My 504 plan has been a huge part of my life in many ways. I have a disability called attention deficit disorder (ADD) and I always struggled in school. When I was in school, I was always pushed to do more and keep up with my peers. I also struggled with staying focused on tasks, like homework or tests. The 504 plan allows students with disabilities to have accommodations. It helped me to manage my ADD and it also helped me to become more appreciative of school. With the 504 plan, I was able to get accommodations that fit my needs. For example, I got extended time on tests and assignments, so I could take my time and prove that I understood the material without feeling the stress of a timed test. I also was looked down upon by some of my peers by this, and seen as inferior, or dumb. I am a blonde, which also led to the, “You’re stupid and you need even more help?” But with the 504 plan, this not only removed some of the anxiety I often felt about schoolwork, but it also allowed me to focus on mastering content instead of fighting distractions all the time. I was able to find happiness in success, and not on whether people liked me. I was also able to get a quiet space to study in, and check-ins with teachers kept me on track, which helped me feel more accountable and self-disciplined. Over time, these accommodations allowed me to feel more confident than I had ever felt before. Instead of seeing myself as “behind” or “less capable, ” I realized that with the right support, I could succeed in school. This experience has been a huge part of why I want to become an educator. I want to become a teacher so I can provide similar support to students who struggle in the same way I did. I want to be an educator who sees the potential in every student and helps them discover their own strengths, no matter what challenges they face. The challenges I faced with ADD also helped me to develop a positive outlook on life. I always was looking on the positive side of things and constantly wanting to improve. I learned early on that success isn’t measured by how quickly or easily we get things done, but rather by how we adapt, persevere, and ask for help when we need it. These lessons have helped me to develop resilience, empathy, and an appreciation for what other people are going through. I’ve realized that my challenges have only deepened my desire to help others which has led me to the desire to pursue education as a career. In the soon future, I look forward to attending college and pursuing a career in education. Since I was in 6th grade I’ve developed a love for teaching and helping kids, My 504 accommodations have allowed me to be successful and have also inspired me to become an advocate for students with learning differences. I hope to become an educator who creates an inclusive and supportive learning environment so that students can overcome challenges and achieve success in their own learning journeys. The accommodations helped me do well in school, and the lessons I’ve learned have motivated me to pursue a career in education. I hope to use my story to inspire and support students who face similar challenges to those I once did, so they too can get the supports they need to succeed.

Why I Want to Be a Teacher For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of being a teacher. Not just because I love learning, or because I enjoy helping others—though those are both true—but because I know, deep down, how powerful a teacher can be in someone’s life. I know this not from something I read or saw on TV, but because I experienced it firsthand. In seventh grade, during one of the most difficult times of my life, I met Mrs. DeLeon—my honors English teacher. At the time, my grandmother, who had always been a major part of my life, was battling cancer. Watching someone you love suffer is incredibly painful, especially as a young student trying to stay focused on school and everything else. When my grandmother passed away, I felt like my world stopped. A lot of people didn’t know how to support me, or maybe they just didn’t try. But Mrs. DeLeon did. She noticed when I wasn’t myself. She asked questions and listened without judgment. She gave me space when I needed it and encouragement when I didn’t even know I needed it. She didn’t just teach English—she taught kindness, empathy, and authenticity. She never changed herself for anyone, and in doing so, she showed me how to be comfortable being myself too. Mrs. DeLeon supported me as I poured my emotions into poetry. I wrote a lot during that time, and she read every poem. She didn’t just read them—she celebrated them. She made me feel like my voice mattered. She believed in me so much that she helped me get one of my poems published in the Waco Tribune newspaper. That was a moment I’ll never forget—not just because I saw my name in print, but because it showed me what a teacher can do when they believe in their students. That’s the kind of teacher I want to be. I want to be the one who sees a student struggling and takes the time to ask why. I want to be the person who encourages creativity, who helps a quiet voice become strong, and who makes students feel seen. I want to create a classroom where students feel safe to be themselves, to grow, and to dream. Teaching isn’t just a job to me—it’s a calling. It’s a way to give back what was once given to me. And if I can impact even one student the way Mrs. DeLeon impacted me, then I know I’ve done something truly meaningful.

