I've NEVER seen that before!!! I had just sent a 24-foot chip in from the tall grass. My first-time golfing was with my boss and friend Adam. I was up for a promotion and wanted to spend some time with the boss outside of work. Unfortunately, all my boss did was work and golf. So, a game that was always so slow and for "OLD" people was my opportunity to get in with the boss. So, I set our tee time and borrowed some clubs. Now to preface this the only experience I had playing golf prior to this was mini golf. However, when we arrived at the golf course, I felt somewhat confident. I went third and got a good hold of the ball on the first swing. What started as a good trajectory soon turned into a wide right tailspin! This course was primarily a driving range but did have a 9-hole course as well. I was about 24 feet away from the cup and had no idea what I was doing. So, I pulled out my putter and lined up next to the ball. Laughter was all I heard as my boss and Adam walked towards me. They mercifully pulled out a chipper and gave me a few pointers. Anything resembling confidence had left me. So, I aimed straight at the cup and let it fly. The ball takes off to the right and high. I thought oh great here we go... Then as if I was using the force the ball starts to curve back towards the cup. Hits the green and continues to roll towards the elusive hole! Silence..... as I look back to my partners with open eyes. My boss proceeds to proclaim, "I've NEVER seen that before!!!" I smiled as big as I have ever smiled, and my golfing days had officially begun. Living in Eastern Washington there is not a lot of things to do but golf is one of them. I still play to this day and plan to continue playing till the day I cannot. While I am not a professional or even a competitive golfer, this sport is still important to me. The impact it has had on me has been nothing but positive. Providing a chance to exercise and be outside and make new friends. I will always look back and smile on my first golf experience with my boss and Adam. I am also sure there are so many more adventures and memories to make playing this game I love.

My father used to tell me "Look at a person's heart and you will see more than their face ever will." Gifted children are everywhere but can be hard to find. A lot of times the youth are trying to blend in when they are meant to stand out. I always wanted to have a positive impact on the world. And I believe that is done with one special act at a time. My career goals are to be a teacher and mentor to all of my students. With gifted children it can be particularly difficult. Not only in keeping them engaged or making sure they are learning and pushing their own comfort zones. As well as their social-emotional health needs. In order for me to have the positive impact I am looking for; I need to be able to not only manage a gifted students social need but to make them easier in the long run. This can be particularly difficult because no two students are the same. Every gifted student will have different needs. I remember dealing with a particularly difficult 7th grade student. Shared very little enthusiasm and rarely contributed to the classroom. It looked just like laziness, until a particular day when a riddle was left on the board. The riddle read: What is blue, but you cannot touch, you cannot feel but it is there. Immediately answers the sky. Without hesitation or thinking the young student had the answer. The rest of the 7th grade classroom sat in silence as they pondered the answer. I decided to try another riddle. Without hesitation the student answered again... And again. It was at this point I realized this student was not lazy, he was BORED! Without too much trouble the student moved into a gifted program for mathematics and his performance skyrocketed. It was merely a moment the student showed his real potential, and it could have easily been missed if one wasn't paying attention. I think about this often and realized these gifted students are everywhere and are often neglected in a standardized education system. It is up to educators/ leaders of our schools to make sure that gifted students are given the opportunity to become the best versions of themselves. As I continue in my career to become an educator, I know that keeping my eyes and ears open to when a gifted student comes to life that I have the tools and desire to help them become the best version of themselves they possibly can be. That is my goal and my purpose. And I wish to share that with everyone I can.

