Shaping the future of early childhood education requires more than just standard curriculum and lesson plans; it requires a servant's heart, an innovative spirit, and a profound sense of empathy. Sandy Jenkins embodied these rare traits during her fifteen years as a beloved preschool director, leaving behind an inspiring regional legacy of passion and determination. As a senior Honors College senior at Kennesaw State University preparing to graduate and enter the classroom, my passion for early childhood education stems from a deep-seated desire to be the stable, encouraging force that young children need during their most critical years of emotional and cognitive development. My commitment to youth development is deeply personal and backed by over 350 volunteer hours working directly with children from ages three to twelve. Growing up in one of the most economically challenged, rural counties in Georgia, I witnessed firsthand how vital early educational support is for children who lack outside resources. Furthermore, navigating my own personal battles with anxiety and depression has given me a unique perspective on the hidden emotional challenges that young students face. I have become an open advocate for mental health because I firmly believe that no one should struggle alone—especially young children who are still learning to navigate the world and may not yet possess the vocabulary to express their feelings. To create a classroom environment where every child feels safe and valued, I draw heavily on my extensive background in regional theater. Having performed in nearly 30 productions, including work just across the Georgia border with Act Up! Studios in Headland, Alabama, I have seen how the creative arts can transform a child’s confidence. Theater taught me how to cultivate highly inclusive, expressive spaces where children feel entirely accepted for exactly who they are. In my future classroom, I plan to integrate these creative storytelling and performance techniques to help early childhood learners build vital social-emotional and literacy skills. To truly honor Sandy Jenkins' legacy of educational leadership, I have spent my college career actively preparing to be a leader in my field. While maintaining a 3.72 GPA, I have stepped into major professional roles on campus. I proudly serve as a Bagwell College of Education Ambassador, work as a Student Assistant in our campus Innovation Lab helping peers integrate cutting-edge technology into their teaching, and serve as the Treasurer of the Educators of Tomorrow Club, where I facilitate Aspiring Educators conferences. Receiving the Sandy Jenkins Excellence in Early Childhood Education Scholarship would provide vital financial support during my final year of preparation. It would empower me to graduate and step seamlessly into the workforce as an empathetic, resilient, and innovative educator dedicated to carrying Sandy Jenkins’ torch forward into a new generation of classrooms.

I grew up in the school. Yes, I know everyone essentially does, but I spent much of my childhood in a school--and not just as a student. My local elementary school was my second home. You see, my mother was a teacher, and I grew up watching her dedicate her life to her students. This is what has inspired me to become a teacher and pursue a career in elementary education. Now, I don't just want to become a teacher because I want to follow in my mother's footsteps. It’s because I have seen firsthand how she has shaped countless lives. We are constantly stopped in the grocery store by her current and former students. They love her and always want to speak. She even has former students who are adults tell her how much she meant to them and inspired them to make something of their lives. That’s no small feat for our area. We have one of the lowest poverty rates in Georgia. The odds are stacked against them, but many of them have gone on to become successful adults because of teachers like my mother. They have defeated those odds and ended the cycle of poverty once bestowed upon them. Because of my mother, I know that teachers can have profound impacts on students, and not just in the areas of achievement and academics. Teachers inspire confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning. I know that teaching has hardships, and that many teachers are leaving the profession. I saw the challenges my mother faced, but I have also seen the immense joy she receives from teaching. Despite any of the negatives, my heart yearns to be a teacher, and so I also want to dedicate my life to teaching. I am currently a sophomore at Kennesaw State University where I have been accepted into the Bagwell College of Education. I am actively involved in my school. I work in the college's Innovation Lab. I am a Bagwell Student Ambassador, a member of Educators of Tomorrow, and Bloom, and organization that mentors young ladies. I was also recently asked to serve on a focus group for the Chancellor of the University System of Georgia's Board of Regents. I do all of these things to improve the skills I will one day use in the classroom. After graduation, I plan to become an elementary school teacher. I want to create lifelong learners who contribute to society. I hope to be able to have an engaging and nurturing classroom. I want my students to feel important and valued. I want to inspire them the way my mother and countless other dedicated teachers have inspired me.

When I think of the person in my community who has inspired me the most, I think of my mother. Now, hear me out. I know this seems cliche. Lots of people say they are inspired by their mothers, but I truly am. My mother has survived against all odds, and now, she is thriving. I live in Fort Gaines, GA, a small rural community in southwest Georgia where most people live well below the poverty line. My mother was once one of those who did. She grew up in a single parent household because her father was abusive, and her mother made less than $9000 a year. They received absolutely no government assistance. The odds were against her. Research shows that often children are not able to overcome their socioeconomic status, and yet she did. My mother, encouraged by her own mother, learned about the value of an education, and she threw herself into her schoolwork. She graduated at the top of her high school class and excelled on her SATs. She was offered many scholarships to prestigious universities and was smart enough to become some high paid professional, and instead opted to go to a local college where she could commute and help my grandmother with bills, and--of all things--this brilliant mind decided to become a teacher. Now, when I was younger, I often wondered why anyone would want to become a teacher. Watching my mother, it seemed like such a thankless job. Posts about the bad things educators do flood social media, and few people talk about how great they are. Also, I had heard how miniscule the pay was, and I saw how much my mother worked--long after she got home. She even spent her own money to buy supplies and treats for her kids. There were also times that I caught her crying because she had discovered something so terrible about the home lives of her students that her heart simply could not bear it. No, thank you. There was no way I wanted to become a teacher. Then, something happened. I began to notice the positives that came with my mother’s profession. I noticed that what my mother did mattered. In the grocery store, kids stop to talk to her, and their faces absolutely light up! She smiles and genuinely enjoys their conversations. Grown adults that she taught in their earliest years notice her all the time. They hug her, and tell her all about their lives. They thank her for helping them succeed.Those kids grew up and became something, and she is so proud of them. Once, I remember a woman telling my mom, “You were the only one who ever believed I could be something. My own mother didn’t.” It was then that I realized that my mother had helped shape countless children’s lives, and I knew then that I wanted to be her when I grew up. Now, I am currently a sophomore at Kennesaw State University, and I'm pursuing my dreams of becoming a teacher. I have been accepted into Kennesaw's Bagwell School of Education, and I'm learning all about developmentally appropriate teaching strategies for the ages of children I will teach. I'm learning differentiation and assessment strategies, and I'm learning exactly how to teach all the concepts I will one day teach. All of this is excellent, and they are certainly tools that I plan to bring to my own classroom one day, and--of course--I know it will help many of my students be successful. But what about the ones who have the odds stacked against them? There are countless stories of children like my own mother who could have fallen between the cracks, but someone took an interest. Someone told them they could be somebody. I plan to be that person. I know I'm going to come in contact with some students who may not seem very lovable, but I am going to do everything in my power to let them know that they matter. Sometimes, that's all someone needs. They need to be seen. They need to feel acknowledged. They need to feel like someone believes in them. I'm going to believe in my students. I am going to forge relationships with them, and I'm going to let them see that there is hope. It is my own hope that this will inspire them to be their very best selves--just like my mother inspired me and numerous other students.

When I was younger, I often wondered why anyone would want to become a teacher. You see, my mother is a teacher, and watching her, it seemed like such a thankless job. Social media posts about the bad things educators do flood the media, and very few people talk about how great they are. Also, I had heard how miniscule the pay was, and I saw how much my mother worked. Sometimes, she worked long after she got home planning lessons or grading papers. She spent her own money to buy supplies and treats for her kids. No, thank you. There was no way I wanted to become a teacher. Then, something happened. I began to notice that what my mother did mattered. In the grocery store, kids would stop to talk to her, and their faces lit up! Grown adults that she had apparently taught in their earliest years would find her, hug her, and tell her all about their lives. They thanked her for helping them succeed.Those kids grew up and became something. It was then that I realized that my mother had helped shape countless children’s lives, and I knew then that I wanted to be her when I grew up. Now, my goal is to one day be an early childhood educator so that I might inspire youth just as she does.. Early childhood educators have the world’s most important job. I’ve heard the saying that there would be no professions if there were no teachers. That saying could be more specific: there would be no other professions without early childhood educators. During the early years, children gain a foundation for lifelong learning. They learn the cognitive, emotional, and social skills they need to continue throughout the rest of their years. Quality early childhood educators are needed to ensure that this foundation is built. During the early childhood years, children’s brains grow at exponential rates, and their foundation for language, literacy, and mathematical skills does too. If early childhood educators exist to cultivate this learning, children’s future development will be impacted in a positive way. I plan to pursue a career in early childhood education because I want to make an impact on the earliest of young minds. I am currently attending Kennesaw State University, where I have already been accepted in the school of education. I will fulfill my vision of impacting the future lives of children.

Middle school was terrible for me. I thought I did not belong. If I was just a little more “normal”, I thought people would like me. I was often depressed and wanted to hide my true self. One summer after attending a local youth camp, I made the decision to become a member at a church in town. I needed a place to be myself without fear. Here, I found that I had a way with children, and the youth coordinator asked if I would help with the 3-5 year-old class during the Wednesday night activities, so I began volunteering my time. This one act has helped me amass over 300 volunteer hours with our youth. Over time I began to work with all the kids our program serves which goes all the way up to 7th grade. The older I got, the more I noticed that these kids were observing me and trying to emulate my actions and my sayings. The stuff I didn’t like about myself because I thought my same-age peers wouldn’t was what they found to be “cool”. I realized then that I had the power to make a difference, making a positive impact on the lives of all the children I come in contact with. Throughout high school, I began taking on leadership roles at school and getting more involved in my community. Most of the opportunities I have taken on revolve around empowering our youth to become better humans. Besides continuing to work at my church with the children, I was a head counselor at that same summer camp I attended all those years ago. At both of the theaters I volunteer at, I am a teenage helper and/or counselor. I actually spent my entire summer working with youth. I tried my best to instill positivity into their lives in hopes that they would do the same for others. Also, I served my community was by being a student intern at Early County Elementary School. As a senior, I did not have many required courses, so I decided to take Work Based Learning for the last half of each school day. Rather than getting a paid job, I chose an unpaid internship at the elementary school. I assisted a first grade teacher on a daily basis.I volunteer over 15 hours each week. I have continued to serve my community now that I am in college. I continue to volunteer with the children at church when I am home from college, but I have even gotten involved at college. Just recently, I volunteered over 40 hours at the Alabama Youth Theater and National Youth Theater Experiences. I worked with children ages 6-18. In addition to this, I volunteered at the Atlanta Science Festival where we teamed with “Students Rebuild” to raise money to give back to the community. This project is sponsored by the Bezos Family Foundation, and for every artwork created by students at the festival, the Bezos Family Foundation donated money. We raised over $2000 for the community. Now that I have finished my first year of college, I see a whole realm of possibilities. I am majoring in Elementary Education and plan to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of children. I will be making a difference in my community because I will be a positive influence on our youth. I will teach them to embrace their individuality and be true to themselves. It’s more important to like yourself than have others like you, and once our youth learn this, they can be much more productive members of society.

