“Teaching is the greatest and hardest thing you can ever pursue.” My theology teacher Mrs. Matunis told me as I shared the beginning of Junior year that I would be studying elementary education and special education. I see the many blessings that come with exploring teaching as a profession but thankfully have been mentored by several former teachers about the hardships I will face too, regarding mental health as well as external stressors students face. My passion for teaching started with one teacher in 1st grade- Mrs. Sabia. She began each day by greeting each of us at our desks to ask about our evenings. She took that first 20 minutes of the day to explore our interests and passions and allowed us to feel "special". She made me realize for the first time, that someone other than my family could care about me and love me. I have taken that example and brought it into being a preschool assistant teacher through my church. I look for ways to connect with my little kiddos and let them know that they are safe and important. Mrs. Sabia retired at the end of that school year but her impact and her charisma for teaching carried me through school. I felt “seen” and realized, years later, that I wanted to do the same for future generations of students. “Compassion” is a quality I think that goes unnoticed in teaching. My high school theology teacher not only educated us but cared about our many high school concerns. He would make Tik Toks with us before and after class. He would invest in who we were as people and share in our moments of confusion and “woes”. He listened to us question who to date, or what sport to try out for. He listened as we tormented over what college and career field to go into. Mr. Smith was the first person to tell me “Teya you will make a great teacher one day… because you care… you just get it so GO- DO IT!” He instilled confidence in me that even though academically I was an average student, I had qualities that made me uniquely qualified to teach and make a difference in a child’s life. He saw my compassion, love, drive to help others, and creativity as something that would help me to be a great educator. I realized for the first time that I may be blessed one day to see another child’s potential and be the one voice who tells them, they can and WILL be able to do it. Throughout my years of school and volunteering as a preschool assistant teacher through church, I realized that teachers possess a special power in this world. Teachers are there for our brightest days and our hardest days. And the power of one teacher seeing you in those moments is the difference between a student being able to keep going or give up. I want to possess the power and influence to create peer mentoring programs. I think mental health is an area that goes vastly unnoticed in our schools and hope that one day, because of the examples of my teachers love and concern for me, I can be a catalyst for change in whatever school community I am blessed to teach in. I want to create spaces for kids to be “seen” and most importantly listened to; from elementary school through high school. I want to demonstrate how powerful active listening is to learning and growing as a person. I always hear "We need more teachers.." and so, here I come!

“Teaching is a superpower!” I heard that said one time when I was younger and attending a PTA meeting with my mom regarding “Teacher Appreciation” week at my elementary school. I didn’t know then what that meant but throughout the years, I have been blessed with many fabulous teachers who showed me what “superheroes” look like. My passion for teaching started with one teacher in 1st grade- Mrs. Sabia. She made every single child who entered her classroom feel loved and cherished. She cared about our feelings and what we were interested in. She would talk about Disney with me and Transformers with my male peers. She made me realize for the first time, that someone other than my family could care about what interests me. She retired at the end of that school year but her impact and her charisma for teaching have carried me through all my school years. I felt “seen” and important and I realized a few short years later I wanted to be the same for future generations of students. Academics have not always been my strong suit. I do well, but I am not a phenomenal “super student” by any means. I valued my education but it didn’t always come easily to me. However, some teachers made the connections for me in difficult subjects, which helped me to realize the extraordinary “power” they have. I remember my Algebra teacher using his social media avatar on power points, throughout various lessons, to grab our attention and make the subject of math fun or at the very least- inviting. The creativity he showed and his ability to get on to our middle school level and try to make an otherwise confusing or boring subject for many of us, funny, changed my motivation to learn Algebra. My high school theology teacher not only educated us but cared about our many high school concerns. He would make TikTok with us before and after class. He would invest in who we were as people and shared in our many dilemmas from who to date, to what sport to try out for, to what college and career field to go into. Mr. Smith was the first person to tell me “Teya you will make a great teacher one day… DO IT!” He instilled confidence in me that even though academically I was average compared to my classmates, I had some qualities that perhaps were special and made me uniquely qualified in different areas to make a difference in a child’s life. He saw my compassion, love, drive to help others, and creativity as something that would help me to be a great educator. Throughout my years of school and volunteering as a preschool assistant teacher with my church, I realized that teachers possess a special power in this world. Teachers are there for our brightest days and our hardest days. And the power of one teacher seeing you in those moments is the difference between a student chasing their dream or giving up…. I want to possess that kind of power and influence. I become invigorated by seeing a child feel my love and genuine concern for them. I love demonstrating to them that no matter what else is going on in this world, they are safe, loved, and cared for. I want to be their biggest cheerleader and their safe place to try new things and possibly fail. I want to make every child find their own “superpower” and share it with the world! The world needs more teachers and I cannot wait to join the ranks of "Superhero!"

