When I first open a book, I imagine myself being transported to another realm. While there are some books I do struggle to stay focused on, others I can’t put down. Either way I have been greatly impacted by them. I have been reading since I was little, at first, it was forced by my parents and schooling but then it became more. I began to truly start reading on my own in third grade thanks to my teacher. She nurtured my love for stories. Then in fourth I began writing my own, for contests and won. That was the rocket ship blasting off. In middle school I read series such as “Eve” or "Twilight". With the series “Eve” I was absolutely enthralled by it. This was my first introduction to dystopian literature, my now favorite genre to read. It taught me about the dangers of society. How it can turn to something evil when too much power is given to the government. It showed me the depth of human emotion and how words can be written so beautifully to describe a yearning one does not understand otherwise within themself. It brought me peace and comfort in the lonely times when I sat alone in a lunchroom. It brought me bliss whenever I would visit my local library and head straight to “my” section. It has continued to flourish to this day. Reading books such as, "Fahrenheit 451” and “The giver” have given me a new light in many ways. The Giver has shown me the beauty of what we overlook today. It showed me what I’ve taken for granted. What possibilities could happen if I don’t recognize the good right in front of me. We as people tend to dwell on the negatives, but books bring so much more to a scenario. A story can take a somber moment and turn it into art. Something that is heart-wrenching yet beautiful in its own nature. It truly astounds me what the pen and paper can accomplish. Furthermore, it inspired me to tell my own stories. Reading has inspired my own individual writings. Whether it be my own personal story to share, or a warning of where I see our world leading us. It allows me to express my thoughts and opinions in a new light. Through this journey and each page turned I have learned what I want in life. Moreover, I have learned what I want from myself. It drives me to educate others and share the knowledge of books. It drives me to continue to seek new ways to describe things and cherish the moments of today. My goal to never forget that these precious moments matter exists only due to the pages I’ve read. I want to be a teacher. I want to share this love for literature with the children of the future. I desire to show them the world isn’t black and white; it is an array of colors to be explored. But most of all I want to change the world. My impact may be small on my own, but ripple effects do exist. I hope that someday my pebble drop will become a tsunami and inspire thousands for years to come. I wish to be the change I wish to see in the world. Reading has taught me that. It taught me that it starts with myself and maybe my chapter will end but with it another will begin.

The Lilacs of Enchancia Long ago in a vast faraway kingdom, there lived a prince longing for love. He was the crowned prince soon to become king. He had the fairest princess in all the lands but did not love her. She possessed many traits but none he admired. She was sharp but not as a tac, she was beautiful but not kind and she was two-faced to those around her. Cruel to the help but an angel when in front of the crown, his majesty, the king. One day the prince saw a beautiful maiden riding along the side of the palace and was desperate to meet her. He snuck out almost every night in a cloak of black into the neighboring villages to search for her. He also carried a satchel with the royal identification as well as a letter of love. But he had no luck finding his maiden. So he went into a local pub where he could drown his sorrows. He sat at a stool stirring his drink with his finger not taking a sip. When a wrinkly old cold hand touched his shoulder. She was an old witch who offered an ear. He told her his tale and looked back into his mug but pushed it aside. The old witch then took his hands and revealed a third eye. With eyes of white, she recounted, "On the day of the Moon Rise Harvest, she will appear. On the fountain of luck with a golden clover, Search for the lilacs across the throat, But be warned the lilacs across the wrist will be your true treasure" He thanked the woman (ignoring the last line) and ran back to the palace. Little did the prince know that the princess had known of his searches and sent a spy to watch him. A dark man who was a snake shapeshifter and potions dealer. The shapeshifter told the princess of his findings and she was furious. The prince came back to the palace ready to leave but the princess did everything in her power to stop him. So the prince told his majesty of his request to appear at the festival. Which His Majesty agreed to if he brought his princess consort. With reluctance, he agreed. The princess took her time hoping they would miss the festival as it was a 2-day journey and the festival began in 3 days. Due to this, the prince left without the princess anxious and impatient. He arrived at the moon rise harvest where each vendor was strung in moon bean cutouts and decorations. There was a bright glow in the atmosphere and joy. The man searched all over looking for the fountain of luck but couldn't find it. He found a vendor who had a dark and mysterious man and asked him the whereabouts of the fountain of