I've grown up in church all of my life. But I've never recently felt a strong connection to God until this past month of June. I was born on June 10, 2004. June is my favorite month for obvious reasons. My birthday, out of school, hot and sunny all day long. June has never failed me. Always exceeded my expectations. But this past June I turned nineteen and my life took a startling turn downhill. God tested my faith and devotion to him in crashing, seemingly, neverending waves. On May 27, my brother's dad passed away. I hadn't been close with him in years but I still felt the loss like a heavy weight in my chest. I looked up to the sky and asked why God had taken him away from me, but I was provided with no response. They had his funeral the day before my birthday and I could not attend. Not to mention, the anniversary of my granny dying was on June 4th. I was experiencing loss like never before. After my birthday I attended church camp for high schoolers as a camp counselor. On the second night, I was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues for the first time. I was slammed with emotions I couldn't understand nor explain. One thing was very clear to me though, God touched me that night and I have felt his presence and guidance ever since. When I returned home from camp I was in a car accident. An older couple ran a red light and T-boned my mom's car on the driver's side. Thankfully, I only bruised my knee. That accident sparked tension between my mother and me that ended in her putting me out of her home. She continued to cut off my phone, remove her insurance from my therapy, cut off the credit card I used for groceries and other items at school and asked when I was removing all my stuff from the house. I tried to apologize three times throughout our interactions and explain myself. Attempt to have a conversation. Attempt to mend the wound. But she wouldn't hear it. She would only insult me and demand apologies I'd already given. But she deemed them "not heartfelt." She wanted obedience but I have a right to speak my mind. I questioned why my mother would be okay not having a relationship with her only daughter. But God was there. He mended the wound in my heart and gave me peace and acceptance. He showed me the path ahead and reassured me that I was protected. He was my guiding light. When the waves threatened to drown me he was the lighthouse showing me the way to shore. Any normal person would have fallen. They would have drowned. But I worship God. I pray to him and I thank him and more than anything, I trust in him. I don't question. I don't doubt. I have surrendered fully to his power and in return, he has blessed me. I have not struggled. I have not wanted. I know peace.

Growing up, I didn't like school. My mother had me and my older brother at a young age with almost zero support from our fathers. Because of this, we had to move around constantly. I don't have any strong memories of elementary school but I did go to at least three, as well as two middle schools and two high schools. I was almost always the 'new girl' and it made it hard to fit in. Especially when the students had known each other their whole lives and already had bonds and connections with one another. I found myself trying to find my place over and over again. It only became harder as I got older. Middle school was the worse time in my life. I recently moved with my dad to South Carolina from Georgia. Not only was I at a new school - starting in the middle of the year - but now I was in a different state. The kids were mean and unwelcoming and worst of all, my teachers were oblivious. I was bullied and none of my teachers noticed. I'd never felt so alone in those three years. I moved back to Georgia for high school. Once again in the middle of the year. I was adjusting to a new home life and a new school life. While ninth grade wasn't that bad, tenth grade was my worst year. My mom was having financial troubles again, I was in a toxic relationship and I didn't have many genuine friends. I was drowning and nobody noticed. I'd had more than a few breakdowns at school and none of my teachers checked on me. None asked if I needed help, which I desperately did. I found myself on a sinking ship with no life raft. So, I hated school. Which is why I want to be a teacher. All your life, schools shove down your throat how you can rely on your teachers. How they are there to support you and help you. But I'd gone years with no support from mine. It created the mindset that school was the last place I wanted to be because I wasn't safe, loved or supported. I chose this career for myself because I never want kids to go through what I went through. I was a child, struggling to hold on and I never want anyone to know that feeling. My hardships made me realize that my heart was meant to be in a classroom. Doing more than just teaching and giving assignments. But to notice when a student is struggling, both in and out of school. To create a safe place for a child that may not have one. I want to provide my students with everything I didn't have. I am only one person but I have a goal of loving and protecting my students. I wished that my teachers helped me when I needed them most. I do not regret anything I've gone through because it put me on this path. It placed me in a position where I can make the most out of my life and I can't imagine myself doing anything else.

Growing up, I didn't like school. My mother had me and my older brother at a young age with almost zero support from our fathers. Because of this, we had to move around constantly. I don't have any strong memories of elementary school but I did go to at least three, as well as two middle schools and two high schools. I was almost always the 'new girl' and it made it hard to fit in. Especially when the students had known each other their whole lives and already had bonds and connections with one another. I found myself trying to find my place over and over again. It only became harder as I got older. Middle school was the worse time in my life. I recently moved with my dad to South Carolina from Georgia. Not only was I at a new school - starting in the middle of the year - but now I was in a different state. The kids were mean and unwelcoming and worst of all, my teachers were oblivious. I was bullied and none of my teachers noticed. I'd never felt so alone in those three years. I moved back to Georgia for high school. Once again in the middle of the year. I was adjusting to a new home life and a new school life. While ninth grade wasn't that bad, tenth grade was my worst year. My mom was having financial troubles again, I was in a toxic relationship and I didn't have many genuine friends. I was drowning and nobody noticed. I'd had more than a few breakdowns at school and none of my teachers checked on me. None asked if I needed help, which I desperately did. I found myself on a sinking ship with no life raft. So, I hated school. Which is why I want to be a teacher. All your life, schools shove down your throat how you can rely on your teachers. How they are there to support you and help you. But I'd gone years with no support from mine. It created the mindset that school was the last place I wanted to be because I wasn't safe, loved or supported. I chose this career for myself because I never want kids to go through what I went through. I was a child, struggling to hold on and I never want anyone to know that feeling. My hardships made me realize that my heart was meant to be in a classroom. Doing more than just teaching and giving assignments. But to notice when a student is struggling, both in and out of school. To create a safe place for a child that may not have one. I want to provide my students with everything I didn't have. I am only one person but I have a goal of loving and protecting my students. I wished that my teachers helped me when I needed them most. I do not regret anything I've gone through because it put me on this path. It placed me in a position where I can make the most out of my life and I can't imagine myself doing anything else.