Middle school was terrible for me. If I was just a little more “normal”, I thought people would like me. I was often depressed and wanted to hide my true self. One summer after attending a local youth camp, I made the decision to become a member at a church in town. I needed a place to be myself without fear. Here, I found that I had a way with children, and the youth coordinator asked if I would help with the 3-5 year-old class during the Wednesday night activities, so I began volunteering my time. Over time I began to work with all the kids our program serves which goes all the way up to 7th grade. The older I got, the more I noticed that these kids were observing me and trying to emulate my actions and my sayings. The stuff I didn’t like about myself because I thought my same-age peers wouldn’t was what they found to be “cool”. I realized then that I had the power to make a difference. I could make a positive impact on the lives of all the children I come in contact with. One day I realized I was a role model for kids, and I couldn’t stop there. Throughout high school, I began taking on leadership roles at school and getting even more involved in my community. Most of the opportunities I have taken on revolve around empowering our youth to become better humans. Besides continuing to work at my church with the children, I was a head counselor at that same summer camp I attended all those years ago. At both of the theaters I volunteer at, I am a teenage helper and/or counselor. I actually spent my entire summer working with youth. I tried my best to instill positivity into their lives in hopes that they would do the same for others. Another way I served my community was by being a student intern at the local elementary school. As a senior, I did not have many required courses, so I decided to take Work Based Learning for the last half of each school day. Rather than getting a paid job, I chose an unpaid internship at the elementary school. I assisted a first grade teacher on a daily basis.I volunteered over 15 hours each week. I have continued to serve my community now that I am in college. I continue to volunteer with the children at church when I am home from college, but I have even gotten involved at college. Just recently, I volunteered over 40 hours at the Alabama Youth Theater and National Youth Theater Experiences. I worked with children ages 6-18. In addition to this, I volunteered at the Atlanta Science Festival where we teamed with “Students Rebuild” to raise money to give back to the community. This project is sponsored by the Bezos Family Foundation, and for every artwork created by students at the festival, the Bezos Family Foundation donated money. We raised over $2000 for the community. Now that I have finished my first year of college, I see a whole realm of possibilities. I am majoring in Elementary Education and plan to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of children. I will be making a difference in my community because I will be a positive influence on our youth. I will teach them to embrace their individuality and be true to themselves. It’s more important to like yourself than have others like you, and once our youth learn this, they can be much more productive members of society.

When I was younger, I often wondered why anyone would want to become a teacher. You see, my mother is a teacher, and watching her, it seemed like such a thankless job. Posts about the bad things educators do flood social media, and few people talk about how great they are. Also, I had heard how miniscule the pay was, and I saw how much my mother worked--long after she got home. She even spent her own money to buy supplies and treats for her kids. There were also times that I caught her crying because she had discovered something so terrible about the home lives of her students that her heart simply could not bear it. No, thank you. There was no way I wanted to become a teacher. Then, something happened. I began to notice the positives that came with my mother’s profession. I noticed that what my mother did mattered. In the grocery store, kids stop to talk to her, and their faces absolutely light up! She smiles and genuinely enjoys their conversations. Grown adults that she apparently taught in their earliest years notice her all the time. They hug her, and tell her all about their lives. They thank her for helping them succeed.Those kids grew up and became something, and she is so proud of them. One time, I remember a woman telling my mom, “You were the only one who ever believed I could be something. My own mother didn’t.” It was then that I realized that my mother had helped shape countless children’s lives, and I knew then that I wanted to be her when I grew up. Early childhood educators like my mother have the world’s most important job. I’ve heard the saying that there would be no professions if there were no teachers. That saying could be more specific: there would be no other professions without early childhood educators. During the early years, children gain a foundation for lifelong learning. They learn the cognitive, emotional, and social skills they need to continue throughout the rest of their years. Quality early childhood educators are needed to ensure that this foundation is built. During the early childhood years, children’s brains grow at exponential rates, and their foundation for language, literacy, and mathematical skills does too. If early childhood educators exist to cultivate this learning, children’s future development will be impacted in a positive way. My mother has done just that and now my goal is to one day be an early childhood educator so that I might inspire youth just as she does. I know that I can make a positive impact on the lives of children. I am an education major at Kennesaw State University, and one day, I will have my own classroom where I will strive to form relationships with students and keep them engaged and motivated. These are the tenets of my mother, and they are goals I strive for as well. I will one day inspire countless youth, just as she has.

When I was younger, I often wondered why anyone would want to become a teacher. You see, my mother is a teacher, and watching her, it seemed like such a thankless job. Posts about the bad things educators do flood social media, and few people talk about how great they are. Also, I had heard how miniscule the pay was, and I saw how much my mother worked--long after she got home. She even spent her own money to buy supplies and treats for her kids. There were also times that I caught her crying because she had discovered something so terrible about the home lives of her students that her heart simply could not bear it. No, thank you. There was no way I wanted to become a teacher. Then, something happened. I began to notice the positives that came with my mother’s profession. I noticed that what my mother did mattered. In the grocery store, kids stop to talk to her, and their faces absolutely light up! She smiles and genuinely enjoys their conversations. Grown adults that she apparently taught in their earliest years notice her all the time. They hug her, and tell her all about their lives. They thank her for helping them succeed.Those kids grew up and became something, and she is so proud of them. One time, I remember a woman telling my mom, “You were the only one who ever believed I could be something. My own mother didn’t.” It was then that I realized that my mother had helped shape countless children’s lives, and I knew then that I wanted to be her when I grew up. Early childhood educators like my mother have the world’s most important job. I’ve heard the saying that there would be no professions if there were no teachers. That saying could be more specific: there would be no other professions without early childhood educators. During the early years, children gain a foundation for lifelong learning. They learn the cognitive, emotional, and social skills they need to continue throughout the rest of their years. Quality early childhood educators are needed to ensure that this foundation is built. During the early childhood years, children’s brains grow at exponential rates, and their foundation for language, literacy, and mathematical skills does too. If early childhood educators exist to cultivate this learning, children’s future development will be impacted in a positive way. My mother has done just that, and now my goal is to one day be an early childhood educator so that I might inspire youth just as she does.

When I was younger, I often wondered why anyone would want to become a teacher. You see, my mother is a teacher, and watching her, it seemed like such a thankless job. Posts about the bad things educators do flood social media, and few people talk about how great they are. Also, I had heard how miniscule the pay was, and I saw how much my mother worked--long after she got home. She even spent her own money to buy supplies and treats for her kids. There were also times that I caught her crying because she had discovered something so terrible about the home lives of her students that her heart simply could not bear it. No, thank you. There was no way I wanted to become a teacher. Then, something happened. I began to notice the positives that came with my mother’s profession. I noticed that what my mother did mattered. In the grocery store, kids stop to talk to her, and their faces absolutely light up! She smiles and genuinely enjoys their conversations. Grown adults that she apparently taught in their earliest years notice her all the time. They hug her, and tell her all about their lives. They thank her for helping them succeed.Those kids grew up and became something, and she is so proud of them. One time, I remember a woman telling my mom, “You were the only one who ever believed I could be something. My own mother didn’t.” It was then that I realized that my mother had helped shape countless children’s lives, and I knew then that I wanted to be her when I grew up. Early childhood educators like my mother have the world’s most important job. I’ve heard the saying that there would be no professions if there were no teachers. That saying could be more specific: there would be no other professions without early childhood educators. During the early years, children gain a foundation for lifelong learning. They learn the cognitive, emotional, and social skills they need to continue throughout the rest of their years. Quality early childhood educators are needed to ensure that this foundation is built. During the early childhood years, children’s brains grow at exponential rates, and their foundation for language, literacy, and mathematical skills does too. If early childhood educators exist to cultivate this learning, children’s future development will be impacted in a positive way. My mother has done just that, and now my goal is to one day be an early childhood educator so that I might inspire youth just as she does.

When I was younger, I often wondered why anyone would want to become a teacher. You see, my mother is a teacher, and watching her, it seemed like such a thankless job. Posts about the bad things educators do flood social media, and few people talk about how great they are. Also, I had heard how miniscule the pay was, and I saw how much my mother worked--long after she got home. She even spent her own money to buy supplies and treats for her kids. There were also times that I caught her crying because she had discovered something so terrible about the home lives of her students that her heart simply could not bear it. No, thank you. There was no way I wanted to become a teacher. Then, something happened. I began to notice the positives that came with my mother’s profession. I noticed that what my mother did mattered. In the grocery store, kids stop to talk to her, and their faces absolutely light up! She smiles and genuinely enjoys their conversations. Grown adults that she apparently taught in their earliest years notice her all the time. They hug her, and tell her all about their lives. They thank her for helping them succeed.Those kids grew up and became something, and she is so proud of them. One time, I remember a woman telling my mom, “You were the only one who ever believed I could be something. My own mother didn’t.” It was then that I realized that my mother had helped shape countless children’s lives, and I knew then that I wanted to be her when I grew up. Early childhood educators like my mother have the world’s most important job. I’ve heard the saying that there would be no professions if there were no teachers. That saying could be more specific: there would be no other professions without early childhood educators. During the early years, children gain a foundation for lifelong learning. They learn the cognitive, emotional, and social skills they need to continue throughout the rest of their years. Quality early childhood educators are needed to ensure that this foundation is built. During the early childhood years, children’s brains grow at exponential rates, and their foundation for language, literacy, and mathematical skills does too. If early childhood educators exist to cultivate this learning, children’s future development will be impacted in a positive way. My mother has done just that, and now my goal is to one day be an early childhood educator so that I might inspire youth just as she does.