luck. The man pointed his hand out to the fountain around the corner. When the prince left the man shapeshifted into a black serade blade snake. Its snake scales were shiny but pitch black and each end contained a poison that would kill whoever it wounded within 24 hours. The prince came upon the maiden but as he called out to her it wasn't of joy it was of caution. When he arrived he saw his maiden with the snake around her ankle and watched it pierce her and she fell to the ground. The prince rushed to her side and the snake slithered off and he held her close. She told him, "Do not waste these last moments on me for there is no cure. I only have twenty-four hours left to live let them be of joy then take my dearest treasure" So the prince did as instructed he bandaged her bleeding wound and they enjoyed the last of the moon-rise harvest. As the sun began to shine on the horizon the maiden collapsed again into the prince's arms. A tear rolled down her cheek and she held his arm tight, "My treasure take it....take her...." The maiden said weakly she took a whistle out of her pocket and blew and a little girl came running to the maiden with a lilac tattoo around her wrists. The maiden died in the prince's arms and the child cried for her mother. She wept over the body and took her whistle as the prince took the child home. Once home she was immediately welcomed and raised and the prince's daughter attended the coronation of him and his princess and was his daughter. The now-new majesty gave his daughter all she could ever dream of over the next 8 months. But the new Queen was furious… So she plotted… Once again she called upon her serpent shifter and during the night the snake wrapped itself around the child's neck trying to strangle her in her sleep. The king luckily came in after hearing the commotion and threw the snake off the girl over the balcony and onto the grass below. He then pushed a gargoyle over the edge where the wing dug into the snake's tail leaving it stuck. The king rushed back to the girl and consoled her. The King then released the shapeshifter on one condition he had his life but killed the Queen. The shapeshifter agreed and one night before the grand sunflower ball the shapeshifter put poison in the queen's makeup. She choked for air as the poison seeped into her skin leaving her dead on the floor. Before her last moments, the Queen grabbed a broken mirror shard and tried to attack the shapeshifter but the poison spread too fast. The king came in victoriously, cheering, and congratulating the shapeshifter. The shapeshifter was paid handsomely and then went off into the night, just as he first arrived. The old witch arrived to bestow a blessing upon the girl's first ball but when news came of what the King did to her she grew with sadness and anger. The witch called out to her sister: "I am not one of punish, But evil cannot be ignored, Life is life no matter the price, or cost of whose in store, So I call to you Sister may your black heart be of aid, Make this foolish king understand the true price he paid" The witch's sister came into the king's chambers later that night after the ball and cursed him… "May the next thoughts of evil plague your mind consume you...." The King dreamed of his revenge on the Queen taking joy in the sight of her corpse. He imagined all the ways he could have killed her that night and he awoke to a black darkness around him. With a wicked smile, the darkness spoke; "May men like you whose minds are dark and hearts blacken be consumed by their wickedness" Its grin grew and before the King could cry his pleas the darkness consumed him whole leaving no trace of the occurrence that night. The good witch came the next morning and took the girl away. Far away to a mansion in the woods. The old witch then raised the child as her own. The child made friends with the animals and fair folk and lived among them. She grew in grace, beauty, and kindness and was friends with the servants as well. The rest of her tale is unknown but it is rumored she found friends with a black snake. It had the smoothest, gentlest scales she ever came to encounter with and a scar along its back. She wore a whistle around her neck and a clover tattoo above her heart. I created this story a few years back now based off of a dream I had. During my time at a boys and girls club I actually read it to the children. They were ages 8-9 years old. They absolutely adored the story and it warmed my heart. The moral of this story is that wicked deeds need not be sought out by vengeance. That the darkness in your heart you hold will only destroy you in the end. I think it a valuable lesson to anyone that holding onto that anger, hate, and negative feelings. You will be consumed by it, and you'll only hurt yourself in the end. I do truly believe story telling is vital to teach children. It was how much history was passed down from the ages and how historically lessons were taught. Whether it be the Grimm Brothers fairytales or Native American tribe stories lesson are taught through them. No, it may not stop children from acting out, however it gives a precursor and caution to the action. Many times, children will reflect on their actions back to the precursor of caution. Children need to be engaged, learn, and taught morality. It is much needed in this world today. Which is why I find it so vital to tell them stories. They need to know how to treat others not based off of what they've seen but based off of what they know is right.

