-hungry, infested, juvenile holding cell. Those are only a few words to describe my middle school. That entire experience was far from enjoyable. The cons outweighed the pros, day after day. Seemingly unqualified teachers were being hired and treated as robots who were only taught to gossip. Teachers shoving inadequate information into my classmates’ heads was the least of my problems. Nonetheless, Graduating from that “school” was the very first time I cried happy-tears and I watched my classmates cry with me because we had finally been released from the 5-days-a-week prison, free, relieved, and reborn. Coming to high school was a much better chapter of my life. Students were happy to be there, there were accommodations for some, accomplishments were acknowledged, and students actually want to go to class and learn something new. There was one particular thing that I noticed while observing my class and the classes after me. We are treated as a number; a 0.000 percentage in a convoluted, incomprehensible, self-sabotaging system. There has to be a better way. I knew that I had to be an advocate for the adolescent population. I knew that I had to make that better way. My experiences have guided me to determine my line of work without hesitation; Elementary Education. I saw how important it is for students to have that critical foundation in elementary and middle school. Encouragement, optimism, proper hygiene information, and a well-rounded education of basic knowledge and real-world skills. If these necessary components of a sprouting child’s life are not met, then we are failing the world’s next generation of architects, pilots, lawyers, chefs, and entreprenuers. I plan to be the best Elementary school teacher; the teacher that the kids run to their parents, saying, “Guess what we did in class today?”; the teacher that the students listen to because they want to, not because they have to; the teacher that parents come to, saying, “I’m not sure what you’re doing, but it’s working. Thank you so much.” I feel the need to make significant changes in all school systems because I shouldn’t be able to come up with more negative adjectives than positive to describe places of education. Earning my degree in Elementary Education will always put me somewhere in the education field. If I’m not an elementary teacher, than I am a high school teacher, repairing the pieces of foundation that students missed in elementary and middle school. If I am not a teacher, then I am the secretary of the Department of Education, ensuring that students, teachers, and principals are well taken care of. With all of those jobs, I will always make sure that every party in the equation—parents, students, teachers, principals, and other faculty—are all being well advocated for, because if not now, then when? If not me, then who?

Discriminatory, condensed, stringent, money-hungry, infested, juvenile holding cell. Those are only a few words to describe my middle school. That entire experience was far from enjoyable. The cons outweighed the pros, day after day. Seemingly unqualified teachers were being hired and treated as robots who were only taught to gossip. Teachers shoving inadequate information into my classmates’ heads was the least of my problems. Nonetheless, Graduating from that “school” was the very first time I cried happy-tears and I watched my classmates cry with me because we had finally been released from the 5-days-a-week prison, free, relieved, and reborn. Coming to high school was a much better chapter of my life. Students were happy to be there, there were accommodations for some, accomplishments were acknowledged, and students actually want to go to class and learn something new. There was one particular thing that I noticed while observing my class and the classes after me. We are treated as a number; a 0.000 percentage in a convoluted, incomprehensible, self-sabotaging system. There has to be a better way. I knew that I had to be an advocate for the adolescent population. I knew that I had to make that better way. My experiences have guided to determine my line of work without hesitation; Elementary Education. I saw how important it is for students to have that critical foundation in elementary and middle school. Encouragement, optimism, proper hygiene information, and a well-rounded education of basic knowledge and real-world skills. If these necessary components of a sprouting child’s life are not met, then we are failing the world’s next generation of architects, pilots, lawyers, chefs, and entreprenuers. I plan to be the best Elementary school teacher; the teacher that the kids run to their parents, saying, “Guess what we did in class today?”; the teacher that the students listen to because they want to, not because they have to; the teacher that parents come to, saying, “I’m not sure what you’re doing, but it’s working. Thank you so much.” I feel the need to make significant changes in all school systems because I shouldn’t be able to come up with more negative adjectives than positive to describe places of education. Earning my degree in Elementary Education will always put me somewhere in the education field. If I’m not an elementary teacher, than I am a high school teacher, repairing the pieces of foundation that students missed in elementary and middle school. If I am not a teacher, then I am the secretary of the Department of Education, ensuring that students, teachers, and principals are well taken care of. With all of those jobs, I will always make sure that every party in the equation—parents, students, teachers, principals, and other faculty—are all being well advocated for, because if not now, then when? If not me, then who?