When I was younger, I often wondered why anyone would want to become a teacher. You see, my mother is a teacher, and watching her, it seemed like such a thankless job. Posts about the bad things educators do flood social media, and few people talk about how great they are. Also, I had heard how miniscule the pay was, and I saw how much my mother worked--long after she got home. She even spent her own money to buy supplies and treats for her kids. There were also times that I caught her crying because she had discovered something so terrible about the home lives of her students that her heart simply could not bear it. No, thank you. There was no way I wanted to become a teacher. Then, something happened. I began to notice the positives that came with my mother’s profession. I noticed that what my mother did mattered. In the grocery store, kids stop to talk to her, and their faces absolutely light up! She smiles and genuinely enjoys their conversations. Grown adults that she apparently taught in their earliest years notice her all the time. They hug her, and tell her all about their lives. They thank her for helping them succeed.Those kids grew up and became something, and she is so proud of them. One time, I remember a woman telling my mom, “You were the only one who ever believed I could be something. My own mother didn’t.” It was then that I realized that my mother had helped shape countless children’s lives, and I knew then that I wanted to be her when I grew up. Early childhood educators like my mother have the world’s most important job. I’ve heard the saying that there would be no professions if there were no teachers. That saying could be more specific: there would be no other professions without early childhood educators. During the early years, children gain a foundation for lifelong learning. They learn the cognitive, emotional, and social skills they need to continue throughout the rest of their years. Quality early childhood educators are needed to ensure that this foundation is built. During the early childhood years, children’s brains grow at exponential rates, and their foundation for language, literacy, and mathematical skills does too. If early childhood educators exist to cultivate this learning, children’s future development will be impacted in a positive way. My mother has done just that, and now my goal is to one day be an early childhood educator so that I might inspire youth just as she does.

I could write you a tale about how I had always known I was destined to be a leader. That would be a lie. The truth is: I became a leader quite by accident. Middle school was terrible for me. I’ve heard it was for most people, but there was one crowd who had it easy. They were selected by our teachers for every leadership opportunity available, while weirdos like me were overlooked. Our teachers chose them because they really thought they were upstanding citizens. These kids had a way of presenting themselves to authority that made them seem likable and kind--even if they weren’t always so likable and kind. I decided if these were to be the “leaders” for the rest of my school career, I had no desire to become one. Towards the end of middle school, I became a member of a church after spending a week at a Methodist summer camp. I needed a place to be myself without fear. Here, I found that I had a way with children, and the youth coordinator asked if I would help with the 3-5 year-old class during the Wednesday night activities, so I began volunteering my time. That’s how I accidentally became a leader. Over time I began to work with all the kids our program serves which goes all the way up to 7th grade. The older I got, the more I noticed that these kids were observing me and trying to emulate my actions and my sayings. The stuff I didn’t like about myself because I thought my same-age peers wouldn’t was what they found to be “cool”. I realized then that I had the power to make a difference. I could make a positive impact on the lives of all the children I come in contact with--especially those middle schoolers that weren’t so likable and kind. I said I wouldn’t tell you I was destined to be a leader from birth, but one day, I realized I had become one. I was a role model for kids, and I couldn’t stop there. Throughout high school, I began taking on leadership roles at school--ones that actually required me to campaign for them and combat the fear of rejection. Most of the leadership opportunities I have taken on revolve around empowering our youth to become better humans. Besides continuing to work at my church with the children, I was a head counselor at that same Methodist youth camp I attended all those years ago. At both of my theaters, I am a teenage helper and/or counselor. I actually spent my entire summer working with youth. I tried my best to instill positivity into their lives in hopes that they would do the same for others. I wasn’t born with visions of leadership in my head, but I have them now. I have learned that being a leader means much more than prestige or a title. It is about being enthusiastic, an effective communicator, having empathy, and being easily adaptable to change. These are all qualities that I always had. In the future, I see myself honing my leadership skills in college and continuing to work with youth. I intend on becoming a teacher one day, so I will then use my leadership skills in the classroom. Maybe I can help someone become a leader by accident too.

I’ve always been a bit different. As a young child, I marched to the beat of my own drum. It wasn’t so bad being different in elementary school. Kids are all kind of weird at some point or another, but middle school loomed on the horizon. Well, middle school was terrible for me. During this time, kids stopped losing their individuality, and cliques formed. I thought I did not belong. If I was just a little more “normal”, I thought people would like me. The uniqueness I embraced in childhood was the quality I detested most about myself in middle school. I tried to be “normal”, but it just didn’t work, and so high school didn’t start off so great either. It was in high school that I learned a very important lesson. One day, when I was desperately trying to fit in, one of the girls I wanted to be friends with was being particularly unkind, and I got the courage to ask her why. She very easily said, “Because I don’t like you”, and I again asked why. Her response changed me. She looked me dead in the eyes and said, “Peggy Sue, I’m not sure if you are aware of this, but not everybody has to like you, and they don’t necessarily have to have a reason.” Then, she laughed a terrible laugh and walked off. I’ll admit, I cried for quite some time, but then, something happened. I stopped feeling sorry for myself and reiterated her words: “Not everyone has to like you”. I realized what she said was true. From that moment forward, I stopped placing value on everyone else’s opinion of me. I stopped worrying about whether or not everyone else liked me, and I started liking myself. You see, that was a big part of the problem. I didn’t actually like myself that much. Yes, I had lots of wonderful characteristics, but I had such low self-esteem that I didn’t see them. I was worried about making everyone else like me, that I forgot to like myself. When I learned to embrace my individuality, I didn’t have to have everyone else’s approval. Finally, in my senior year of high school, I am not the one people avoid in the halls. Just the other day, I had three people approach me at the same time to tell me something, and none of it was mean. I actually had to tell them I had to get to class. They smiled and walked away, and as I walked down the hallway, I laughed out loud. Four years ago I was crying in a corner because no one wanted to talk to me because I was too "weird", and now I was having to politely leave the conversations to get to class. When I stopped craving everyone’s approval, I actually started gaining it. It’s weird how that works. I think that before I could stop wanting everyone else's approval, I had to gain my own. Yes, now I embrace my uniqueness. Being a "weirdo" is my greatest quality. I don't think like everyone else, and that's perfectly fine. In fact, being creative and thinking outside the box will go a long way in my chosen career. I plan to become an elementary school teacher. I can almost guarantee that my students will love my unique nature, and I will encourage them to also embrace their individuality. I won't be your typical teacher--just like I'm not your typical person, and I'm okay with that. Actually, I'm more than okay with that. I'm proud of that.

Books have been a large part of my life. My mother, an elementary education teacher for the past 23 years, valued reading and books, and she began reading to me even while in utero. She says that I would kick the most when she read "Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are" by Dr. Seuss. My favorite phrase from the book it seems was "Just tell yourself Duckie, you're really quite lucky!", and it's true. I really am quite lucky that my mother valued literacy enough to instill its importance even before I was born. Lucky for me, this love of reading only got more enormous as I got older. My mother still read to me everyday, and as soon I could hold a book, I was "reading". I had memorized "There's a Nightmare in My Closet" by Mercer Mayer before I was three-years-old. It is a cute book with wonderful illustrations, but it taught me and continues to teach me a valuable lesson: In life, you will be confronted with scary things, but it is best to face them head on, and you might realize they aren't as scary as they seem. The older I got, the more books I consumed, and the more lessons I learned. "Harold and the Purple Crayon" by Crockett Johnson taught me to value home. From "Pinkalicious" by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann, I learned that I can't always get what I want. "Fancy Nancy" by Jane O'Connor told me that I am fabulous and should be proud of it. Eric Carle's "The Grouchy Ladybug" made me realize the importance of choosing your battles wisely, and "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" by Judith Viorst helped me to understand that bad days are going to happen to everyone. Of course, this is only a snippet of the glories I have learned from books. I've continued to read, and while my book choice has become a little more varied than children's literature, I am still learning. Love stories help me decipher what kind of partner I want in life. Dramas make me feel like I am not alone, and comedies give me a reason to laugh when my day is dire. I am often found with a book in my hands, so much so that my high school Lit teacher asks me every day, "Peggy Sue, whatcha' reading?" before he even sees me put my pile of books on the desk. I am not going to be dishonest and tell you I am becoming a librarian just so you will give me this scholarship, though I may choose to volunteer in a library should the opportunity ever present itself, but I can--without a doubt--tell you that I will continue to value literacy and books, and I will pass on this love to others. You see, like my mother, I intend to become an elementary education teacher, and I know that I will use books in my teaching and read to my students just for fun--just for the love of reading.

When I was younger, I often wondered why anyone would want to become a teacher. You see, my mother is a teacher, and watching her, it seemed like such a thankless job. Social media posts about the bad things educators do flood the media, and very few people talk about how great they are. Also, I had heard how miniscule the pay was, and I saw how much my mother worked. Sometimes, she worked long after she got home planning lessons or grading papers. She spent her own money to buy supplies and treats for her kids. No, thank you. There was no way I wanted to become a teacher. Then, something happened. I began to notice that what my mother did mattered. In the grocery store, kids would stop to talk to her, and their faces lit up! Grown adults that she had apparently taught in their earliest years would find her, hug her, and tell her all about their lives. They thanked her for helping them succeed. Those kids grew up and became something. It was then that I realized that my mother had helped shape countless children’s lives, and I knew then that I wanted to be her when I grew up. Now, my goal is to one day be an early childhood educator so that I might inspire youth just as she does. Early childhood educators have the world’s most important job. I’ve heard the saying that there would be no professions if there were no teachers. That saying could be more specific: there would be no other professions without early childhood educators. During the early years, children gain a foundation for lifelong learning. They learn the cognitive, emotional, and social skills they need to continue throughout the rest of their years. Quality early childhood educators are needed to ensure that this foundation is built. During the early childhood years, children’s brains grow at exponential rates, and their foundation for language, literacy, and mathematical skills does too. If early childhood educators exist to cultivate this learning, children’s future development will be impacted in a positive way. After graduating from high school, I plan to pursue a career in early childhood education because I want to make an impact on the earliest of young minds. Like my mother, I will expect absolutely no accolades for helping the future, but I will gain satisfaction knowing that I did.