My drive for teaching came from a multitude of places! The beginning of my desire to become a teacher was through my volunteer work within my church. I have been volunteering in my church’s preschool room since 2019. There, I began as an assistant teacher; and I learned all about how to create lesson plans, and keep kids engaged within the lessons. I learned how arts and crafts are a pivotal tool that can be used to teach lessons to students and help them retain information more effectively. I am the assistant teacher to an amazing woman who truly took me under her wing and taught me the importance of creating a safe environment for my students through love, patience, kindness and did I mention PATIENCE! She has demonstrated all of those qualities and more to me the past 5 years. The next individual that played a role in my passion to become a teacher, was my junior year theology teacher, Mr. Smith. He was one of the first teachers I had at my high school who I shared my goal of wanting to become a teacher. And from the minute I told him, he was always very encouraging; and reassured me that it was a profession that I would excel at. His words and belief in me have continued to encourage me to pursue teaching. Another thing that has really driven me, is past incredible teachers. One teacher that comes to mind is my first grade teacher, who was one of the sweetest teachers I’ve met! You could tell that she genuinely loved her job and her students so much, and that definitely left a lasting impression on me. Now that I’m going to be a teacher myself, that is how I want my future students to feel with me as their teacher. I feel like all of my past teachers that I’ve had growing up, have all played a role in showing me what makes an amazing teacher. I think it’s great that I’ve gotten to experience so many different styles of teaching. The final drive for me to become a teacher, is also one of my biggest motivations. And that would be my faith. I prayed for a very long time asking God which career He wanted me to be in. And I discovered that He wanted me to be a teacher, at the end of my junior year. Furthermore, I feel like He has continued to reaffirm that decision of mine. I believe my volunteer work in my church was been preparing me for this future career that God had planned for me. My faith continues to give me comfort that any obstacles I might face on my journey to become a teacher, I can handle through my faith in God and the path He has placed me on. My faith and the examples shown to me by my previous teachers all throughout my life have positively driven and inspired me to become a teacher. I want to be the best teacher I can be for my future students, I want to lead by my example and faith and I want to do it all for the glory of God!

Cancer has unfortunately been a part of my life even without me knowing it, at first. I lost my grandmother to cancer at the age of 12. She was truly my best friend and showed me what grace and strength looked like when adversity strikes. It was through my grandmother dying that I accidentally discovered my mother's cancer diagnosis. I had overheard her talking about treatments she had tried that my grandmother had also tried during her cancer journey but unfortunately was not effective. I was shocked and scared out of my mind! I carefully approached the subject with my mom several months later and gladly discovered that my mom had been in remission for 10 years from her cancer diagnosis. However, it is something that haunts me to this day! My mother's cancer was/is treatable but not curable. Although I celebrate the fact that she is in good health, it is something that is always in the back of my mind. My mom worked throughout her cancer treatment. My sister and I were just 3 and 1 years old at the time and had no idea that she was sick, or working her way through treatments. She continued to work in schools as a mental health counselor (against the advice of her doctors due to her immune system). She supported students with Autism, multiple disabilities and others who were struggling with mental health-related issues, all while facing one of the biggest demons of her life. She worked and drove herself to chemo treatments at noon, 3 days a week for 4 months. My mom did not let cancer stop her from helping the students and kids she was entrusted with. She has since explained to me that she was committed to these kids and their families. They expected to see her, needed her help and she did not want to let them down. That stuck with me! I am currently preparing to become an elementary education major with a dual certification in special education. Through my mom's example of strength, grit and determination to work and support the kids that she was entrusted with; I am now equally as motivated to do the same as I prepare for the next chapter of my life. My mom has always given me the gift of "seeing below the surface" of others. Whether it is a diagnosis of Autism or Cancer, the person is valuable! They are NOT their diagnosis! I am therefore, motivated to take the lessons of perseverance that my mom displayed years ago, to now go into the education field and truly "SEE" my future students. I want to see their strengths and develop them. I want to see them reach the goals they have identified for themselves. I want to partner with families in the same way my mom has done throughout her career to provide support to the students I will one day be entrusted with. As this next chapter begins I often think to myself "Where would I have been if my mom was not here?" She has shown me how to face death (quite literally) and not give up or let it take away your hope. She has demonstrated how to see someone not for the label they have but for who they are. She has shown me that cancer is scary but it can never take the place of HOPE, LOVE and FAITH. I hope to take her example with me as I forge ahead into this next great journey and pass those same concepts onto my students as their teacher.