My feet ached, my shoulders stung, my hands cramped, and my back perspired as I stood there holding number cards, waiting on the correct answer. After one hour, “No you didn’t just say 42!” I exclaimed. “Yes I did!” they laughed. “Let’s try something different now,” I pointed to lowercase d. “Um, little d?” they shouted. “No you did not just say little d?” I shouted back. Mrs. Robinson, the director, had given me, a young, black, and underprivileged aspiring educator the opportunity to intern at her local enrichment center for three weeks in the summer of 2022. While working there, I was responsible for teaching four of her youngest pupils, their letters, and numbers. Those three weeks changed my life. I was learning how kids learn, how unclean they can become throughout the day, and how challenging it is to teach such adolescent minds. During my last week, on a bright and sunny Thursday, all four of “my” kids had mastered all 26 letters and numbers from 1-100. Their parents were ecstatic when their child rushed to them saying they got their numbers and letters right. Not only did my kids comprehend their letters and numbers, but they wrote them as well. My mission was complete. I felt the tears well up behind my eyes, but I couldn’t let the kids see that vulnerable side of me. I felt like a true teacher. I have learned many things after that major accomplishment, such as, the value of positive reinforcement and constructive criticism without ridiculing and dehumanizing, contrary to my middle school experience. Throughout my entire educational career, I have observed few teachers I will aspire to be and many I will not. Learning the value of patience, repetition, and understanding has fueled my passion for studying elementary education. I knew that teaching was my true purpose. That accomplishment was the cherry on top, the icing on the cake, the highlight of my life. I was full of joy, glee, relief, and a certain satisfaction I didn’t know existed. Watching my personal impact on the community confirms my choice to pursue my career in education. This made me want to continue learning more about myself. What else am I capable of? What if I can go farther than teaching? Many other questions raced through my head and sparked an interest in learning more about early childhood development and finding new teaching tactics. This major accomplishment made me realize how important it is for a child to have such a strong, inspiring, and well-rounded foundation. Once I truly knew that I could be the most understanding, effective, and patient teacher, I realized the sky wasn’t the limit. I also realized that I could not achieve these goals alone. The Jerzee Foundation Scholarship will not only serve as a channel for me to positively impact my community through education, but also become the teacher that the children run to their parents, to tell them all about their good day and good grades with me. This scholarship will help me to be the teacher that the children remember at their high school graduation. This scholarship will make me the teacher that parents question, “How is she so good with my child? Is she a magician?” My personal call to action is to nurture, educate, and inspire all adolescent minds. To aid them through hardships and to help them seek refuge. I will not stop until my mission to prepare upcoming generations for the world that awaits them is complete, and this scholarship will help me fulfill that mission.

My feet ached, my shoulders stung, my hands cramped, and my back perspired as I stood there holding number cards, waiting on the correct answer. After one hour, “No you didn’t just say 42!” I exclaimed. “Yes I did!” they laughed. “Let’s try something different now,” I pointed to lowercase d. “Um, little d?” they shouted. “No you did not just say little d?” I shouted back. Mrs. Robinson, the director, had given me the opportunity to intern at her local enrichment center for three weeks in the summer of 2022. While working there, I was responsible for teaching four of her youngest pupils, their letters, and numbers. Those three weeks changed my life. I was learning how kids learn, how unclean they can become throughout the day, and how challenging it is to teach such adolescent minds. During my last week, on a sunny Thursday, all four of “my” kids had mastered all 26 letters and numbers from 1-100. Their parents were ecstatic when their child rushed to them saying they got their numbers and letters right. Not only did my kids comprehend their letters and numbers, but they wrote them as well. My mission was complete. I felt the tears well up behind my eyes, but I couldn’t let the kids see that vulnerable side of me. I felt like a true teacher. I have learned many things after that major accomplishment, such as, the value of positive reinforcement and constructive criticism without ridiculing and dehumanizing, contrary to my middle school experience. Throughout my entire educational career, I have observed few teachers I will aspire to be and many I will not. Learning the value of