Middle school was terrible for me. I thought I did not belong. If I was just a little more “normal”, I thought people would like me. I was often depressed and wanted to hide my true self. I’ve heard it was rough for most people, but there was one crowd who had it easy. They were selected by our teachers for every opportunity available, while weirdos like me were overlooked. Our teachers chose them because they really thought they were upstanding pillars of our community. These kids had a way of presenting themselves to authority that made them seem likable and kind. One summer after attending a local youth camp, I made the decision to become a member at a church in town. I needed a place to be myself without fear. Here, I found that I had a way with children, and the youth coordinator asked if I would help with the 3-5 year-old class during the Wednesday night activities, so I began volunteering my time. This one act has helped me amass over 300 volunteer hours with our youth. Over time I began to work with all the kids our program serves which goes all the way up to 7th grade. The older I got, the more I noticed that these kids were observing me and trying to emulate my actions and my sayings. The stuff I didn’t like about myself because I thought my same-age peers wouldn’t was what they found to be “cool”. I realized then that I had the power to make a difference. I could make a positive impact on the lives of all the children I come in contact with--especially those middle schoolers that weren’t so likable and kind. One day I realized I was a role model for kids, and I couldn’t stop there. Throughout high school, I began taking on leadership roles at school and getting even more involved in my community. Most of the opportunities I have taken on revolve around empowering our youth to become better humans. Besides continuing to work at my church with the children, I was a head counselor at that same summer camp I attended all those years ago. At both of the theaters I volunteer at, I am a teenage helper and/or counselor. I actually spent my entire summer working with youth. I tried my best to instill positivity into their lives in hopes that they would do the same for others. Another way I serve my community is by being a student intern at Early County Elementary School. As a senior, I did not have many required courses, so I decided to take Work Based Learning for the last half of each school day. Rather than getting a paid job, I chose an unpaid internship at the elementary school. I assist a first grade teacher on a daily basis.I volunteer over 15 hours each week. Now that high school is nearing its end, I see a whole realm of possibilities. I intend to major in Elementary Education and to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of children. I will be making a difference in my community because I will be a positive influence on our youth. I will teach them to embrace their individuality and be true to themselves. It’s more important to like yourself than have others like you, and once our youth learn this, they can be much more productive members of society.

There are many values that are important to my life, but when I think of my core values, there are three that define who I am: creativity, communication, and originality. These three core values are very important to me, and they will aid me as I engage in civic engagement work, academic studies and relationships. Creativity has always been important to me. People who value creativity are imaginative. They are able to use their creative ways to solve problems and come up with new ideas. This core value is essential to my civic engagement. I am involved in numerous volunteer opportunities. I volunteer as a youth helper for the Kingdom Kids organization at a local church. I am a counselor at various summer camps, and I work as an unpaid student volunteer in a first-grade classroom for half of each day. These are only a few of the ways I am involved in my community. In every civic duty I perform, I must use my creativity. My creativity aids me in coming up with new ideas to work with children, and it helps me to be a change agent in my society. As I continue to volunteer after high school, I will use my creative ways to problem solve. Creativity will also aid me in my academic studies. I will have a unique way to come up with solutions when problems arrive. Communication is a core value that is necessary for all walks of life. Communication is a two-way street, and it involves making sure all parties' thoughts are relayed effectively. Having proper communication skills like listening and speaking will guarantee that I can make a difference in all civic duties I partake in both now and in the future. Communication will also ensure my academic success. It will be up to me to advocate for myself when I don't understand something, and I will also have to listen to ensure that I achieve well in all my academic endeavors. Finally, communication is vital for all relationships. Without effective communication, mistrust and misunderstandings may develop. Great communication will also be useful when resolving inevitable conflicts that arise in any relationship. Originality is a core value that I used to despise. I was always different, and for many years, I thought this was a bad thing, but now I value my originality. I am unique, and because of that, I often bring a different perspective to issues. I don't feel the necessity to conform to a cookie-cutter society. I am not saying I purposefully try to "rock the boat", but I no longer fill the need to fit in so that others will like me. I think that this value is one that will aid me in all my endeavors. Because I am unique, i will bring differing views to all my community involvement, classrooms, and relationships. There are many other values I hold dear, but these three are the ones that shape my life.

Middle school was terrible for me. I thought I did not belong. If I was just a little more “normal”, I thought people would like me. I was often depressed and wanted to hide my true self. I’ve heard it was rough for most people, but there was one crowd who had it easy. They were selected by our teachers for every opportunity available, while weirdos like me were overlooked. Our teachers chose them because they really thought they were upstanding pillars of our community. These kids had a way of presenting themselves to authority that made them seem likable and kind. One summer after attending a local youth camp, I made the decision to become a member at a church in town. I needed a place to be myself without fear. Here, I found that I had a way with children, and the youth coordinator asked if I would help with the 3-5 year-old class during the Wednesday night activities, so I began volunteering my time. This one act has helped me amass over 300 volunteer hours with our youth. Over time I began to work with all the kids our program serves which goes all the way up to 7th grade. The older I got, the more I noticed that these kids were observing me and trying to emulate my actions and my sayings. The stuff I didn’t like about myself because I thought my same-age peers wouldn’t was what they found to be “cool”. I realized then that I had the power to make a difference. I could make a positive impact on the lives of all the children I come in contact with--especially those middle schoolers that weren’t so likable and kind. One day I realized I was a role model for kids, and I couldn’t stop there. Throughout high school, I began taking on leadership roles at school and getting even more involved in my community. Most of the opportunities I have taken on revolve around empowering our youth to become better humans. Besides continuing to work at my church with the children, I was a head counselor at that same summer camp I attended all those years ago. At both of the theaters I volunteer at, I am a teenage helper and/or counselor. I actually spent my entire summer working with youth. I tried my best to instill positivity into their lives in hopes that they would do the same for others. Another way I serve my community is by being a student intern at Early County Elementary School. As a senior, I did not have many required courses, so I decided to take Work Based Learning for the last half of each school day. Rather than getting a paid job, I chose an unpaid internship at the elementary school. I assist a first grade teacher on a daily basis.I volunteer over 15 hours each week. Now that high school is nearing its end, I see a whole realm of possibilities. I intend to major in Elementary Education and to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of children. I will be making a difference in my community because I will be a positive influence on our youth. I will teach them to embrace their individuality and be true to themselves. It’s more important to like yourself than have others like you, and once our youth learn this, they can be much more productive members of society.

I’ve always been a bit different. As a young child, I marched to the beat of my own drum. It wasn’t so bad being different in elementary school. Kids are all kind of weird at some point or another, but middle school loomed on the horizon. Well, middle school was terrible for me. During this time, kids stopped losing their individuality, and cliques formed. I thought I did not belong. If I was just a little more “normal”, I thought people would like me. The uniqueness I embraced in childhood was the quality I detested most about myself in middle school. I tried to be “normal”, but it just didn’t work, and so high school didn’t start off so great either. It was in high school that I learned a very important lesson. One day, when I was desperately trying to fit in, one of the girls I wanted to be friends with was being particularly unkind, and I got the courage to ask her why. She very easily said, “Because I don’t like you”, and I again asked why. Her response changed me. She looked me dead in the eyes and said, “Peggy Sue, I’m not sure if you are aware of this, but not everybody has to like you, and they don’t necessarily have to have a reason.” Then, she laughed a terrible laugh and walked off. I’ll admit, I cried for quite some time, but then, something happened. I stopped feeling sorry for myself and reiterated her words: “Not everyone has to like you”. I realized what she said was true. From that moment forward, I stopped placing value on everyone else’s opinion of me. I stopped worrying about whether or not everyone else liked me, and I started liking myself. You see, that was a big part of the problem. I didn’t actually like myself that much. Yes, I had lots of wonderful characteristics, but I had such low self-esteem that I didn’t see them. I was worried about making everyone else like me, that I forgot to like myself. When I learned to embrace my individuality, I didn’t have to have everyone else’s approval. Finally, in my senior year of high school, I am not the one people avoid in the halls. Just the other day, I had three people approach me at the same time to tell me something, and none of it was mean. I actually had to tell them I had to get to class. They smiled and walked away, and as I walked down the hallway, I laughed out loud. Four years ago I was crying in a corner because no one wanted to talk to me because I was too "weird", and now I was having to politely leave the conversations to get to class. When I stopped craving everyone’s approval, I actually started gaining it. It’s weird how that works. I think that before I could stop wanting everyone else's approval, I had to gain my own. Yes, now I embrace my uniqueness. Being a "weirdo" is my greatest quality. I don't think like everyone else, and that's perfectly fine. In fact, being creative and thinking outside the box will go a long way in my chosen career. I plan to become an elementary school teacher. I can almost guarantee that my students will love my unique nature, and I will encourage them to also embrace their individuality. I won't be your typical teacher--just like I'm not your typical person, and I'm okay with that. Actually, I'm more than okay with that. I'm proud of that.

When I was younger, I often wondered why anyone would want to become a teacher. You see, my mother is a teacher, and watching her, it seemed like such a thankless job. Posts about the bad things educators do flood social media, and few people talk about how great they are. Also, I had heard how minuscule the pay was, and I saw how much my mother worked--long after she got home. She even spent her own money to buy supplies and treats for her kids. There were also times that I caught her crying because she had discovered something so terrible about the home lives of her students that her heart simply could not bear it. No, thank you. There was no way I wanted to become a teacher. Then, something happened. I began to notice the positives that came with my mother’s profession. I noticed that what my mother did mattered. In the grocery store, kids stop to talk to her, and their faces absolutely light up! She smiles and genuinely enjoys their conversations. Grown adults that she apparently taught in their earliest years notice her all the time. They hug her and tell her all about their lives. They thank her for helping them succeed. Those kids grew up and became something, and she is so proud of them. One time, I remember a woman telling my mom, “You were the only one who ever believed I could be something. My own mother didn’t.” It was then that I realized that my mother had helped shape countless children’s lives, and I knew then that I wanted to be her when I grew up. Early childhood educators like my mother have the world’s most important job. I’ve heard the saying that there would be no professions if there were no teachers. That saying could be more specific: there would be no other professions without early childhood educators. During the early years, children gain a foundation for lifelong learning. They learn the cognitive, emotional, and social skills they need to continue throughout the rest of their years. Quality early childhood educators are needed to ensure that this foundation is built. During the early childhood years, children’s brains grow at exponential rates, and their foundation for language, literacy, and mathematical skills does too. If early childhood educators exist to cultivate this learning, children’s future development will be impacted in a positive way. My mother has done just that, and now my goal is to one day be an early childhood educator so that I might inspire youth just as she does. I have faced some obstacles in my life that have helped me grow into the person I am today, and they will aid me as I become a teacher. Four years ago, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. I had always been a nervous child, but as I got older, my nerves got worse. My anxiety began to take over my life, For quite awhile, I tried to keep it a secret and felt inadequate. Now that I’m a little older and have learned about my disorder, I realize that I am not to blame, and quite a few people also suffer from it. Besides taking medication, I have learned coping mechanisms, and I have learned more about my stressors. In addition to anxiety, I was also diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, as it is most commonly referred to. ADHD is a type of neurodivergence--an executive functioning disorder. What this means is that I have difficulty managing my thoughts, attention, behaviors, and emotions. I have to take a medicine called Dextroamphetamine which affects my central nervous system and helps with my focus issues and helps me control my actions, but it doesn't always work, and it wears off. I had managed to cope until high school, but the changing in curriculum and environment took it's toll on me. Having a diagnosis has helped me. I understand now that I cannot control my brain. My diagnosis, however, has brought quite a bit of stigma. Some people mention how my disorder isn't "real" and that it's an "excuse to not pay attention". My own friends will ask if I've "taken my medicine" when I get loud and excited. It's hard sometimes, but I take the good with the bad. My ADHD is also a blessing because I don't think like everyone else. I am very creative and think outside of the box. I am non-judgmental and easily adaptable. All of these traits will be very beneficial for my chosen career as an elementary school teacher. I will have an appreciation for all the many different thinkers in my classrooms. My ADHD will make me known as the "fun" teacher--the teacher who does things differently, and I cannot wait.