Why I Want to Be a Teacher For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of being a teacher. Not just because I love learning, or because I enjoy helping others—though those are both true—but because I know, deep down, how powerful a teacher can be in someone’s life. I know this not from something I read or saw on TV, but because I experienced it firsthand. In seventh grade, during one of the most difficult times of my life, I met Mrs. DeLeon—my honors English teacher. At the time, my grandmother, who had always been a major part of my life, was battling cancer. Watching someone you love suffer is incredibly painful, especially as a young student trying to stay focused on school and everything else. When my grandmother passed away, I felt like my world stopped. A lot of people didn’t know how to support me, or maybe they just didn’t try. But Mrs. DeLeon did. She noticed when I wasn’t myself. She asked questions and listened without judgment. She gave me space when I needed it and encouragement when I didn’t even know I needed it. She didn’t just teach English—she taught kindness, empathy, and authenticity. She never changed herself for anyone, and in doing so, she showed me how to be comfortable being myself too. Mrs. DeLeon supported me as I poured my emotions into poetry. I wrote a lot during that time, and she read every poem. She didn’t just read them—she celebrated them. She made me feel like my voice mattered. She believed in me so much that she helped me get one of my poems published in the Waco Tribune newspaper. That was a moment I’ll never forget—not just because I saw my name in print, but because it showed me what a teacher can do when they believe in their students. That’s the kind of teacher I want to be. I want to be the one who sees a student struggling and takes the time to ask why. I want to be the person who encourages creativity, who helps a quiet voice become strong, and who makes students feel seen. I want to create a classroom where students feel safe to be themselves, to grow, and to dream. Teaching isn’t just a job to me—it’s a calling. It’s a way to give back what was once given to me. And if I can impact even one student the way Mrs. DeLeon impacted me, then I know I’ve done something truly meaningful.

My Journey, Inspired by Gigi Ever since I found out my grandma—my Gigi—had lung cancer, my life was never the same. It was the summer after 4th grade when everything changed. One day I was just a kid, running around and not thinking much about the world, and the next, I was learning what it meant to watch someone you love slowly slip away. Gigi wasn’t just my grandma—she was my best friend. She was known in our family as the “Bling Queen” because everything she owned sparkled. Her bedazzled hot glue gun was basically her magic wand, transforming everything she touched with glitter, gems, and love. She made everything fun, even the little things. And she made me laugh harder than anyone ever could. Her favorite song was “24K Magic” by Bruno Mars, which still makes me cry to this day—even though it’s the furthest thing from a sad song. I think that’s what makes it hurt the most. It reminds me of how bright and joyful she was, even when her body was breaking down. By the time I reached 6th grade, Gigi’s cancer had spread—tumors along her spine, then brain cancer, then pancreatic cancer. It was a cruel, fast-moving storm. But somehow, through it all, she stayed the most beautiful, funny, and kind person I’ve ever known. She used to be a nurse, taking care of the elderly with a heart full of compassion. Before that, she was a teacher. She just loved helping others. And she did it so effortlessly. When she passed away, I got the call during my 7th grade English class. I remember my teacher walking me down the hall. Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion. My other grandma picked me up with my little brother, and we drove to Gigi’s house in China Spring. The second I saw my dad’s face, I knew. He opened the car door, eyes red and puffy, and reached for me. I screamed. I cried. I punched the air, desperate for it not to be real. Inside, I was greeted by my mom and our pastor. They asked if I wanted to say goodbye. I was terrified. I sat in her room for two hours, staring at the wall, feeling frozen in time. When I finally gathered the courage, I kissed her goodbye. Then I walked out onto the grass, dropped to my knees, and begged God to bring her back. But in my heart, I knew she was already gone. Losing Gigi shattered me—but it also shaped me. She inspired me to go to college, just like she did. She inspired me to become a teacher, just like she was. Her students still tell stories about her, about how much she meant to them. That kind of impact is rare. And I want to be that kind of person for someone else. Cancer took my Gigi, but it didn’t take what she gave me—her spirit, her strength, her sense of humor, her love. I carry all of that with me. I want to be brave like her, and I want to take the leap she once took. College isn’t just a goal—it’s a promise I made to myself and to her. I want to help others. I want to make students feel seen and safe. I want to be a teacher who changes lives. That’s what I hope to accomplish. Not just a degree, but a legacy—one that began with the Bling Queen and will live on through me.