patience, repetition, and understanding has fueled my passion for studying elementary education. I knew that teaching was my true purpose. I thought in my head, “Wow, this is really what I’m going to do in a few years.” I was full of joy, glee, relief, and a certain satisfaction I didn’t know existed. Watching my personal impact on the community confirms my choice to pursue my career in education. This made me want to grow and learn more and more about myself. What else am I capable of? What do I really have to offer to the world? What if I can go farther than teaching? All of these questions raced through my head and sparked an interest in learning more about early childhood development and finding new teaching tactics. This major accomplishment made me realize how important it is for a child to have such a strong, inspiring, and well-rounded foundation. Once I knew that I could be the most understanding, effective, and patient teacher, I realized the sky wasn’t the limit. Becoming an educator will serve as a channel to positively impact my community. I want to be the teacher that the children run to their parents, to tell them all about their good day and good grades with me. I want to be the teacher that the children remember at their high school graduation. I want to be the teacher that parents question, “How is she so good with my child? Is she a magician?” After everything I had been through, all the lessons I have learned, and all the tears I almost cried, I knew my personal call to action; to nurture, educate, and inspire all adolescent minds. To aid them through hardships and to help them seek refuge. I will not stop until my mission to prepare upcoming generations for the world that awaits them is fulfilled.

My feet ached, my shoulders stung, my hands cramped, and my back perspired as I stood there holding number cards, waiting on the correct answer. After one hour, “No you didn’t just say 42!” I exclaimed. “Yes I did!” they laughed. “Let’s try something different now,” I pointed to lowercase d. “Um, little d?” they shouted. “No you did not just say little d?” I shouted back. Mrs. Robinson, the director, had given me the opportunity to intern at her local enrichment center for three weeks in the summer of 2022. While working there, I was responsible for teaching four of her youngest pupils, their letters, and numbers. Those three weeks changed my life. I was learning how kids learn, how unclean they can become throughout the day, and how challenging it is to teach such adolescent minds. During my last week, on a sunny Thursday, all four of “my” kids had mastered all 26 letters and numbers from 1-100. Their parents were ecstatic when their child rushed to them saying they got their numbers and letters right. Not only did my kids comprehend their letters and numbers, but they wrote them as well. My mission was complete. I felt the tears well up behind my eyes, but I couldn’t let the kids see that vulnerable side of me. I felt like a true teacher. I have learned many things after that major accomplishment, such as, the value of positive reinforcement and constructive criticism without ridiculing and dehumanizing, contrary to my middle school experience. Throughout my entire educational career, I have observed few teachers I will aspire to be and many I will not. Learning the value of patience, repetition, and understanding has fueled my passion for studying elementary education. I knew that teaching was my true purpose. I thought in my head, “Wow, this is really what I’m going to do in a few years.” I was full of joy, glee, relief, and a certain satisfaction I didn’t know existed. Watching my personal impact on the community confirms my choice to pursue my career in education. This made me want to grow and learn more and more about myself. What else am I capable of? What do I really have to offer to the world? What if I can go farther than teaching? All of these questions raced through my head and sparked an interest in learning more about early childhood development and finding new teaching tactics. This major accomplishment made me realize how important it is for a child to have such a strong, inspiring, and well-rounded foundation. Once I knew that I could be the most understanding, effective, and patient teacher, I realized the sky wasn’t the limit. Becoming an educator will serve as a channel to positively impact my community. I want to be the teacher that the children run to their parents, to tell them all about their good day and good grades with me. I want to be the teacher that the children remember at their high school graduation. I want to be the teacher that parents question, “How is she so good with my child? Is she a magician?” After everything I had been through, all the lessons I have learned, and all the tears I almost cried, I knew my personal call to action; to nurture, educate, and inspire all adolescent minds. To aid them through hardships and to help them seek refuge. I will not stop until my mission to prepare upcoming generations for the world that awaits them is fulfilled.