I have sat down to start this essay several times. I think about the question, and I posit an answer, and then I begin to type, and the words leave me. Actually, they don't leave me. They are still there, but so are a million other thoughts. You see, I have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD as it is most commonly referred to. ADHD is a type of neurodivergence--an executive functioning disorder. What this means is that I have difficulty managing my thoughts, attention, behaviors, and emotions. I have to take a medicine called Dextroamphetamine which affects my central nervous system and helps with my focus issues and helps me control my actions, but it doesn't always work, and it wears off. I didn't start taking medicine until my freshman year of high school. Before that, my teachers often said I "had trouble paying attention" or I "talked too much", but I had high academic achievement, so nothing was ever done about it. I just got good grades and poor conduct marks. I sailed through elementary school and managed decently through middle school. Luckily, all the things I was learning in class throughout the years just built upon each other, so my grades never suffered. Then, came high school and Honors Biology. I had no prerequisite knowledge about anything I was learning. My daily grades were satisfactory, but I could not take a test to save my life. My Biology teacher stayed after school to tutor me, and I would know all the answers. Then, it came time for the test, and my mind went blank. Well, that's what I told my mom. Actually, my mind was anything but blank. Instead of determining which cells were in interphase, I was wondering what my mother was cooking for supper or if my dog had been put outside that morning. Then, the panic attacks began. The last day before I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with ADHD, I had a big Biology test. My grades were important to me, and my first year of high school was deteriorating my record. While taking a test I had studied for and knew like the back of my hand, I began to hyperventilate. I excused myself to go to the bathroom, and I took my phone--which was a definite rulebreaker. I pulled out my phone in the stall and called my mother, crying aloud. I told her I needed help. I told her how my mind couldn't focus, and thankfully, she listened. The next day I was at my pediatrician's office, and soon after, I was given an official diagnosis. Having a diagnosis has helped me. I understand now that I cannot control my brain. My diagnosis, however, has brought quite a bit of stigma. Some people mention how my disorder isn't "real" and that it's an "excuse to not pay attention". My own friends will ask if I've "taken my medicine" when I get loud and excited. It's hard sometimes, but I take the good with the bad. My ADHD is a blessing because I don't think like everyone else. I am very creative and think outside of the box. I am non-judgmental and easily adaptable. All of these traits will be very beneficial for my chosen career as an elementary school teacher. I will have an appreciation for all the many different thinkers in my classrooms. My ADHD will make me known as the "fun" teacher--the teacher who does things differently, and I cannot wait.

Middle school was terrible for me. I thought I did not belong. If I was just a little more “normal”, I thought people would like me. I was often depressed and wanted to hide my true self. I’ve heard it was rough for most people, but there was one crowd who had it easy. They were selected by our teachers for every opportunity available, while weirdos like me were overlooked. Our teachers chose them because they really thought they were upstanding pillars of our community. These kids had a way of presenting themselves to authority that made them seem likable and kind. One summer after attending a local youth camp, I made the decision to become a member at a church in town. I needed a place to be myself without fear. Here, I found that I had a way with children, and the youth coordinator asked if I would help with the 3-5 year-old class during the Wednesday night activities, so I began volunteering my time. This one act has helped me amass over 300 volunteer hours with our youth. Over time I began to work with all the kids our program serves which goes all the way up to 7th grade. The older I got, the more I noticed that these kids were observing me and trying to emulate my actions and my sayings. The stuff I didn’t like about myself because I thought my same-age peers wouldn’t was what they found to be “cool”. I realized then that I had the power to make a difference. I could make a positive impact on the lives of all the children I come in contact with--especially those middle schoolers that weren’t so likable and kind. One day I realized I was a role model for kids, and I couldn’t stop there. Throughout high school, I began taking on leadership roles at school and getting even more involved in my community. Most of the opportunities I have taken on revolve around empowering our youth to become better humans. Besides continuing to work at my church with the children, I was a head counselor at that same summer camp I attended all those years ago. At both of the theaters I volunteer at, I am a teenage helper and/or counselor. I actually spent my entire summer working with youth. I tried my best to instill positivity into their lives in hopes that they would do the same for others. Another way I serve my community is by being a student intern at Early County Elementary School. As a senior, I did not have many required courses, so I decided to take Work Based Learning for the last half of each school day. Rather than getting a paid job, I chose an unpaid internship at the elementary school. I assist a first grade teacher on a daily basis.I volunteer over 15 hours each week. I am being paid in valuable real-world work experience while impacting the lives of children in a positive way. Now that high school is nearing its end, I see a whole realm of possibilities. I intend to major in Elementary Education and to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of children. I will be making a difference in my community because I will be a positive influence on our youth. I will teach them to embrace their individuality and be true to themselves. It’s more important to like yourself than have others like you, and once our youth learn this, they can be much more productive members of society.

Middle school was terrible for me. I thought I did not belong. If I was just a little more “normal”, I thought people would like me. I was often depressed and wanted to hide my true self. I’ve heard it was rough for most people, but there was one crowd who had it easy. They were selected by our teachers for every opportunity available, while weirdos like me were overlooked. Our teachers chose them because they really thought they were upstanding pillars of our community. These kids had a way of presenting themselves to authority that made them seem likable and kind. One summer after attending a local youth camp, I made the decision to become a member at a church in town. I needed a place to be myself without fear. Here, I found that I had a way with children, and the youth coordinator asked if I would help with the 3-5 year-old class during the Wednesday night activities, so I began volunteering my time. This one act has helped me amass over 300 volunteer hours with our youth. Over time I began to work with all the kids our program serves which goes all the way up to 7th grade. The older I got, the more I noticed that these kids were observing me and trying to emulate my actions and my sayings. The stuff I didn’t like about myself because I thought my same-age peers wouldn’t was what they found to be “cool”. I realized then that I had the power to make a difference. I could make a positive impact on the lives of all the children I come in contact with--especially those middle schoolers that weren’t so likable and kind. One day I realized I was a role model for kids, and I couldn’t stop there. Throughout high school, I began taking on leadership roles at school and getting even more involved in my community. Most of the opportunities I have taken on revolve around empowering our youth to become better humans. Besides continuing to work at my church with the children, I was a head counselor at that same summer camp I attended all those years ago. At both of the theaters I volunteer at, I am a teenage helper and/or counselor. I actually spent my entire summer working with youth. I tried my best to instill positivity into their lives in hopes that they would do the same for others. Another way I serve my community is by being a student intern at Early County Elementary School. As a senior, I did not have many required courses, so I decided to take Work Based Learning for the last half of each school day. Rather than getting a paid job, I chose an unpaid internship at the elementary school. I assist a first grade teacher on a daily basis.I volunteer over 15 hours each week. Now that high school is nearing its end, I see a whole realm of possibilities. I intend to major in Elementary Education and to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of children. I will be making a difference in my community because I will be a positive influence on our youth. I will teach them to embrace their individuality and be true to themselves. It’s more important to like yourself than have others like you, and once our youth learn this, they can be much more productive members of society.

Four years ago, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and depression. Most people who find this out are stunned. I am a very boisterous person. They think I am a huge extrovert. They don't realize that most of this is for show. In truth, I have struggled with anxiety and depression for years. For quite awhile, I tried to keep it a secret and felt inadequate. Because of this, I did develop a persona of someone who was the exact opposite of me. I became loud and super "happy". In part it was for those around me. I didn't want to make them feel uncomfortable. Also, I wondered if the "fake it until you make it" mantra was true. I found out it wasn't. Now that I’m a little older and have learned about my disorder, I realize that I am not to blame, and quite a few people also suffer from it. I have learned that it is okay to not be okay, and I don't have to pretend just to make others feel better. In fact, I have found it is better if people realize that not everything is rainbows and unicorns because they may be struggling and need some validation that it is normal to not always feel normal. Mental health is so important, and everyone should be aware that if they are struggling with something, it isn't a bad thing, but it does need to be addressed. Besides therapy and medication (yes, I will admit that I am medicated, and I feel no shame), I have learned other ways to maintain my mental wellness. One way I do this is through reading. Reading relaxes me, and I can forget my cares for awhile and become involved in the mental anguishes of the characters whom I am reading about. Besides this, reading allows me quiet times where I can turn the world off and focus solely on that story. When I am reading, I don't think about everything that stresses me. I just read, and it is heavenly. Another way I have learned to maintain my mental wellness is practicing gratitude. This may seem funny. How do you practice gratitude? You should just be grateful anyways, right? Well, on days when all my brain can seem to focus on is the negative, I have to practice gratitude by focusing on the positive and challenging my unhelpful thoughts. Because of this, I try to verbalize out loud something positive each day. One positive thought has the power to mitigate lots of negative ones. Mental health is important--for everyone. It is important that everyone find ways that make them more mentally healthy. Above all, it is imperative to remember that if no coping mechanisms or mental health practices are aiding you, it is critical to ask for help. Mental health is not always something we can deal with alone.

