For this scholarship submission, I chose the Common Core State Standard CCSS.MATH.7.RP.A.2, which focuses on understanding and representing proportional relationships between quantities. I selected this standard because proportional reasoning is a key skill in middle school math and is something students will continue to use in high school and beyond. It also connects strongly to real life, such as comparing prices, scaling recipes, and interpreting maps. However, many students struggle with this topic when it is only taught through numbers and equations, so I focused on creating a visual approach that makes the concept clearer and easier to understand. The visual elements in my design were chosen to support learning in a simple and organized way. I used color theory by assigning consistent colors to different parts of a ratio. This helps students quickly identify which values belong together and reduces confusion when comparing quantities. The colors are used consistently throughout the lesson so students can recognize patterns more easily, which supports memory and understanding. Brighter colors highlight important information, while softer background colors keep the page calm and easy to read. The layout is structured in a clear step-by-step flow. It begins with a real-world example so students can see how proportional relationships apply to everyday life. Then it moves into a visual model, such as a bar diagram or double number line, which helps students see how the quantities are related. Finally, it connects to the mathematical equation. This structure helps students move from concrete understanding to abstract thinking in a gradual way. Each section is separated clearly so students can focus on one idea at a time without feeling overwhelmed. Typography was also designed to improve clarity and focus. A simple, easy-to-read font was used so students can understand the content without distraction. Important vocabulary words like “ratio,” “rate,” and “proportion” are highlighted in bold to help students recognize and remember key terms. Headings are larger and clearly labeled so students can quickly understand the organization of the lesson and know what they are looking at. This makes the information easier to follow and reduces confusion. Imagery is included to make the math feel more real and relatable. Everyday examples such as food items, sports, and maps help students connect proportional relationships to situations they may already know. This makes the concept less abstract and more meaningful. Diagrams like bar models and double number lines are also used to visually break down relationships between quantities. These visuals allow students to see how numbers connect, rather than only working with formulas. Visual learning is important in K–12 education because students learn in different ways and need multiple ways to access the same information. Some students understand concepts better when they can see them rather than only hear or read them. Visual supports also help students stay engaged and focused, especially when learning challenging topics like ratios and proportions. In today’s world, students are used to visual information through technology, so using visuals in learning makes lessons more familiar and easier to process. Overall, visual learning improves understanding, supports memory, and helps more students feel confident in math.

This opportunity means a lot to me because it reflects everything I’ve been through and what’s helped me get to this point. My faith has always been a big part of my life, and it’s something that has stayed constant no matter what I’m going through. I’m Catholic, and for me, it’s not just about religion, it's about the way it brings my family together and keeps me grounded. Some of my favorite moments are just going to mass with my family or praying together. It’s something we’ve always done, and it’s made us really close. Having that kind of support system has helped me more than I probably even realize. It reminds me that I’m not doing life alone. One of the hardest things I’ve gone through was tearing my ACL while playing soccer. Soccer has always been a big part of my life, so getting injured like that was really tough. The recovery wasn’t just physical, it was mental too. There were days where I felt frustrated, impatient, and honestly just tired of not being able to do what I loved. During that time, my faith is what kept me going. I prayed a lot and just trusted that everything would work out the way it was supposed to, even when it didn’t feel like it in the moment. Another big part of my faith is how it helps me deal with things I can’t control. I pray for my grandpa’s health every day, and that gives me a lot of comfort. It reminds me that even when I’m worried or scared, I can give those feelings to God and trust that He’s taking care of things in ways I might not always see right away. Going through these experiences has taught me a lot about staying strong and not giving up. My faith has helped me stay positive, be patient, and keep pushing forward even when things get hard. It’s also helped me appreciate the people around me and not take things for granted. Moving forward, I want to keep my faith at the center of everything I do. It helps guide my decisions, keeps me focused, and reminds me of what really matters. I know that there will be more challenges ahead, but I also know I won’t be facing them alone. I plan to keep trusting God, working hard, and taking advantage of opportunities like this to grow and improve. At the end of the day, my journey hasn’t been perfect, but my faith has been there through all of it. It’s what has helped me get through tough times and stay hopeful about the future. That’s why this opportunity means so much to me, it’s another step forward, and I know I have God with me every step of the way.

