What makes me, Niyelete Barras, a leader is my high school experience. I was involved in various activities during my high school years, but the one that truly defined me was being the varsity cheer captain at Alief Taylor High School. I served as cheer captain during my junior and senior years. It was never easy. Being captain comes with significant responsibility. As a leader, you become a role model for your team and an emblem of the group's success. There were times I felt overwhelmed and considered quitting, but I knew that wasn't what a leader does. A leader remains composed and resilient, even when things fall apart because your team mirrors your attitude. A leader stays prepared for any challenge, adapting and accepting change with grace and readiness. My senior year was the most rewarding yet challenging. Our coach had to transfer to another school, and I had to adapt to a new coach. This transition was difficult because everyone looked to me for guidance. Questions like, "What are we going to do now?" and "Do we have to start all over?" were common. As a leader, I had to put my feelings aside and support my team. I reassured them that we would be fine, reminding them to stay true to what we had learned and continue growing together. Despite the change, I never lost sight of their potential, always pushing them to be their best. Additionally, leadership requires a strong sense of empathy and the ability to connect with each team member on a personal level. I made it a point to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each cheerleader, helping them to build confidence and improve their skills. I believe that a leader should inspire and motivate, not just direct. By fostering a positive and supportive environment, I helped my team members believe in themselves and each other. A pivotal moment for me was organizing and leading our team through a major regional competition. With our new coach and wanting to make the biggest comeback because the last past years haven’t been our best. So much of the planning and execution fell on my and my other captain's shoulders. This experience taught me the importance of meticulous preparation, clear communication, and unwavering determination. We faced several setbacks, but by keeping the team focused and maintaining high spirits, we managed to perform exceptionally well. This achievement was a testament to our hard work and unity. It showed a lot on our end, with having a new coach and all the trials and tribulations everything comes together when you believe in the girls who have to back and you have there's.  Furthermore, I learned as a begin captain that effective leadership involves being a good listener. I made it a priority to listen to my team’s concerns and feedback, ensuring that everyone felt heard and valued. This open line of communication helped to resolve conflicts quickly and kept our team cohesive. Listening to girls' feedback is very important to me because I always wanted everyone to feel important when it came to me and everyone else  In conclusion, my experience as the varsity cheer captain at Alief Taylor High School taught me invaluable lessons about leadership. A leader is someone who fights through struggles, never gives up in the face of challenges, manages emotions for the sake of the team, and shows unwavering support and love. By embodying these qualities, I was able to guide my team through difficult times and help each member realize their potential. That’s what leadership means to me.

Hello, I am Niyelete Barras, a senior in the class of 2024. Throughout my high school years, I have maintained an impressive academic record as an honor roll student, consistently earning A's and B's. However, my achievements extend beyond the classroom, as I have been actively involved in various extracurricular activities and community service projects. For two years now, I have proudly served as the Alief Taylor Varsity cheer captain, fostering a sense of unity and dedication among my teammates. In addition, I am a member of the Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE) club, where I have actively participated in a head start program to obtain my Texas teaching certifications. My passion for teaching led me to become a student teacher for 6th-grade math, and I plan to extend this experience to teaching elementary students in the upcoming year. As a student teacher, I have honed my skills by conducting lessons, creating engaging presentations, and developing a comprehensive website to showcase my teaching materials and accomplishments, which will be beneficial when seeking future teaching opportunities. Outside of school, I am an active member of the Top Teens Of America Houston Chapter, where we engage in various community service projects to make a positive impact on society. Moreover, I am enthusiastic about completing my final year as a Girl Scout to achieve the prestigious Golden Award. This award not only opens doors for college admissions but also allows me to contribute further to my community. For my Golden Award project, I decided to create a math website filled with interactive games and problem-solving activities, aiming to help students learn and practice math while having fun. I identified math as a significant challenge for some of the students I encountered during my time as a student teacher, and I wanted to provide them with accessible resources to strengthen their foundational skills and succeed in their academic journey. My journey to becoming a teacher was not initially straightforward. Originally, I aspired to be a photographer, drawn to the idea of capturing meaningful moments through images. However, a life-changing event reshaped my ambitions. When faced with a difficult situation, I confided in my teacher, Ms. Jordan, who provided unwavering support and encouraged me to be open about my struggles. Her guidance led me out of a period of depression, and I realized the profound impact teachers can have on their students' lives. This experience ignited a desire in me to help others just as Ms. Jordan had helped me. From that moment, I knew that I wanted to become a teacher and be a source of support and encouragement for my future students. Becoming a teacher is not merely a personal endeavor for my own happiness; it is driven by a genuine passion to make a positive difference in the lives of my students. My ultimate goal is to create an inclusive and supportive environment where every child feels valued and knows they can turn to me for guidance. I want to assure my students that they are never alone in their struggles and that I will always lend a listening ear and a helping hand.

A dream is a cherished hope and ambition. And if I were allowed to proceed, my goal would be amazing to take advantage of. If all the resources were in my hand, I would use every bit of them to become a teacher. To give a back story, I originally wanted to be a photographer to have something nice, taking someone's pictures all day. One day my life changed because of one stupid mistake. And it was a teacher that I would normally go to to sit and talk to. Her name was Ms.Jordan. At this one moment, I needed her because I would go home, and my life would change how my parents viewed me, but I don't regret telling them anything. With the situation, I was just sick to my stomach, and I couldn't understand why until I said Ms. Jordan, and she told me just to be open about it, which I did, and it was the best decision. At first, it was bad because I went into a depression stage, but things got better over time, all because that one teacher told me to be open about things. And from that day, I knew I couldn't be the only one scared to tell someone something or be honest about things. I knew I wanted to help kids just as that teacher helped me. That day I knew I wanted to become a teacher to be there and support my kids just as my teacher did for me. Becoming a teacher is not just for my happiness. It's also for my future students. I want to make kids smile for a living. I want a child to know that they are never alone. They can always come to me. I was also at a point where I needed someone, and It would be one of my teachers. I respect them for just listening to me. At that moment, I knew I could not be the only one to feel this way and knew I wouldn't be the last to experience what I did; I wanted to help a student just as my teacher helped me. Teaching also comes with the teaching part of it, and I love math and find it amazing how things can add up. What is not better than becoming a math teacher? It's like a two-and-one deal, Get to make kids happy and be there for them and teach them something that I truly love to do. So imagining that I can have all the resources in the palm of my hand to become a teacher, I would take advantage of it every bit of it. I know one day my dream will become a reality, and I can't wait till that comes true, And this is the first step to making my dream come true.