When I was younger, I often wondered why anyone would want to become a teacher. You see, my mother is a teacher, and watching her, it seemed like such a thankless job. Social media posts about the bad things educators do flood the media, and very few people talk about how great they are. Also, I had heard how minuscule the pay was, and I saw how much my mother worked. Sometimes, she worked long after she got home planning lessons or grading papers. She spent her own money to buy supplies and treats for her kids. No, thank you. There was no way I wanted to become a teacher. Then, something happened. I began to notice what my mother did mattered. In the grocery store, kids would stop to talk to her, and their faces lit up! Grown adults that she had taught in their earliest years would find her, hug her, and tell her all about their lives. They thanked her for helping them succeed. Those kids grew up and became something. It was then that I realized that my mother had helped shape countless children’s lives, and I knew then that I wanted to be her when I grew up. Now, my goal is to one day be an elementary or early childhood educator so that I might inspire youth just as she does. Early childhood and elementary school educators have the world’s most important job. I’ve heard the saying that there would be no professions if there were no teachers. That saying could be more specific: there would be no other professions without early childhood or elementary educators. During the early years, children gain a foundation for lifelong learning. They learn the cognitive, emotional, and social skills they need to continue throughout the rest of their years. Quality early childhood educators are needed to ensure that this foundation is built. During the early childhood years, children’s brains grow at exponential rates, and their foundation for language, literacy, and mathematical skills does too. If early childhood educators exist to cultivate this learning, children’s future development will be impacted positively. After graduating from high school, I plan to pursue a career in early childhood or elementary education because I want to make an impact on the earliest of young minds. I plan to attend Kennesaw State University, where I have already been accepted. I have toured their education program, and it is phenomenal. As I walked along the tour, I could envision myself in the classrooms, and I knew it was the perfect fit. While at college, I will strive to continue my high academic marks and get involved in leadership opportunities, especially those about my chosen career. I will graduate and become a teacher. To prepare myself for my chosen field, I have given up countless hours to work with the children and youth in my community. I have volunteered over 300 hours with my church working in the children's department alone. Another way I have done so is by being a student intern at Early County Elementary School. As a senior, I did not have many required courses, so I decided to take Work Based Learning for the last half of each school day. Rather than getting a paid job, I chose an unpaid internship at the elementary school. I assist a first grade teacher on a daily basis.I volunteer over 15 hours each week. While I sacrificed a paid position for an unpaid internship, I have learned invaluable lessons.

When I was younger, I often wondered why anyone would want to become a teacher. You see, my mother is a teacher, and watching her, it seemed like such a thankless job. Social media posts about the bad things educators do flood the media, and very few people talk about how great they are. Also, I had heard how miniscule the pay was, and I saw how much my mother worked. Sometimes, she worked long after she got home planning lessons or grading papers. She spent her own money to buy supplies and treats for her kids. No, thank you. There was no way I wanted to become a teacher. Then, something happened. I began to notice that what my mother did mattered. In the grocery store, kids would stop to talk to her, and their faces lit up! Grown adults that she had apparently taught in their earliest years would find her, hug her, and tell her all about their lives. They thanked her for helping them succeed.Those kids grew up and became something. It was then that I realized that my mother had helped shape countless children’s lives, and I knew then that I wanted to be her when I grew up. Now, my goal is to one day be an early childhood educator so that I might inspire youth just as she does. Early childhood educators have the world’s most important job. I’ve heard the saying that there would be no professions if there were no teachers. That saying could be more specific: there would be no other professions without early childhood educators. During the early years, children gain a foundation for lifelong learning. They learn the cognitive, emotional, and social skills they need to continue throughout the rest of their years. Quality early childhood educators are needed to ensure that this foundation is built. During the early childhood years, children’s brains grow at exponential rates, and their foundation for language, literacy, and mathematical skills does too. If early childhood educators exist to cultivate this learning, children’s future development will be impacted in a positive way. After graduating from high school, I plan to pursue a career in early childhood education because I want to make an impact on the earliest of young minds. My plans are to attend Kennesaw State University, where I have already been accepted. I have toured their education program, and it is phenomenal. As I walked along the tour, I could envision myself in the classrooms, and I knew it was the perfect fit. While at college, I will strive to continue my high academic marks and get involved in leadership opportunities, especially those pertaining to my chosen career. I will graduate and become a teacher. This scholarship will help me to achieve all of these goals. I have a large financial need in order to cover all of the expenses of attending a post-secondary institution. Any scholarship I receive, regardless of the amount, will help me get one step closer to attaining all that I have planned for my future. Helping me will in turn help others because when I graduate and become an educator--just like my mother--I will be helping the future.

I will be a second generation college student. To some, this may not be significant. My mother graduated from college, and she has a career because of it. It seems natural that I should attend, but attending college is much more important to me because of my grandmother, my mother’s mother, who never graced a college campus. Attending college is important because my grandmother worked so hard to end the cycle of poverty. Because of her, my mother was able to achieve a form of generational wealth, and I must continue the new cycle. My grandmother’s parents were quite nomadic looking for work from Texas all the way to Georgia where they eventually placed roots and had four children. My grandmother was one of those four, and she lived her whole life well below the poverty level. She dreamed of breaking the cycle. When my grandmother was 18, she married my grandfather, and while her socioeconomic status increased, her quality of life diminished. She became the victim of domestic violence at the hands of my grandfather. It should be noted that my grandfather was a victim of domestic violence himself. He was abused by his father and sisters and watched his own mother get abused by his father many times. He was unable to break this cycle, and many times, my grandmother feared for her life and was often hospitalized. She stayed long after she felt she should have because my mother and uncle were born, and she had never worked. She was afraid to go back to that life of poverty. Eventually, my grandmother gained the courage to leave. She had no employable skills, so she found work at a local video store. It paid less than $9000 a year, and she received a paltry $80 a week child support from my grandfather. Unfortunately, this meant my mother lived in poverty herself, but through the encouragement of my grandmother, who often went without so her children did not, my mother realized the value of an education. My grandmother encouraged my mother to pursue her dreams. She told her that she could be somebody and defy all the odds. When my mother wanted to give up and resign herself to the cycle that had been set before her, my grandmother told her that she had the power to change it, and so my mother graduated at the top of her high school class, obtained numerous scholarships, and she became a first generation college graduate. If my grandmother could help my mother break the cycle, it is only fitting that I keep the new one she helped create in constant motion. This is why it is imperative that I attend and graduate from college. My grandmother, Melinda Benton, never attended college, so it is important that I do. You see, she made such a great impact on my mother, and because of her, my mother was able to break an endless cycle of abuse and poverty. Because of my grandmother, my mother achieved a college education, became a teacher, and now owns her own land and home. She can afford to pay her bills, and I have a better life than she ever did. She has achieved generational wealth. Because of my grandmother’s perseverance to end the cycle of poverty, it is important that I continue my education and continue our new cycle of generational wealth.

Middle school was terrible for me. I thought I did not belong. If I was just a little more “normal”, I thought people would like me. I was often depressed and wanted to hide my true self. I’ve heard it was rough for most people, but there was one crowd who had it easy. They were selected by our teachers for every opportunity available, while weirdos like me were overlooked. Our teachers chose them because they really thought they were upstanding pillars of our community. These kids had a way of presenting themselves to authority that made them seem likable and kind. One summer after attending a local youth camp, I made the decision to became a member at a church in town. I needed a place to be myself without fear. Here, I found that I had a way with children, and the youth coordinator asked if I would help with the 3-5 year-old class during the Wednesday night activities, so I began volunteering my time. This one act has helped me amass over 300 volunteer hours with our youth. Over time I began to work with all the kids our program serves which goes all the way up to 7th grade. The older I got, the more I noticed that these kids were observing me and trying to emulate my actions and my sayings. The stuff I didn’t like about myself because I thought my same-age peers wouldn’t was what they found to be “cool”. I realized then that I had the power to make a difference. I could make a positive impact on the lives of all the children I come in contact with--especially those middle schoolers that weren’t so likable and kind. One day I realized I was a role model for kids, and I couldn’t stop there. Throughout high school, I began taking on leadership roles at school and getting even more involved in my community. Most of the opportunities I have taken on revolve around empowering our youth to become better humans. Besides continuing to work at my church with the children, I was a head counselor at that same summer camp I attended all those years ago. At both of the theaters I volunteer at, I am a teenage helper and/or counselor. I actually spent my entire summer working with youth. I tried my best to instill positivity into their lives in hopes that they would do the same for others. Another way I serve my community is by being a student intern at Early County Elementary School. As a senior, I did not have many required courses, so I decided to take Work Based Learning for the last half of each school day. Rather than getting a paid job, I chose an unpaid internship at the elementary school. I assist a first grade teacher on a daily basis.I volunteer over 12 hours each week. Now that high school is nearing its end, I see a whole realm of possibilities. I intend to major in Elementary Education and to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of children. I will be making a difference in my community because I will be a positive influence on our youth. I will teach them to embrace their individuality and be true to themselves. It’s more important to like yourself than have others like you, and once our youth learn this, they can be much more productive members of society.

Four years ago, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and depression. Most people who find this out are stunned. I am a very boisterous person. They think I am a huge extrovert. They don't realize that most of this is for show. In truth, I have struggled with anxiety and depression for years. For quite awhile, I tried to keep it a secret and felt inadequate. Because of this, I did develop a persona of someone who was the exact opposite of me. I became loud and super "happy". In part it was for those around me. I didn't want to make them feel uncomfortable. Also, I wondered if the "fake it until you make it" mantra was true. I found out it wasn't. Now that I’m a little older and have learned about my disorder, I realize that I am not to blame, and quite a few people also suffer from it. I have learned that it is okay to not be okay, and I don't have to pretend just to make others feel better. In fact, I have found it is better if people realize that not everything is rainbows and unicorns because they may be struggling and need some validation that it is normal to not always feel normal. Mental health is so important, and everyone should be aware that if they are struggling with something, it isn't a bad thing, but it does need to be addressed. Besides therapy and medication (yes, I will admit that I am medicated, and I feel no shame), I have learned other ways to maintain my mental wellness. One way I do this is through reading. Reading relaxes me, and I can forget my cares for awhile and become involved in the mental anguishes of the characters whom I am reading about. Besides this, reading allows me quiet times where I can turn the world off and focus solely on that story. When I am reading, I don't think about everything that stresses me. I just read, and it is heavenly. Another way I have learned to maintain my mental wellness is practicing gratitude. This may seem funny. How do you practice gratitude? You should just be grateful anyways, right? Well, on days when all my brain can seem to focus on is the negative, I have to practice gratitude by focusing on the positive and challenging my unhelpful thoughts. Because of this, I try to verbalize out loud something positive each day. One positive thought has the power to mitigate lots of negative ones. Mental health is important--for everyone. It is important that everyone find ways that make them more mentally healthy. Above all, it is imperative to remember that if no coping mechanisms or mental health practices are aiding you, it is critical to ask for help. Mental health is not always something we can deal with alone.

When I was 12 years old, my mother took me to the Fox Theatre in Atlanta to see Wicked. It was a magical experience. At the end of the first act, I heard a song that changed my life. It was a song that made me feel so much. I remember tears quietly trickling down my cheeks. After this moment, Stephen Schwartz’s “Defying Gravity” became my personal anthem. The premise of the song is that Elphaba, the main character of the show and the eventual “Wicked Witch of the West” is coming to terms with being an outsider and rather than letting it define her, she embraces it. I find a kinship with Elphaba in this song as I have struggled my whole life with feeling as if I don’t belong, so when she sings, “I’m through playing by the rules of someone else’s game” I felt empowered to embrace my uniqueness. For so long, I had struggled with trying to pretend to be someone I was not just so others would accept me. While those words and all the words of the song are powerful, the most inspirational lyrics are: “Everyone deserves the chance to fly, and if I'm flying solo at least I'm flying free.” This resonated with me because I realized that even if I was alone, it was better to be happy being myself than miserable pretending to be someone else. As I got older, the song became more and more powerful, and I can belt it out in a moment’s notice. It pumps me up, and it empowers me to be my true to myself and not let others’ words interfere with who I am. I will always try to live my life “defying gravity” and not let anyone “bring me down.”