I am AAPI. My name is Tyler Cowin and I am from Seoul South Korea. I was adopted when I was 3 years old and have lived in Washington State ever since. I have always known myself as Asian and American. Not one more than the other and I understood that you can be one and the same. I embody AAPI because that is who I am from my heritage and my spirit. I have always known how important one's heritage is. Korean Culture is something I spent a lot of time researching while growing up. The cities and places to visit. As well as the fashion and trends of Seoul. It is so different almost like you are in a different world. I believe there is something inside of me that draws me back to Asian culture. Just a thirst to know and be a part of it. I believe as long as I am capable, I will always be interested in Asian American studies. I embody AAPI because that is who I am from my heritage and my spirit. Human development is my passion. I have been a Personal Trainer for over 10 years. I started doing this job because I wanted to be a service to my community. I have never lost sight of that goal. In 10 years I still love what I do. I now run the Personal Training department at the local Golds Gym as the Fitness Director. When I am training someone, we are trying to be a better version of themselves. This doesn't stop at Just exercise. We want them to be healthier and more confident and overall happier. This can all be achieved with hard work and determination. My role in all this is to be their guide. To be supportive when there are challenges. Also being Fitness Director I am responsible to interview and hire and develop new personal trainers. This was a totally different trial when it came to human development. While it was a very different experience it was also very rewarding. Taking a new hire teaching them and giving them the tools to be as successful as they wanted to be. My first hire as the Director of fitness was Javier. He was a fairly new personal trainer that was looking to start at a new gym. At first things started off slowly as we learned the best practices of personal training. However he quickly became self-sufficient and is now one of our Elite Personal Trainers. To watch and be a part of that development is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. I was passionate and wanted to write this essay because I believe this is about me. Tyler Cowin is Asian American, and I am in the business of human development. My heritage and passion to learn about my culture will continue for as long as I am around. As well as my calling to human development. Whether it be training a client to be the healthiest and happiest versions of themselves. Or training a new employee to be successful and self-sufficient at our club.

Our children are the future of our world. When we are gone from this world the lessons and impression, we leave on the younger generation is all that will be left of us. This is a responsibility and privilege we should not take for granted. My passion for early childhood education comes from my own two boys. Ozias who is 4 and learning and applying new ways of getting in trouble daily, and Oliver who is 16 months and soaking the world in like a sponge. There are a few specific memories I have with my two boys that remind me how important education is especially early in their development. The first was when my boy repeated a curse world that he will no longer forget and the first time the boys were affectionate with each other. The word was an ugly one caused by stepping on a children's toy. It is not a common word used in our house but also not the first time my oldest son probably heard it. However, it was the first time he repeated the word. And my goodness it was with GUSTO!. I immediately regretted my reaction and felt foolish that I was so careless as to say that ugly word in close proximity to my son. I immediately sat my son down and explained that word was not to be repeated and dad would not be repeating it. This was a reminder that your kids will mirror you. The largest part of their education comes from being home and watching me and how I conduct myself. A lesson I learned and continue to focus on. Some boys get it and are kind to each other from the beginning. My boys did not they were tolerant of each other at best. This was concerning to me since our family is such a big part of our lives. I wondered why this was such an issue until I realized no one taught them how to be affectionate with each other. It took only a few tries of my oldest holding his little brother Oliver until we couldn't get Oliver out of his arms. The affection and love were always there it just had to be shown and taught. These are two experiences I had that reminded me and still remind me that educating and role modeling for your children is so important. Especially in their younger years when they are soaking in everything like a sponge and when they are learning to apply what they are learning from you.

TAG!!!!! PASS THE BALL!!! YOU'RE IT!! All the fun games of our youth. While for many this brings back good memories it can also be a painful reminder for some. Along with playground fun there comes bullying. School should be a place where students are safe from violence and bullying. I have watched and been a victim of bullying on the playground and understand how bad it is for a young child. As a teacher I would take every step to help create a safe playground for all of our students. I believe this starts with being properly trained and educated in keeping the students included and making sure no students are left out or being singled out. There are plenty of resources as far as training and teachings that will help teachers keep our playgrounds as safe as possible. Next staying passionate about safety on the playground is also important. One act of violence or bullying that is not properly addressed can have long term effects on young minds. Remembering back to my elementary days there were occasions that I was left out of games, or the last one to be picked to play a game, or even the victim of violence on occasion. Even small acts of bullying and violence can have long term damage. Making a child feel unsafe and that they don't belong when they are at the playground. The playground is a place where all young children should be protected especially from bullies and exclusion. If we as teachers don't take the proper steps to get extensive training in playground supervision through continued training like going to conferences with speakers that are leaders in our field or attending online seminars from specialist that will offer best practices, we won't have the tools necessary to create safe playgrounds. Along with proper education we have to stay extremely passionate about the safety of our children on the playground. It's easy to let young children play and say the mean things they do are just them being kids. However, the little things become cruel and unfair to young children really quickly. Teachers must remain vigilant against cruelty because to the one that is being singled out it is so unfair. So, we must stay focused on playgrounds safety by seeking out and attending speeches and seminars either in person or online to give teachers the tools they need as well as to keep that passion to help students especially by keeping them safe at the playground.