The people who shape us most are often the ones we lose too soon. For me, that person was my Nanny. She was the glue that held our family together, the steady voice, the safe place, the kind of love that made you feel whole. Watching her battle ovarian cancer, and ultimately losing her, changed me in ways I will carry for the rest of my life. I plan to use my degree in education to become a special education teacher in a K–12 classroom, where every student feels understood, supported, and treasured. As someone with autism, I know what it feels like to struggle in silence and to be misinterpreted. There was a time when I lost my confidence and the joy I once had for school. I felt invisible. In that season, I learned something that transformed me: the power of advocacy and the impact one person can have when they truly choose to care. I want to be that person for my students. Losing my Nanny deepened that calling. She had a gift for making people feel seen, valued, and safe. Even in her hardest moments, she showed up for others with love and strength. That kind of quiet courage taught me that the most meaningful thing you can do is simply be there for someone, to remind them they matter, even when the world makes them feel otherwise. That is the same presence I want to bring into my classroom. I want to create a space where differences are not just accepted, but respected. A place where students feel safe enough to be themselves and strong enough to grow. I want them to know their challenges do not define them, and that someone believes in them, even on their hardest days. After gaining experience in the classroom, I plan to become an educational attorney, advocating for students and families navigating special education. I want to stand beside those who feel overlooked and ensure they are never fighting alone. Five years after graduation, my goal is to be on that path, whether in a classroom or a courtroom, fighting for students who deserve to be heard and protected. I once needed someone to fight for me. Now, I carry the love of someone who never stopped fighting for her family. If I can give even one child the same sense of safety my Nanny gave me, then her love didn’t end with her, it lives on in every life I help lift.

Did you know that the lights inside Target stores make a constant buzzing sound? Or that something as small as a clothing tag touching your skin can cause a full-blown panic attack? For many people, these things go unnoticed. For me, they were overwhelming. I was the child that every little thing bothered me and, in many ways, still does. I don’t see my autism as a disability; I see it as a different ability. It has shaped the way I connect with people and understand the world around me. I can walk into a room and find something in common with almost anyone. I laugh at things others might not find funny, and I express myself in ways that are unique to me. I can kneel beside a child who is having a meltdown and understand what they are feeling, even when they cannot put it into words. The ability to empathize is something I carry with pride, because I know how much it matters to feel understood. The worst time in my life was being bullied in high school. Even after the administration was made aware multiple times, no real help was offered. That period of my life was the lowest I have ever felt. I felt unseen, unheard, and completely alone in a place where I was supposed to feel safe. It wasn’t just the bullying, it was the lack of support that made it even harder. That experience became a turning point in my life. It forced me to take everything I had learned, from my mom, from my struggles, and from my resilience, and I started advocating not only for myself, but for others who felt the same. That moment changed the direction of my life. For years, I thought my future would be in hospitality and tourism. I enjoyed the idea of connecting with people and creating experiences for others. As I grew and began to understand my own experiences more clearly, I found myself drawn in a different direction. When I started learning how to quote laws under the Americans with Disabilities Act, something shifted. I wasn’t just learning information, I discovered my true purpose. I realized that my experiences had prepared me for something bigger than I had originally imagined. My career will start in the special education classroom as a teacher, but ultimately, I want to become an educational attorney, focusing on special education advocacy. I want to be the person who steps in when others are overlooked, the one who ensures that students and special education teachers are protected, heard, and given the opportunities they deserve. Living with autism has taught me strength, patience, and empathy. It has taught me how to navigate a world that is not always designed for people like me and how to do it with confidence. It has shown me that challenges can become purpose, and that even the hardest moments can shape something meaningful if you allow them to. Most importantly, it has given me the ability to give hope, hope to students who feel different, hope to families who feel overwhelmed, and hope to remind others that autism is not something to fear but something that can grow into strength, resilience, and purpose. Living with autism has been the greatest blessing in my life. For a long time, I didn’t fully understand that. There were moments when it felt like a barrier instead of a gift. But now, I can see it clearly. It has shaped who I am, strengthened my voice, and given me a path forward. AND NOW, I AM READY!

Living with autism has taught me resilience, patience, and empathy. It has shown me what it feels like to be overlooked, which is why I care so deeply about making sure others feel seen, supported, and valued. The obstacles I have faced have made me stronger, not weaker. They have shaped my heart for leadership, service, and advocacy. Autism is part of my story, but it does not define my limits. Instead, it has helped shape my purpose. It has taught me that real strength is not about never struggling, it is about continuing to rise, even when the road is hard. In college, I plan to study Special Education because this path is deeply personal to me. As someone who has faced challenges in school, enrolled in SPED classes since K-3, currently has an IEP, I understand what it feels like to need patience, encouragement, and someone who truly believes in you. I know how much it matters when a student feels seen instead of overlooked, supported instead of dismissed, and valued for who they are. Studying special education will allow me to better understand how to serve students with different needs and help them grow into the best version of themselves. My ultimate goal is to become a lawyer, specifically an educational attorney. My plan is to teach in the classroom for no less than three years, so that I have a great foundation of the special education system. I was once the student who needed advocacy, and I was fortunate to have that in my mom. She stood by me, fought for me, and made sure I was not left to face my challenges alone. Not every student has that kind of support. Many students, especially those with disabilities or differences, are bullied, like I was, and too often they feel like they have no one to turn to. Because of my own experiences, I want to be the person who stands in that gap for others. I want to advocate for students and families who feel overwhelmed, unheard, or forgotten and help them know they matter. For me, studying special education is more than choosing a major. It is the first step toward a life built on service, compassion, and advocacy. It will give me the foundation to understand students not only through policy and law, but through real human experience. My goal is to take everything I have lived through and turn it into purpose. I do not just want to build a successful career, I want to build a life that helps others feel protected, empowered, and never alone.