I’ll be honest: I was never what you call a “normal kid”, and I didn’t really find that I had many people to talk to. I’d sit in a corner and keep to myself--never saying a word. This wasn’t because I didn’t have a lot to say. In fact, I had plenty, but I didn’t feel like I had anyone to say it to. Thus, I began to write. It started off with just a word or two scrawled out on my classroom assignments. Writing a few words down seemed to calm me, make me feel seen, so I started writing more. I’d write to myself and express my feelings. I had a lot of them, and I began to keep journals. Writing became a way for me to contemplate life and really release lots of depression and anxiety, and now I write about everything. In my journals, I jot down my musings about the world, the people around me, or just my thoughts at the moment. Now, some might attribute this to my ADHD, but it is much more than that. Writing has become my friend--my very best friend. Now that I have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety and depressive disorder and have learned other coping mechanisms and have begun to find my place in the world, I could never abandon the one friend who has never abandoned me. While I do have living, breathing friends now, and while I have learned to embrace not being “normal”, I still write. In truth--some days--writing is still my only true friend. Writing is the only way I feel heard or understood--even if no one reads it. On days when I wonder if the world would really notice if I was missing, I write, and I begin to realize that while life is bad sometimes, I do make a difference and people would notice my absence. When I have good news, I write and revel in my joy. When I think I am in love, I write about every wonderful quality of the person I am admiring, and when my heart is broken, I write about all their equally awful ones. No detail is too minuscule, and my writing never, ever judges me. To this very day, writing is still my best friend. This is why writing is so important to me. Honestly, I may never reread what I write. Most of the time, my writing is just a form of therapy for me at the moment, and writing my thoughts down is a release for me. I am able to get my feelings out on paper and not bottle them up until I break. Writing really is my friend, and we will be friends until the day I take my last breath upon this earth.

Middle school was terrible for me. If I was just a little more “normal”, I thought people would like me. I was often depressed and wanted to hide my true self. I’ve heard it was rough for most people, but there was one crowd who had it easy. They were selected by our teachers for every opportunity available, while weirdos like me were overlooked. Our teachers chose them because they really thought they were upstanding pillars of our community. These kids had a way of presenting themselves to authority that made them seem likable and kind. One summer after attending a local youth camp, I made the decision to became a member at a church in town. I needed a place to be myself without fear. Here, I found that I had a way with children, and the youth coordinator asked if I would help with the 3-5 year-old class during the Wednesday night activities, so I began volunteering my time. This one act has helped me amass over 300 volunteer hours with our youth because I found out that I was passionate about the youth of our community. Over time I began to work with all the kids our program serves which goes all the way up to 7th grade. The older I got, the more I noticed that these kids were observing me and trying to emulate my actions and my sayings. The stuff I didn’t like about myself because I thought my same-age peers wouldn’t was what they found to be “cool”. I realized then that I had the power to make a difference. I could make a positive impact on the lives of all the children I come in contact with--especially those middle schoolers that weren’t so likable and kind. If I could reach middle schoolers and make an impact, I feel pretty confident that I can tackle any obstacle that comes my way. When I realized I was a role model for kids, I couldn’t stop there. Throughout high school, I began taking on leadership roles at school and getting even more involved in my community. Most of the opportunities I have taken on revolve around empowering our youth to become better humans. Besides continuing to work at my church with the children, I was a head counselor at that same summer camp I attended all those years ago. At both of the theaters I volunteer at, I am a teenage helper and/or counselor. I actually spent my entire summer working with youth. I tried my best to instill positivity into their lives in hopes that they would do the same for others. Another way I serve my community is by being a student intern at Early County Elementary School. As a senior, I did not have many required courses, so I decided to take Work Based Learning for the last half of each school day. Rather than getting a paid job, I chose an unpaid internship at the elementary school. I assist a first grade teacher on a daily basis.I volunteer over 12 hours each week. Now that high school is nearing its end, I see a whole realm of possibilities. I intend to major in Elementary Education and to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of children. I will be making a difference in my community because I will be a positive influence on our youth. I will teach them to embrace their individuality. It’s more important to like yourself than have others like you, and once our youth learn this, they can be much more productive members of society.

When I was younger, I often wondered why anyone would want to become a teacher. You see, my mother is a teacher, and watching her, it seemed like such a thankless job. Social media posts about the bad things educators do flood the media, and very few people talk about how great they are. Also, I had heard how miniscule the pay was, and I saw how much my mother worked. Sometimes, she worked long after she got home planning lessons or grading papers. She spent her own money to buy supplies and treats for her kids. No, thank you. There was no way I wanted to become a teacher. Then, something happened. I began to notice that what my mother did mattered. In the grocery store, kids would stop to talk to her, and their faces lit up! Grown adults that she had apparently taught in their earliest years would find her, hug her, and tell her all about their lives. They thanked her for helping them succeed.Those kids grew up and became something. It was then that I realized that my mother had helped shape countless children’s lives, and I knew then that I wanted to be her when I grew up. Now, my goal is to one day be an early childhood educator so that I might inspire youth just as she does.. Early childhood educators have the world’s most important job. I’ve heard the saying that there would be no professions if there were no teachers. That saying could be more specific: there would be no other professions without early childhood educators. During the early years, children gain a foundation for lifelong learning. They learn the cognitive, emotional, and social skills they need to continue throughout the rest of their years. Quality early childhood educators are needed to ensure that this foundation is built. During the early childhood years, children’s brains grow at exponential rates, and their foundation for language, literacy, and mathematical skills does too. If early childhood educators exist to cultivate this learning, children’s future development will be impacted in a positive way. After graduating from high school, I plan to pursue a career in early childhood education because I want to make an impact on the earliest of young minds. My plans are to attend Kennesaw State University, where I have already been accepted. I have toured their education program, and it is phenomenal. As I walked along the tour, I could envision myself in the classrooms, and I knew it was the perfect fit. While at college, I will strive to continue my high academic marks and get involved in leadership opportunities, especially those pertaining to my chosen career. I will graduate and become a teacher. This scholarship will help me to achieve all of these goals. I have a large financial need in order to cover all of the expenses of attending a post-secondary institution. Any scholarship I receive, regardless of the amount, will help me get one step closer to attaining all that I have planned for my future. Helping me will in turn help others because when I graduate and become an educator--just like my mother--I will be helping the future.

When I was younger, I often wondered why anyone would want to become a teacher. You see, my mother is a teacher, and watching her, it seemed like such a thankless job. Social media posts about the bad things educators do flood the media, and very few people talk about how great they are. Also, I had heard how miniscule the pay was, and I saw how much my mother worked. Sometimes, she worked long after she got home planning lessons or grading papers. She spent her own money to buy supplies and treats for her kids. No, thank you. There was no way I wanted to become a teacher. Then, something happened. I began to notice that what my mother did mattered. In the grocery store, kids would stop to talk to her, and their faces lit up! Grown adults that she had apparently taught in their earliest years would find her, hug her, and tell her all about their lives. They thanked her for helping them succeed.Those kids grew up and became something. It was then that I realized that my mother had helped shape countless children’s lives, and I knew then that I wanted to be her when I grew up. Now, my goal is to one day be an early childhood educator so that I might inspire youth just as she does. Early childhood educators have the world’s most important job. I’ve heard the saying that there would be no professions if there were no teachers. That saying could be more specific: there would be no other professions without early childhood educators. During the early years, children gain a foundation for lifelong learning. They learn the cognitive, emotional, and social skills they need to continue throughout the rest of their years. Quality early childhood educators are needed to ensure that this foundation is built. During the early childhood years, children’s brains grow at exponential rates, and their foundation for language, literacy, and mathematical skills does too. If early childhood educators exist to cultivate this learning, children’s future development will be impacted in a positive way. After graduating from high school, I plan to pursue a career in early childhood education because I want to make an impact on the earliest of young minds. Like my mother, I will expect no accolades for helping the future, but I will gain satisfaction knowing that I did.

When I was younger, I often wondered why anyone would want to become a teacher. You see, my mother is a teacher, and watching her, it seemed like such a thankless job. Social media posts about the bad things educators do flood the media, and very few people talk about how great they are. Also, I had heard how miniscule the pay was, and I saw how much my mother worked. Sometimes, she worked long after she got home planning lessons or grading papers. She spent her own money to buy supplies and treats for her kids. No, thank you. There was no way I wanted to become a teacher. Then, something happened. I began to notice that what my mother did mattered. In the grocery store, kids would stop to talk to her, and their faces lit up! Grown adults that she had apparently taught in their earliest years would find her, hug her, and tell her all about their lives. They thanked her for helping them succeed.Those kids grew up and became something. It was then that I realized that my mother had helped shape countless children’s lives, and I knew then that I wanted to be her when I grew up. Now, my goal is to one day be an early childhood educator so that I might inspire youth just as she does. Early childhood educators have the world’s most important job. I’ve heard the saying that there would be no professions if there were no teachers. That saying could be more specific: there would be no other professions without early childhood educators. During the early years, children gain a foundation for lifelong learning. They learn the cognitive, emotional, and social skills they need to continue throughout the rest of their years. Quality early childhood educators are needed to ensure that this foundation is built. During the early childhood years, children’s brains grow at exponential rates, and their foundation for language, literacy, and mathematical skills does too. If early childhood educators exist to cultivate this learning, children’s future development will be impacted in a positive way. After graduating from high school, I plan to pursue a career in early childhood education because I want to make an impact on the earliest of young minds. Like my mother, I will expect no accolades for helping the future, but I will gain satisfaction knowing that I did.