Growing up, I didn't like school. My mother had me and my older brother at a young age with almost zero support from our fathers. Because of this, we had to move around constantly. I don't have any strong memories of elementary school but I did go to at least three, as well as two middle schools and two high schools. I was almost always the 'new girl' and it made it hard to fit in. Especially when the students had known each other their whole lives and already had bonds and connections with one another. I found myself trying to find my place over and over again. It only became harder as I got older. Middle school was the worse time in my life. I recently moved with my dad to South Carolina from Georgia. Not only was I at a new school - starting in the middle of the year - but now I was in a different state. The kids were mean and unwelcoming and worst of all, my teachers were oblivious. I was bullied and none of my teachers noticed. I'd never felt so alone in those three years. I moved back to Georgia for high school. Once again in the middle of the year. I was adjusting to a new home life and a new school life. While ninth grade wasn't that bad, tenth grade was my worst year. My mom was having financial troubles again, I was in a toxic relationship and I didn't have many genuine friends. I was drowning and nobody noticed. I'd had more than a few breakdowns at school and none of my teachers checked on me. None asked if I needed help, which I desperately did. I found myself on a sinking ship with no life raft. So, I hated school. Which is why I want to be a teacher. All your life, schools shove down your throat how you can rely on your teachers. How they are there to support you and help you. But I'd gone years with no support from mine. It created the mindset that school was the last place I wanted to be because I wasn't safe, loved or supported. I chose this career for myself because I never want kids to go through what I went through. I was a child, struggling to hold on and I never want anyone to know that feeling. My hardships made me realize that my heart was meant to be in a classroom. Doing more than just teaching and giving assignments. But to notice when a student is struggling, both in and out of school. To create a safe place for a child that may not have one. I want to provide my students with everything I didn't have. I am only one person but I have a goal of loving and protecting my students. I wished that my teachers helped me when I needed them most. I do not regret anything I've gone through because it put me on this path. It placed me in a position where I can make the most out of my life and I can't imagine myself doing anything else.

I've aspired to be a teacher since I was in middle school. My passion for teaching came my from my love of learning. Especially English Language Arts which is my favorite subject. I love reading and writing and matching that love is children. My grandmother had ten grandkids and I am her oldest granddaughter. I spent a lot of time babysitting and playing with my younger cousins and though family can be frustrating I loved them. I loved playing teacher with them and showing them how to read, write, add and much more. I also have a desire to open up a whole new world of learning. Most people, by the time they get to high school, are checked out. They're ready to just do the work and leave with no real drive (other than graduation) for being there. I want to create an environment - starting at a young age - to want to come to school. Children are sponges. They soak up everything around them and when they come in my class I want it to be full of bright colors and learning materials. I want them to be excited about waking up every morning and going home and sharing what they learned. Lots of public schools don't have the necessary material to really give children a full immersed learning environment. And a lot of the time it's because teachers don't care enough to speak up about it. They do the bare minimum to say they 'taught' and move on. But the early years of brain development are important and the knowledge younger children learn at the age even more so. I'm passionate about becoming a teacher because I want to become one that I always wanted. I want students to love my class. I want parents to love my class. I want fellow teachers to love and want to do something similar. I'm passionate about becoming a teacher because I love children and I want to invite them into world where learning is fun and exciting. I'm passionate about becoming a teacher because the world is filled with so much information and so many exciting things and I want to share it in the best way that I can. I see myself teaching for the rest of my life and I am so excited about it. I can't wait to have my own classroom and desk and students who love being there. Teaching isn't just a career for me it's a future and I can't wait to make it a reality.

My name is Whitney Taylor and I am a graduating senior. I'm a Varsity cheerleader and I work at Forever 21. I have three siblings, two brothers and a sister. My older brother is currently in college and I have a younger brother who is in fifth grade. My baby sister is in first grade. I'm active in my church and I love volunteering within my mom's sorority. My favorite subject is English Language Arts because I've always loved to read and write I want to attend college and earn a degree in Early Childhood Education. I have a passion for teaching and I absolutely adore children. They love learning new things and they soak up information like a sponge. They're bright and excited and see the world like only children can. Generations of incredible people start in Early Childhood and it would be an honor to start their journeys. After ten to fifteen years in Early Childhood I would like to become a professor. I feel as though I would have enough knowledge of teaching in Early Childhood that I can begin teaching college students. Good teachers are important in all grade levels. In my own classes I know of teachers who only want to teach because they have a class to control. They are not interested in enhancing anyone's lives. But having good teachers in Early Childhood is absolutely necessary. I want to create teachers who love children and have a passion for teaching. Who want to walk into a classroom everyday and be excited. They should love their students like their own and enrich their lives every single day. Teaching won't just be a job for me. It'll be a lifestyle. I want to impact the young and old. I want younger children to love to come to school. To be excited about what they are going to learn and take it home to their parents. I want parents to be excited to send their kids to school because they know they are getting quality education and their kids are having fun. I want to teach teachers to create classrooms full of excitement and wonder. Their classrooms should feel like a second home and their students like kids of their own. School can be such a positive and fun place with the right principles. That's my passion. That's what I want to do with my future and create with my education.