
Hobbies and interests
Self Care
Board Games And Puzzles
Cinematography
Community Service And Volunteering
Journaling
Reading
Mystery
I read books daily
Raegan Lysaght
635
Bold Points1x
Finalist
Raegan Lysaght
635
Bold Points1x
FinalistBio
I want to change the way students with disabilities experience education. Too often, they’re misunderstood, overlooked, or pushed aside. I’ve seen it firsthand while working with special education students, and I refuse to let them slip through the cracks.
I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s in Business Administration, but I found my purpose in the classroom. As a special education para and substitute teacher, I’ve worked with students who have all different kinds of disabilities. I’ve supported nonverbal students, de-escalated crises, and built trust with kids who’ve been told they’re “too difficult” to teach.
Now, I’m earning my Master’s Degree in Special Education at Northwest Missouri State University so I can make an even bigger impact. I’m passionate about meeting students where they are, helping them build confidence, and proving that every child is worth the effort. I want to be the kind of teacher who makes sure the students all know their worth and know that I’ll be always be cheering them on.
Education
Northwest Missouri State University
Master's degree programMajors:
- Education, General
- Special Education and Teaching
Minors:
- Education, Other
Missouri Western State University
Master's degree programMajors:
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
Missouri Western State University
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Criminal Justice and Corrections, General
Miscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- Special Education and Teaching
Career
Dream career field:
Education
Dream career goals:
Future Interests
Advocacy
Volunteering
Entrepreneurship
Autumn Davis Memorial Scholarship
Meaning in Mental Health Struggles
I have lost a few people I loved to suicide. The weight of their absence has colored my world, my relationships with other people, and life choices. Most people were not aware of their struggles. They smiled. They laughed. But they were sinking beneath their surface. I came to understand that mental illness is not always loud; it can also be silent and sometimes cloaked as strength.
My struggles with mental health make me aware that pain is not always apparent, and that perspective has influenced how I relate to people. I listen. I pay attention to the small things, tone changes, behavior adjustments. I try to be that person my loved ones never had during their quiet suffering.
These experiences have also inspired my career goals. I am getting my master's in special education because I want to work with kids that are often misunderstood or even overlooked. Most of the at-risk or low-functioning teenagers I'm working with on a daily basis do not trust adults. They push people away before they can be abandoned. But when I show up repeatedly and prove to them that I see them as people and not merely as problems to be solved, then the walls begin coming down. They start to show up for themselves, and sometimes that is not with words.
Every facet of my life is rooted in mental health. I want to provide an environment where students feel safe, valued, and heard. I want to be that person who notices when something is wrong, who won't allow a quiet "I'm fine" to go unchecked, who recognizes that just sitting with someone through their pain can sometimes be more healing than any advice. I do not want any child feeling like they are a burden for wanting to express their feelings. Sharing emotions or feelings doesn’t make you weak, it makes you stronger.
I want them to know that I am someone who is always going to be there for them. My job is to protect them, care about them, and help them become the best versions of themselves. My goal everyday is to make sure all the students know that they are loved and they have a purpose.
Investing in mental health is not only going to be about treatment; it's about prevention. It's about teaching kids that their feelings matter long before they agonize over it. It's about giving them coping mechanisms and the power to communicate that they, too, are worthy of help. That is the ripple I want to create.