Be authentic! If people don't like you for you, you don't need that negativity in your life! You will be happier and more mentally healthy if you surround yourself with people who know the real you! You are awesome, and you deserve to be around people who know the real you and like you anyways! ig: peggysueglow

The part about college that excites me most is that I will meet new people who don't know me. They won't know the person I have tried to pretend to be for years. They will meet the real me. Four years ago, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and depression. Most people who find this out are stunned. I am a very boisterous person. They think I am a huge extrovert. They don't realize that most of this is for show. In truth, I have struggled with anxiety and depression for years. For quite awhile, I tried to keep it a secret and felt inadequate. Because of this, I did develop a persona of someone who was the exact opposite of me. I became loud and super "happy". In part it was for those around me. I didn't want to make them feel uncomfortable. Also, I wondered if the "fake it until you make it" mantra was true. I found out it wasn't. Now that I’m a little older and have learned about my disorder, I realize that I am not to blame, and quite a few people also suffer from it. I have learned that it is okay to not be okay, and I don't have to pretend just to make others feel better. In fact, I have found it is better if people realize that not everything is rainbows and unicorns because they may be struggling and need some validation that it is normal to not always feel normal. Mental health is so important, and everyone should be aware that if they are struggling with something, it isn't a bad thing, but it does need to be addressed. Besides therapy and medication (yes, I will admit that I am medicated, and I feel no shame), I have learned other ways to maintain my mental wellness. One way I do this is through reading. Reading relaxes me, and I can forget my cares for awhile and become involved in the mental anguishes of the characters whom I am reading about. Besides this, reading allows me quiet times where I can turn the world off and focus solely on that story. When I am reading, I don't think about everything that stresses me. I just read, and it is heavenly. Another way I have learned to maintain my mental wellness is practicing gratitude. This may seem funny. How do you practice gratitude? You should just be grateful anyways, right? Well, on days when all my brain can seem to focus on is the negative, I have to practice gratitude by focusing on the positive and challenging my unhelpful thoughts. Because of this, I try to verbalize out loud something positive each day. One positive thought has the power to mitigate lots of negative ones. Mental health is important--for everyone. It is important that everyone find ways that make them more mentally healthy. Above all, it is imperative to remember that if no coping mechanisms or mental health practices are aiding you, it is critical to ask for help. Mental health is not always something we can deal with alone.

Four years ago, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and depression. Most people who find this out are stunned. I am a very boisterous person. They think I am a huge extrovert. They don't realize that most of this is for show. In truth, I have struggled with anxiety and depression for years. For quite awhile, I tried to keep it a secret and felt inadequate. Because of this, I did develop a persona of someone who was the exact opposite of me. I became loud and super "happy". In part it was for those around me. I didn't want to make them feel uncomfortable. Also, I wondered if the "fake it until you make it" mantra was true. I found out it wasn't. Now that I’m a little older and have learned about my disorder, I realize that I am not to blame, and quite a few people also suffer from it. I have learned that it is okay to not be okay, and I don't have to pretend just to make others feel better. In fact, I have found it is better if people realize that not everything is rainbows and unicorns because they may be struggling and need some validation that it is normal to not always feel normal. Mental health is so important, and everyone should be aware that if they are struggling with something, it isn't a bad thing, but it does need to be addressed. Besides therapy and medication (yes, I will admit that I am medicated, and I feel no shame), I have learned other ways to maintain my mental wellness. One way I do this is through reading. Reading relaxes me, and I can forget my cares for awhile and become involved in the mental anguishes of the characters whom I am reading about. Besides this, reading allows me quiet times where I can turn the world off and focus solely on that story. When I am reading, I don't think about everything that stresses me. I just read, and it is heavenly. Another way I have learned to maintain my mental wellness is practicing gratitude. This may seem funny. How do you practice gratitude? You should just be grateful anyways, right? Well, on days when all my brain can seem to focus on is the negative, I have to practice gratitude by focusing on the positive and challenging my unhelpful thoughts. Because of this, I try to verbalize out loud something positive each day. One positive thought has the power to mitigate lots of negative ones. Mental health is important--for everyone. It is important that everyone find ways that make them more mentally healthy. Above all, it is imperative to remember that if no coping mechanisms or mental health practices are aiding you, it is critical to ask for help. Mental health is not always something we can deal with alone.

One Christmas, 14 years ago, I woke up to the best Christmas present ever--my dog Rudy. Yes, I named him after Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. After all, he was a red dachshund puppy who traveled on Santa's sleigh! We became fast friends. I carted him around in a baby carriage and we had tea parties together. What more could a three-year-old ask for? Well, that 3-year-old grew up and actually asked for a whole lot more.. Rudy became, and is still, my best friend. The older I got, the harder it became for me to make friends. I was awkward and well, weird, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and pretty soon I began to feel hopeless and alone. Let me rephrase that, I felt hopeless and alone except when I came home to Rudy. Rudy has always had a way of making me feel better. When I was younger and didn't feel the emotional turmoil I would later endure, he was there to cuddle with when I was sick. Then, when the rough days came, and I didn't feel as if there was any light in sight, Rudy could sense it. He would get right beside me and lick my tears when I cried. He would snuggle his little snout right beside my face. He took away the loneliness. He accepted me for who I was--in all my uniqueness--and loved me with his whole heart. He had became my best friend. Now, we are both older. I am 17, and I have learned ways to cope with my big feelings, and the bad days are fewer and further between. Rudy is 14, and he isn't quite so red anymore. His fur is speckled with white, and his vision is deteriorating so much that he will bark to get my attention. Then, I will speak, and he will run to me--his tail constantly wagging. Despite his age and eyesight, he still knows when I'm having a bad day. He's always beside me. On the days when my sobs are uncontrollable, he's there. When I am suffering quietly inside because I don't want to ruin anyone else's day, he knows, and he's there. When I think the world is a dark place, he's there. When I don't know what to do or who to turn to, he's there. He has been the one friend I have had that has never once faltered, the one friend who has never judged me, and the one friend who has loved me unconditionally. I wish everyone could have a best friend like mine.

My mother is a teacher, and watching her, I wondered how anyone would choose this career. It seemed like such a thankless job. Social media posts about the bad things educators do flood the media, and very few people talk about how great they are. Also, I had heard how miniscule the pay was, and I saw how much my mother worked. Sometimes, she worked long after she got home planning lessons or grading papers. I would even catch her crying sometimes because something had happened to one of her students, and it was too much for her heart to bear. She spent her own money to buy supplies and treats for her kids. No, thank you. There was no way I wanted to become a teacher. Then, something happened. I began to notice that what my mother did mattered. In the grocery store, kids would stop to talk to her. Their faces lit up as they told her all about what they did after they got home from school. Grown adults that she had apparently taught in their earliest years would find her, hug her, and tell her all about their lives. They thanked her for helping them succeed.Those kids grew up and became something. It was then that I realized that my mother had helped shape countless children’s lives, and I knew then that I wanted to be her when I grew up. Now, my goal is to one day be an early childhood educator. Early childhood educators, I feel, have the world’s most important job. I’ve heard the saying that there would be no professions if there were no teachers. I feel that saying could be more specific: there would be no other professions without early childhood educators. During the early years, children gain a foundation for lifelong learning. It is during these years that children learn the cognitive, emotional, and social skills they need to continue throughout the rest of their years. Quality early childhood educators are needed to ensure that this foundation is built. During the early childhood years, children’s brains grow at exponential rates, and their foundation for language, literacy, and mathematical skills does too. If early childhood educators exist to cultivate this learning, children’s future development will be impacted in a positive way. After graduating from high school, I plan to pursue a career in early childhood education because I want to make an impact on the earliest of young minds. Like my mother, I will expect no accolades for helping the future, but I will gain satisfaction knowing that I did.

My mother is a teacher, and watching her, I wondered how anyone would choose this career. It seemed like such a thankless job. Social media posts about the bad things educators do flood the media, and very few people talk about how great they are. Also, I had heard how miniscule the pay was, and I saw how much my mother worked. Sometimes, she worked long after she got home planning lessons or grading papers. I would even catch her crying sometimes because something had happened to one of her students, and it was too much for her heart to bear. She spent her own money to buy supplies and treats for her kids. No, thank you. There was no way I wanted to become a teacher. Then, something happened. I began to notice that what my mother did mattered. In the grocery store, kids would stop to talk to her. Their faces lit up as they told her all about what they did after they got home from school. Grown adults that she had apparently taught in their earliest years would find her, hug her, and tell her all about their lives. They thanked her for helping them succeed.Those kids grew up and became something. It was then that I realized that my mother had helped shape countless children’s lives, and I knew then that I wanted to be her when I grew up. Now, my goal is to one day be an early childhood educator. Early childhood educators, I feel, have the world’s most important job. I’ve heard the saying that there would be no professions if there were no teachers. I feel that saying could be more specific: there would be no other professions without early childhood educators. During the early years, children gain a foundation for lifelong learning. It is during these years that children learn the cognitive, emotional, and social skills they need to continue throughout the rest of their years. Quality early childhood educators are needed to ensure that this foundation is built. During the early childhood years, children’s brains grow at exponential rates, and their foundation for language, literacy, and mathematical skills does too. If early childhood educators exist to cultivate this learning, children’s future development will be impacted in a positive way. After graduating from high school, I plan to pursue a career in early childhood education because I want to make an impact on the earliest of young minds. Like my mother, I will expect no accolades for helping the future, but I will gain satisfaction knowing that I did.

My mother is a teacher, and watching her, I wondered how anyone would choose this career. It seemed like such a thankless job. Social media posts about the bad things educators do flood the media, and very few people talk about how great they are. Also, I had heard how miniscule the pay was, and I saw how much my mother worked. Sometimes, she worked long after she got home planning lessons or grading papers. I would even catch her crying sometimes because something had happened to one of her students, and it was too much for her heart to bear. She spent her own money to buy supplies and treats for her kids. No, thank you. There was no way I wanted to become a teacher. Then, something happened. I began to notice that what my mother did mattered. In the grocery store, kids would stop to talk to her. Their faces lit up as they told her all about what they did after they got home from school. Grown adults that she had apparently taught in their earliest years would find her, hug her, and tell her all about their lives. They thanked her for helping them succeed. Those kids grew up and became something. It was then that I realized that my mother had helped shape countless children’s lives, and I knew then that I wanted to be her when I grew up. Now, my goal is to one day be an early childhood educator. Early childhood educators, I feel, have the world’s most important job. I’ve heard the saying that there would be no professions if there were no teachers. I feel that saying could be more specific: there would be no other professions without early childhood educators. During the early years, children gain a foundation for lifelong learning. It is during these years that children learn the cognitive, emotional, and social skills they need to continue throughout the rest of their years. Quality early childhood educators are needed to ensure that this foundation is built. During the early childhood years, children’s brains grow at exponential rates, and their foundation for language, literacy, and mathematical skills does too. If early childhood educators exist to cultivate this learning, children’s future development will be impacted in a positive way. After graduating from high school, I plan to pursue a career in early childhood education because I want to make an impact on the earliest of young minds. Like my mother, I will expect no accolades for helping the future, but I will gain satisfaction knowing that I did.