I was six years old when my mom first announced she was pregnant, and it was one of the happiest days of my life. When my sister Lyla was born, I instantly fell in love. I am only seven years older than her, so we grew up together despite being in different stages of life. Since I was so young, I couldn’t help my parents much. However, when I was thirteen, my mom had another baby; Violet, my now-four-year-old sister, made me realize the passion I had for inspiring and influencing young children. Since I was a teenager when she was born, I was able to assist my parents in raising her. I would watch her while they were at work and take care of her whenever I had the chance to. I was able to understand Violet and change her mood when nobody else could, and I realized I had a knack for being with kids. I was recently accepted to Florida State University through the CARE Summer Bridge Program, and I was unsure of what I wanted to pursue when I applied, but now I know for sure. Being around children brings me the purest form of joy I have ever felt, and I don’t think I would be fulfilling my purpose if I didn’t become an educator. I have imagined myself in hundreds of job settings, changing my desired major almost every week, but I always seem to come back to the only position I can truly envision myself in, and that is teaching. As I mature and progress into adulthood, I further discover myself in ways that I never expected. I have found that I have an undying passion for two things more than anything else: traveling and teaching. So, I have decided to teach English as a foreign language to children from other countries. Though I am not yet fluent, I have been working towards learning Spanish for almost a year and plan to minor in Spanish at FSU. Each year, fewer people decide to pursue a career in education; depending on where you live, the pay is usually below par. However, I believe that influencing young minds is endlessly more important than a paycheck and I have never felt more passionate about a potential career. Like Teri, I love the outdoors and long to inspire young minds through my experiences and knowledge, and I wish to positively influence the upcoming generations in the hope of sculpting a brighter future.

When the Covid-19 outbreak happened, I was in 8th grade. Everyone was quarantined, and brick-and-mortar students were pushed into online schools. The pandemic happened at such a vital time in my life, as I was less than a year away from high school and already in conflict with my identity, and suddenly I was isolated from my peers. I decided I liked the online platform because it gave me the freedom to make my schedule and work at my own pace, but as time went on, I found myself becoming more and more alone. Eventually, I reached the point where the only people I communicated with were my immediate family and I became very socially awkward. At the age of fifteen, I decided it was time to venture outside of my comfort zone and find a job. Applying to work at Nana Teresa’s Bake Shop was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve now been there for two years, regained my social confidence, and made lifelong friendships with my coworkers, employers, and customers that I’ll carry with me throughout my college career. So, I missed my entire high school career and never got the “high school experience” that many seem so fond of, but I decided that online school was the best option for me as it allowed me independence and freedom, and I’ve found happiness in other places. Recently, I was accepted to Florida State University through the CARE program. I am from a low-income household, I am a first-generation student and I am no longer used to brick-and-mortar schooling, so I know college will initially provide a challenge and I’ll likely have trouble adapting at first. Although I have a little bit of money saved up, it's not nearly enough to support myself, and being awarded The You Are Loved Scholarship would assist me greatly with the financial transition to FSU and would help me be more successful in attending school and furthering my education. I am excited to embark on this new chapter of my life and learn as much as possible in my time at Florida State University. As a non-traditional student, being awarded this scholarship would provide hope to my younger sister, and anyone, who wants to pursue online school but fears a lack of opportunities. This scholarship goes toward a wonderful cause, and even if I don’t receive it, I’m thankful that this foundation is supporting non-traditional schooling options.