Why I Want to Be a Teacher For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of being a teacher. Not just because I love learning, or because I enjoy helping others—though those are both true—but because I know, deep down, how powerful a teacher can be in someone’s life. I know this not from something I read or saw on TV, but because I experienced it firsthand. In seventh grade, during one of the most difficult times of my life, I met Mrs. DeLeon—my honors English teacher. At the time, my grandmother, who had always been a major part of my life, was battling cancer. Watching someone you love suffer is incredibly painful, especially as a young student trying to stay focused on school and everything else. When my grandmother passed away, I felt like my world stopped. A lot of people didn’t know how to support me, or maybe they just didn’t try. But Mrs. DeLeon did. She noticed when I wasn’t myself. She asked questions and listened without judgment. She gave me space when I needed it and encouragement when I didn’t even know I needed it. She didn’t just teach English—she taught kindness, empathy, and authenticity. She never changed herself for anyone, and in doing so, she showed me how to be comfortable being myself too. Mrs. DeLeon supported me as I poured my emotions into poetry. I wrote a lot during that time, and she read every poem. She didn’t just read them—she celebrated them. She made me feel like my voice mattered. She believed in me so much that she helped me get one of my poems published in the Waco Tribune newspaper. That was a moment I’ll never forget—not just because I saw my name in print, but because it showed me what a teacher can do when they believe in their students. That’s the kind of teacher I want to be. I want to be the one who sees a student struggling and takes the time to ask why. I want to be the person who encourages creativity, who helps a quiet voice become strong, and who makes students feel seen. I want to create a classroom where students feel safe to be themselves, to grow, and to dream. Teaching isn’t just a job to me—it’s a calling. It’s a way to give back what was once given to me. And if I can impact even one student the way Mrs. DeLeon impacted me, then I know I’ve done something truly meaningful.

My 504 plan has been a huge part of my life in many ways. I have a disability called attention deficit disorder (ADD) and I always struggled in school. When I was in school, I was always pushed to do more and keep up with my peers. I also struggled with staying focused on tasks, like homework or tests. The 504 plan allows students with disabilities to have accommodations. It helped me to manage my ADD and it also helped me to become more appreciative of school. With the 504 plan, I was able to get accommodations that fit my needs. For example, I got extended time on tests and assignments, so I could take my time and prove that I understood the material without feeling the stress of a timed test. I also was looked down upon by some of my peers by this, and seen as inferior, or dumb. I am a blonde, which also led to the, “You’re stupid and you need even more help?” But with the 504 plan, this not only removed some of the anxiety I often felt about schoolwork, but it also allowed me to focus on mastering content instead of fighting distractions all the time. I was able to find happiness in success, and not on whether people liked me. I was also able to get a quiet space to study in, and check-ins with teachers kept me on track, which helped me feel more accountable and self-disciplined. Over time, these accommodations allowed me to feel more confident than I had ever felt before. Instead of seeing myself as “behind” or “less capable, ” I realized that with the right support, I could succeed in school. This experience has been a huge part of why I want to become an educator. I want to become a teacher so I can provide similar support to students who struggle in the same way I did. I want to be an educator who sees the potential in every student and helps them discover their own strengths, no matter what challenges they face. The challenges I faced with ADD also helped me to develop a positive outlook on life. I always was looking on the positive side of things and constantly wanting to improve. I learned early on that success isn’t measured by how quickly or easily we get things done, but rather by how we adapt, persevere, and ask for help when we need it. These lessons have helped me to develop resilience, empathy, and an appreciation for what other people are going through. I’ve realized that my challenges have only deepened my desire to help others which has led me to the desire to pursue education as a career. In the soon future, I look forward to attending college and pursuing a career in education. Since I was in 6th grade I’ve developed a love for teaching and helping kids, My 504 accommodations have allowed me to be successful and have also inspired me to become an advocate for students with learning differences. I hope to become an educator who creates an inclusive and supportive learning environment so that students can overcome challenges and achieve success in their own learning journeys. Finally, my ADD and the accommodations through my 504 plan have had a huge impact on my education and future career goals. I have grown into a more focused young woman, and I look forward to helping kids become more focused also. The accommodations helped me do well in school, and the lessons I’ve learned have motivated me to pursue a career in education. I hope to use my story to inspire and support students who face similar challenges to those I once did, so they too can get the supports they need to succeed.