Hi! I am a 17-year-old Senior at Marian Catholic High School in Tamaqua. I have been impacted by Cancer in my life 3 separate times. I tragically lost my grandmother and great-grandmother to cancer, but perhaps my most profound experience with Cancer was finding out my mom had cancer several years ago. She is my hero! My mom has happily been in remission for 10+ years at this time! (Praise God!) However, it wasn't until I was 15 years old that I discovered my mom had ever had cancer! She successfully moved along with life without allowing my sister or me ever knowing she had battled this disease. My mom's diagnosis came after she had given birth to my little sister and found a lump in the most unique place- her jawline. She believed it was a dental-related issue but later through a lot of testing, discovered it was non-Hodgkins lymphoma. My mom bravely cared for each of us, all the while working throughout her chemo treatments as a mental health therapist to children and families. She never displayed an ounce of pain, turmoil or stress. She just pressed on and made sure we each were loved as if nothing was going on in her own life. She went to work day after day and counseled families who were going through their own difficult times, although she was managing one of the biggest "monsters" of her life. Cancer could NOT stop my Mom! I have taken so many lessons from my mom, my grandmother and my great-grandmother. They were TOUGH women who did not allow anything to stop them. As I prepare to further my education and become an elementary teacher, I know there will be difficult and stressful days ahead but, I feel confident, that with the examples that have been set for me, I can persevere and accomplish my goals! I am SO grateful I have my mom with me to this day. She is a champion of strength and grace under intense pressure! I would be lost without her and I pray for her continued remission to this day. I learned a lot by watching the many women in my life step up and face this horrific diagnosis! I would like to end my essay with a poem my mom shared with me, once I discovered her truth: that she had faced cancer. It comforted me and made me realize all the things that Cancer cannot and will never be able to do in my life. "Cancer is So Limited... It cannot cripple Love, It cannot shatter Hope, It cannot override Faith, It cannot eat away at Peace, It cannot destroy Confidence, It cannot kill Friendship, It cannot shut out Memories, It cannot silence Courage, It cannot invade the Soul, it cannot reduce eternal life, It cannot quench the Spirit, It cannot lessen the power of remembrance". I am sure Peter's memory will continue to live on in the memory of his family and friends. I pray I will be honored by this scholarship to allow Peter to continue to live through me as I pursue a career as an elementary teacher. Thanks for your time and allowing me to share my story about how I have been affected by cancer.

