Teachers make the world of a difference in student's life. I went into the public school system after being homeschooled in mid-elementary school as a young girl. I struggled immensely with anxiety about being away from my mom. I felt alone and struggled to make friends as I hadn't had many opportunities to do this as a child. I had one specific teacher who helped me greatly with my social anxiety-stricken struggles. She would push me to socialize, as well as help me work through my anxiety about the school world. She taught me so much about what it means to be a teacher. It doesn't simply mean teaching kids the required material (while this is important,) but also that being a teacher is about taking the time to get to know their children and push them even in non-academic ways. When I moved on to middle school, I transferred schools and once again had many issues with anxiety in social situations. The principal of this school, noticed me anxiously walking to the cafeteria in the morning, teary-eyed. She took the time to come up to me and walk me into the room. She walked me in, but she introduced me to some girls and had me sit with them until the bell rang. Just as my elementary school teacher had done so my first year of public school, she too had made a difference in my life. She would often talk to me in the hallways and even come talk to me during lunch. She made sure that I always had a friend. I have developed a passion for being a teacher because, I too, want to help students not only achieve academically but also to achieve socially and in any other way they may need. Not only does the passion for helping kids to learn and grow motivates me, but there are so many wonderful opportunities to learn and grow myself from the children around me. I wish to instill a foundation of math and sciences in young children. I want to develop children who are ready to take on the world in STEM. I have a big heart for women in STEM, so I am extremely passionate about doing all that I can to help young girls reach their academic/career goals in STEM fields, or even in any field they choose, whether it is in STEM or not.