My feet ached, my shoulders stung, my hands cramped, and my back perspired as I stood there holding number cards, waiting on the correct answer. After one hour, “No you didn’t just say 42!” I exclaimed. “Yes I did!” they laughed. “Let’s try something different now,” I pointed to lowercase d. “Um, little d?” they shouted. “No you did not just say little d?” I shouted back. I was given the opportunity to intern at a local enrichment center for three weeks in the summer of 2022. While working there, I was responsible for teaching four of their youngest pupils, their letters, and numbers. Those three weeks changed my life, including but not limited to, learning how kids learn, how unclean they can become throughout the day, and how challenging it is to teach such adolescent minds. During my last week, on a bright and sunny Thursday, all four of “my” kids had mastered all 26 letters and numbers from 1-100. Their parents were ecstatic when their child rushed to them saying they got their numbers and letters right. Not only did my kids comprehend their letters and numbers, but they wrote them as well. My task was complete. I felt the tears well up behind my eyes, but I couldn’t let the kids see that vulnerable side of me. I felt like a true teacher. Once I truly knew that I could be the most understanding, effective, and patient educator, I realized the sky wasn’t the limit. Pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education will serve as a channel to positively impact my community. I want to be the teacher that the children remember at their high school graduation. I want to be the teacher that parents question, “How is she so good with my child? Is she a magician?” After everything I had been through, all the lessons I have learned, and all the tears I almost cried, I knew my personal call to action; to nurture, educate, and inspire all adolescent minds. To aid them through hardships and to help them seek refuge. I will not stop until my mission to prepare upcoming generations for the world that awaits them is fulfilled.

My feet ached, my shoulders stung, my hands cramped, and my back perspired as I stood there holding number cards, waiting on the correct answer. After one hour, “No you didn’t just say 42!” I exclaimed. “Yes I did!” they laughed. “Let’s try something different now,” I pointed to lowercase d. “Um, little d?” they shouted. “No you did not just say little d?” I shouted back. Mrs. Robinson, the director, had given me, a young, black, and underprivileged aspiring educator the opportunity to intern at her local enrichment center for three weeks in the summer of 2022. While working there, I was responsible for teaching four of her youngest pupils, their letters, and numbers. Those three weeks changed my life. I was learning how kids learn, how unclean they can become throughout the day, and how challenging it is to teach such adolescent minds. During my last week, on a bright and sunny Thursday, all four of “my” kids had mastered all 26 letters and numbers from 1-100. Their parents were ecstatic when their child rushed to them saying they got their numbers and letters right. Not only did my kids comprehend their letters and numbers, but they wrote them as well. My mission was complete. I felt the tears well up behind my eyes, but I couldn’t let the kids see that vulnerable side of me. I felt like a true teacher. I have learned many things after that major accomplishment, such as, the value of positive reinforcement and constructive criticism without ridiculing and dehumanizing, contrary to my middle school experience. Throughout my entire educational career, I have observed few teachers I will aspire to be and many I will not. Learning the value of patience, repetition, and understanding has fueled my passion for studying elementary education. I knew that teaching was my true purpose. That accomplishment was the cherry on top, the icing on the cake, the highlight of my life. I was full of joy, glee, relief, and a certain satisfaction I didn’t know existed. Watching my personal impact on the community confirms my choice to pursue my career in education. This made me want to continue learning more about myself. What else am I capable of? What if I can go farther than teaching? Many other questions raced through my head and sparked an interest in learning more about early childhood development and finding new teaching tactics. This major accomplishment made me realize how important it is for a child to have such a strong, inspiring, and well-rounded foundation. Once I truly knew that I could be the most understanding, effective, and patient teacher, I realized the sky wasn’t the limit. I also realized that I could not achieve these goals alone. The Van’s Sisters On Our Shoulders Scholarship will not only serve as a channel for me to positively impact my community through education, but also become the teacher that the children run to their parents, to tell them all about their good day and good grades with me. This scholarship will help me to be the teacher that the children remember at their high school graduation. This scholarship will make me the teacher that parents question, “How is she so good with my child? Is she a magician?” I knew my personal call to action; to nurture, educate, and inspire all adolescent minds. To aid them through hardships and to help them seek refuge. I will not stop until my mission to prepare upcoming generations for the world that awaits them is complete, and this scholarship will help me fulfill that mission.