I began my journey into the volleyball world uniquely. I was a freshman, transferring from public school to a private catholic school and I just wanted to make some connections. I knew I was not an athletic girl. I knew I also did not know anything about volleyball. However, my future coach asked me to consider helping out the team as a manager. That one decision changed me and my life. I would also argue it was one of the bravest decisions I made. I chose to try something new, have the confidence to build connections, and learn how to appreciate each member of a team. The sport of volleyball taught me several lessons. It taught me to be self-motivated, and detail-oriented, manage multiple things at one time, and be an excellent communicator. It taught me to advocate for myself and my teammates and built confidence to speak up when I saw a mistake being made. Volleyball is a high-paced, electric, and detail-oriented sport. Although I was not on the court, I was responsible for keeping the statistics for the team, keeping scores, interacting with referees, managing the libero sheet, managing rosters and lineups for both teams, and keeping track of substitutions throughout each game. On more than one occasion, the game would stop and the referees and coaches would turn to me to identify rotations, illegal substitutions, or some other aspect of the game that would determine if our team or the other would receive a point. My ability to focus and manage the book as well as manage the scoreboard correctly did have an impact on the outcome of the game. I needed to manage relationships with adults on both sides of the court as well as provide the referees with the information they needed as the game progressed. My impact didn't just end at the scorer's table. I also was responsible for helping my team run drills, shagging balls, assisting the coaches at practices, accessing our athletic trainer when needed, refilling water, managing and insuring line judges were present to work the varsity game and the list goes on. My greatest responsibility however was team morale. I worked diligently to encourage my teammates after a play went wrong. I reminded them of their contribution to the team and sought to "hype them up". I was a friendly, smiling, and encouraging face for them to turn to in stressful moments. I realized I was "just the manager". Over the past 4 years, I have diminished my role as a manager and excused my contribution to the team, but with the help of my coaches and family, I now know I have an equally important role. I will take what I learned on the sidelines of the volleyball court into my future career as a teacher. As a manager, I developed good time management skills and learned how to manage multiple personalities at a time. I became detail-oriented and learned how to focus in a highly stressful environment. But most importantly I learned to celebrate the kids that often go unseen. The kids who are in the background. Athletes are great but it takes more than one person to make a team and it's not always just the ones you see on the court. I will now see my future students, their potential, and their gifts and how they can use that to contribute to all teams, clubs, school activities, and their community. Volleyball taught me a lot but perhaps its greatest lesson was to just get out there and step out of your comfort zone and be seen!

"A Good education can change anyone but a great teacher can change everything." This quote inspires me because I want to help myself grow and develop the traits that I already possess and also help the students I will one day teach. I believe that I have been truly called to become a teacher from a very young age. Starting in the 7th grade, I had the opportunity to begin to be a teaching assistant in my church's preschool room. I have learned many valuable things during this time which have helped me in my pursuit to become a teacher. I realized this opportunity blessed me with truly seeing the calling on my life from a young age. I was being called to lead and pursue a lifetime commitment to learning. Throughout my high school years, I have dedicated myself and my time to not only volunteering at my church but also to many activities within my school and my community. I have also worked part-time since the age of 14 years old to prepare myself for the costly venture that college would one day be. I have been a part of numerous clubs such as the S.A.D.D club & CRS club (Catholic Relief Services). I was given the chance to represent my school through the Junior Leadership program of Greater Hazleton. I also was chosen to be a HOBY representative for my high school (Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership) and student ambassador, each of which allowed me to be a leader for/in my school. Lastly, I have been the girls' volleyball manager for the past 4 years. The latter position is one prime example of where I stepped out of my comfort zone and pursued a goal I had for myself that did not come easily and that required true dedication and work. I was not an athlete growing up, at all! However, I wanted a chance to become involved and felt sports was a natural way to make connections. This proved to be one of my bravest steps as a high school student. I had no prior knowledge of volleyball whatsoever, but I still chose to take a chance and learned the steps to manage the team. Some of my responsibilities included keeping the statistics for the team, keeping scores, interacting with referees, managing the libero sheet, managing rosters and lineups for both teams and keeping track of substitutions for both teams throughout each game. My involvement with the team has prepared me to manage multiple things at one time. It has been a challenge to balance volleyball responsibilities with my academic responsibilities. Being a manager prepared me to learn ways to manage my time and become responsible for more than just myself, which I believe will help me as a teacher one day within the classroom setting as well as a college student. Lastly, I believe that nothing worth doing comes without some sacrifice. I have been blessed with many who have seen my potential across all sections of my life, from my parents to our volleyball coaches who entrusted me with the manager position, to my church community, to my school community, and my peers who I hope I have helped become the best versions of themselves on the court each game. All of the opportunities that have been given to me helped me to learn and grow. I am confident with the financial assistance, of a scholarship such as this, I will continue to not only develop my strengths and talents but those of my community through becoming a teacher.