The young mind is molded when it can retain its first memory. There are small memories that last a week to two months and those that last a lifetime. Children can be influenced by these memories and driven toward a successful future. Early education to elementary education forms the basic building blocks of character. Not only are children taught basic skills, but they are taught how to learn. However, as an educator, it is important to choose what they are learning. Whether that be life skills, character building, or intellectual education. Education is a lingering thing. The journey for a student does not end when the bell rings and they leave the classroom. Education is finished when the student decides there is nothing left to learn. As educators, it is our job to light a fire in students and allow that journey of learning never to cease. For myself, education has always been at my core. As a child, I would always play teacher; in school, I would ask to assist, and now as a young adult, I strive to make it my career. The reason I knew this is where my heart lay is due to my time working at a Boys and Girls Club. I began working there my senior year part-time as a program specialist. I then instantly fell in love with the position. Working with kids from a range of ages, starting at five all the way to eighteen. Typically, I was assigned to the youth within the five-to-nine range. That is when I discovered education was my calling. I adored working with kids. During my time there, I was able to witness their frustration when they failed a task, but also their pride when it was overcome. I knew then that I needed to be a part of that. To not only inspire a commitment in every student but a drive as well. Also, while working there, I saw the home lives of the children through passing glimpses. Some of them were abused, others neglected, and some were reckless. Teachers assist in many of those matters, making sure every child is safe and well-cared for. To continue, children tend to bring what they learn home to their families. This is why it is a necessity that educators build character through example. Children learn through viewing the behavior of their teacher and will copy what they see. When positively expressed, this helps home life by encouraging good behavior. This can also positively impact home life by uplifting the child. In homes where children are neglected, they can find peace in small things and joy in their day at school. Furthermore, I recognize that I wish to encourage students to do more than their current capabilities. To show students how they can utilize their current skills for success. But most importantly, I want to make the future a little bit better, one child at a time. Learning does not stop when the bell rings, and time does not stop when the child leaves the classroom. Time continues forward, growing these children into our next generation.

To begin, I have adored working with kids since I was a child myself. I have always adored being a mentor to those younger than me and those around me. Being a teacher is more than just educating youth. It is setting an example and being a role model for the next generation. As a ten-year-old, I volunteered at vacation Bible school to help children. Then, as a middle schooler, I shadowed my mom (a sixth-grade teacher) and watched how she taught her classroom. In High School, I then took on a role as a mentor to many younger students and worked at our local Boys and Girls Club. My whole life has been dedicated to helping those younger and being a source of guidance and a positive influence in their lives. As for my own teachers who inspired me, they left quite an impact. As a younger child, my third-grade teacher, Mrs. Codey, always supported my creativity. Often shown through her compliments of my poster board projects. My fourth-grade teacher, Mr. Jetson, was strict with me, but that is because he knew my potential. In High School, my Spanish teacher, Señora Hoffman, left the greatest impact on my years. She was tough on me, but it was only to push me towards my fullest potential. By the end of my Senior year, I’d finally been able to recognize all that she’d done for me. Furthermore, I wish to share what wisdom I have in this world with kids. I also want to help those who have trouble in the classroom. In High School, I learned I had quite a few mental disorders. I struggled a lot in the classroom because of that. I couldn't sit still; I would often have panic attacks mid-study, and at times I couldn't keep up with the lesson. But I've learned many things from that and grown from it. I've acquired many skills I believe I could use to help other students who struggle with the same disadvantage. Some of these skills include coping mechanisms, calming techniques, studying techniques, and more. Along the lines of coping, I've learned that giving the student even five minutes of reprieve will greatly assist them. It allows them to breathe, calm down, and realize it is much simpler than whatever the problem may seem to pose. I've also learned how quiet fidgets help with some students and their focus abilities. Some students need a physical movement to keep them focused in the classroom. Other students need background noise, such as light music. Likewise, studying techniques, I've researched the three main ones. Hands-on, auditory, and visual learning. While most students are "hands-on" learners, there are other types that need to be addressed. Being able to help each student based on their learning style is essential to creating a classroom in which each student can thrive. Research also shows that repetition, rhythm, and colors help students recall the information they’ve retained. In this, I have explained why I enjoy working with kids and the impact teachers have had on me. As well as the strategies I will implement in the classroom. Furthermore, I wish to highlight that as a future educator, I will take the passion and lessons I’ve learned from my teachers and apply them to future students. A teacher is more than an educator. They are a safe haven, a friend, a mentor, and help mold the clay of the future. I wish to set the bar higher than it's ever been before. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and taking me into consideration.