When I wake up each day, I look at my scars—my "battle" scars—on my wrists, stomach, and back, and I am reminded of my resilience during times when the odds were against me. It is this knowledge that drives me to not only persist, but also to pay it forward to those who are battling their own personal challenges each day. My scars remind me of my goal to become a special education teacher and to work with child who have different abilities and special needs. In utero, I was diagnosed with a Sacrococcygeal Teratoma, a life-threatening tumor found in newborns, occurring in 1 out of every 40,000 births, and located on the coccyx bone. My fate lay in the hands of one of the few places in the world experienced with my diagnosis and the procedure to remove it: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia’s Center for Fetal Surgery and Diagnosis. I was born at 34 weeks, weighing just under 5 lbs, with a 2 lbs tumor invading my tiny body. Within 24 hours, I was quickly taken to the operating room to fight for my life. The surgery consisted of the removal of the tumor and my coccyx bone and reconstruction of my lower half due to the extent of the incisions. Several weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit recovering would follow the operation because of my need to heal and actually learn to eat. It took the collective efforts of numerous nurses and doctors to ensure that I could have the life that I now enjoy and experience the opportunities that my future now holds for me. Growing up, I met most of the typical benchmarks and thrived; however, I did need some interventions to aid me in achieving my full potential at school. It was the help and care of many empathetic doctors, nurses, and teachers that I was able to succeed. The challenges I faced and the people who supported me helped me realize that the world isn’t always going to adapt to you. I understand first hand, the struggles of debilitating feelings of anxiety at school and home that can make some days really hard. I envision myself using these struggles to have a unique understanding of what it is like for my future special education students whether it is medical or learning struggles. I know what it is like to not have a teacher understand that you learn differently and to need therapy for your emotional well being. In the fifth grade, I started volunteering to work in community programs for children with special needs and continue to do so. Working with these individuals and their compassionate teachers has only strengthened my convictions and broadened my perspective. Playing games, forming connections, and communicating with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and intellectual disabilities has opened my eyes to not just their struggles but their potential. It has fueled my desire to become a special education teacher, focusing on children with ASD and intellectual disabilities. I truly believe my life experiences uniquely position me to comprehend and empathize with the various struggles individuals with special needs face. Recently, I have been accepted to four New Jersey colleges and universities; Kean, Montclair, Ramapo, and TCNJ. All of these institutions have excellent education programs that will help me continue to pursue my goal. It will be hard to choose, but I know that I am ready to embrace my future. Plus, I always have my scars to remind me of what I am doing this all for.