I am interested in pursuing a career in teaching because I’ve seen how much influence one person can have on a student’s life. School is where people spend a huge part of their time growing, learning, and figuring out who they are. I want to be someone who makes that experience more positive and meaningful for students. I want to help them succeed in school while also building confidence and feeling supported. One of the biggest reasons I feel this way is because of my soccer coach, Coach Ramsey. He is someone who truly changed the way I see leadership and encouragement. He cared about every player on the team, no matter their skill level or position. Whether you were on the field the whole game or sitting on the bench, he treated you with the same respect. That made a big difference, especially on days when confidence was low. Coach Ramsey pushed us to improve and expected effort from everyone, but he always made it clear that he believed in us. That belief made me want to work harder. I didn’t feel forced to do better, I wanted to. His encouragement helped me become more confident, not just in soccer, but in other parts of my life too. Having someone who saw potential in me helped me start to see it in myself. Another thing that stood out about him was how he built relationships with his players. He actually took the time to talk to us and understand what we were going through. Because of that, it felt easier to trust him and listen to what he had to say. He created an environment where we felt comfortable trying, even if we made mistakes. That’s something I want to bring into my own classroom someday. My experiences as a student have also shaped my interest in teaching. I’ve had teachers who made learning interesting and engaging, and others who didn’t. That showed me how important it is for a teacher to put in effort and connect with their students. When a teacher cares, it shows, and it can completely change how a student feels about school. I want to be the kind of teacher who makes students feel motivated and involved. In the future, I hope to create a classroom where students feel comfortable, supported, and encouraged to grow. I want them to know that it’s okay to struggle and that mistakes are part of learning. I also want to be someone they can look up to and trust, just like I did with Coach Ramsey. If I can help students believe in themselves and push themselves to improve, then I know I’ll be doing something meaningful. Overall, my desire to become a teacher comes from the impact people like Coach Ramsey have had on me. He showed me what it looks like to lead with respect, patience, and encouragement. That is the kind of example I want to follow, and I hope to have that same kind of positive impact on my future students.

Becoming a teacher has been influenced by a lot of people in my life, but the person who stands out the most is my soccer coach, Coach Ramsey. He wasn’t just someone who taught us how to play the game, he was someone who genuinely cared about us as people. The way he treated his players and the impact he had on all of us made me realize how powerful a role a teacher or coach can have in someone’s life. Coach Ramsey had a way of making everyone feel important, no matter their skill level. Whether you were a starter or someone who barely got playing time, he treated you with the same respect. That meant a lot, especially during times when confidence wasn’t always high. He pushed us to work hard and expected a lot from us, but you could tell it came from a place of wanting us to succeed. Because of that, I always wanted to give my best effort, not just for myself, but because I didn’t want to let him down. One thing that really stuck with me was how he built relationships with each of us. He didn’t just see us as players on a field; he took the time to get to know us, talk to us, and understand what we were going through. That made a huge difference. It showed me that when someone feels supported and cared about, they’re more likely to believe in themselves. That’s something I want to bring into my future classroom. I want my students to feel like they matter, not just as students, but as individuals. Coach Ramsey also taught us a lot about handling challenges. Soccer can be frustrating, and there were definitely times when we didn’t play our best or didn’t get the outcome we wanted. Instead of focusing only on mistakes, he helped us learn from them and move forward. He always reminded us that improvement takes time and effort. That mindset is something I want to pass on to my students. I want them to understand that it’s okay to struggle sometimes, and that growth comes from not giving up. My experiences as a student have also played a role in why I want to become a teacher. I’ve had teachers who made learning interesting and others who didn’t, and it showed me how much a teacher’s attitude and effort can affect a student’s experience. Because of that, I want to create a classroom where students feel engaged and motivated, not bored or overlooked. I want to make learning something they actually care about. In the future, I hope to be the kind of teacher who makes a lasting impact, just like Coach Ramsey did for me. I don’t just want to teach lessons from a textbook, I want to help students build confidence, learn from their experiences, and believe in themselves. If I can be even a small part of helping someone grow the way he helped me, then I know I’ll be making a difference. Coach Ramsey showed me that being a teacher is about more than just teaching, he taught me it’s about connecting with people, supporting them, and helping them become better versions of themselves. That’s the kind of teacher I hope to be.