"Behind every good woman was first, a Father who loved and believed in her." I believe all kids need to experience the love and support of a significant person in their life. Some kids may not be blessed with a father (or mother) who loves them unconditionally and without reserve, therefore I want to be THAT person for my future students as I begin my journey into becoming a teacher. I hope to use the love and the example given to me by not only my earthly father (who is amazing) but also by my Heavenly Father, as well. I have been volunteering within my church since 7th grade. I have been assisting in the nursery and preschool rooms of my church, as well as during vacation bible school for many years. I have been named a student ambassador at my High School (Marian Catholic) where I have been blessed to assist our elementary students, in our partner schools, with creating projects and assimilating eventually into the high school setting. I have a true passion for teaching and inspiring kids to see the best within them. I have fallen in love with the idea of being able to inspire kids to not only learn about God and their chosen passions but to develop within themselves the qualities that will one day change this world! I am optimistic that the next generation of women (and men) is going to change the world, and I want a front seat to it all! I have had teachers my entire school career identify strengths and characteristics that they have seen in me, that I have struggled to see within myself. I think one of the greatest "superpowers" on this earth is to be able to truly see someone's potential. I want to uncover the "diamonds in the rough" in my future students and pray for those future students who will one day cross my path. I want to leave each student with a feeling of being loved, seen, invested in and empowered to chase after their dreams no matter what their home situation may look like. We all have immense potential and my goal will be to always allow my future students to see that! Becoming a teacher and pursuing my dream career has all been made possible by the love that has been poured into me from the gifts and talents the Lord has blessed me with, as well as from my family, and many other community sources in my life (school, church, Girl Scouts etc.). I want to use all that has been given to me, to ignite within my future students the power that lies within each one of them, to make a difference in this world! Each generation strives to do it better than the previous one, and I am excited to think that I may be able to one day teach a group of individuals who will far exceed anything that I have been able to accomplish. Being a teacher and inspiring the youth of tomorrow is one of the greatest gifts, I believe I can be given. It's now time for me to take the gifts and blessings given to me and pour them out onto a new generation.

Becoming a teacher has been my lifelong dream of mine for as long as I can remember! I began my "teaching career" already, in the 7th grade! You may be asking how that is possible, but I was granted an opportunity within my church to be a teaching assistant in our preschool classroom. I was quite scared and doubted my abilities back then but now, I have found that it is truly what I have always been called to do! I began assisting my youth ministry team as I transitioned into middle school. I have spent the last 6 years learning and growing with my pre-school kids. I volunteer in the preschool room 2 times a month. Hearing the sounds of their little voices calling MY name has truly inspired me. I have a true desire to continue to shape others and help them find their love for learning and growing as the unique individuals that they each are. I am responsible for planning some lessons and then implementing them in the classroom. I help and assist with character building and have discovered, much to my surprise, that this opportunity has also developed some of my character traits. I have developed the ability to listen to the kids that I am blessed to work with. I have learned how to be patient and how to really see the kids I work with and what they need to grow in their faith. I have learned how to manage my own time as well as begun to teach these little ones how to manage their own tasks. I have been blessed to watch them catch onto a concept that has sparked in me, my excitement in learning as well. I have learned the art of classroom management as well. Managing a group of 4-year-olds is no small task! I have learned ways to garner their attention while also making it fun and helping them enjoy their time with us each week. I have learned a lot about emotional regulation. I strive to teach the kids in our room how to use calming techniques to help them keep their composure but also be able to focus on what they need to learn. This time, in the preschool room, has truly inspired and sparked my interest in being a person that will not only be their teacher but also be a friendly and loving presence in their little lives. Throughout my journey as a student, I have been equally as blessed to be on the receiving end of some of those qualities and characteristics I mentioned above. I have been accepted and seen for who I am as an individual. I have had teachers "see me" for who I am as a person and grow me into the young woman I am today. I aim to create that same type of atmosphere, for my own students one day. I genuinely believe that education and teachers provide students with the ability to unlock all of their potential and discover traits that they did not even know existed within them. In conclusion, becoming a teacher is not merely a career choice for me; it is a calling driven by a genuine passion for teaching and a deep desire to shape the lives of young learners.