Hello, my name is Victoria Washington, and all my life, I have wanted to be a teacher. There has never been a doubt in my mind. Teachers make a difference to every student, and I wanted to be a part of that. My dream is to teach kids and provide them with a life outside of home life, which may or may not be good. Diversity in teachers while I was younger was rare. Growing up in a predominantly white area and predominantly white schools all my life, I never had representation in teachers growing up. My self-image was damaged by the little to no representation that I grew up with. I grew up wondering why there were no teachers that looked like me and it left me questioning what I could amount to as a young black girl. It took me years to grow my self-confidence and believe in myself. I want to change this, I want to inspire young people of color, especially women of color, that they can be anything and that they matter in this world. I can be an active spark in my community and an advocate for the people of color in Morehead City. I could also bring my teaching career to my church. The church I attend hosts Spanish-speaking services and it would be an honor to be able to attend those services and serve them as well. I also am an active volunteer in the National Honor Society and could use my ESL minor to serve the Hispanic community in my town. I could also bring music into my students’ lives as I am in music and choral ensembles. With this scholarship, I can put more energy into my classes without much financial burden. I also plan to move to high-need areas where children desperately need teachers and even more than that. I sympathize more than anyone with these children as I was a high-need child in a not-so-high-need area. To be a teacher to students like these would be a dream come true, as I would grow more as a person with them. This amazing opportunity would help me reach my goals by giving me a financial boost that I wouldn't have had otherwise. To be an elementary teacher, specializing in ESL, has grown over the last few years as I've seen how the pandemic and constant natural disasters have negatively influenced many lives. Receiving this scholarship would lower my cost of college and help me save to move to start my teaching career in places where I am needed most. Teaching the kids in these high-need areas English would make a big difference in their lives. With the money I receive, I will be able to put more focus towards making a small, but very important change in the world.

All my life, I have wanted to be a teacher. There has never been a doubt in my mind. Teachers make a difference to every student, and I wanted to be a part of that. My dream is to teach kids and provide them with a life outside of home life, which may or may not be good. As a child growing up in a predominantly white area, there was no representation for a young black girl like me. I want to change this, even if I am just one person. My dream as a teacher is to become an ESL teacher for kids in poorer-level schools. Everyone deserves a chance to have a better life, even as a child. As a teacher, you become a child's second or third parent/guardian. As an elementary education teacher, you are teaching young kids in their peak brain development years. What you teach a child will impact them forever. I want the kids I teach to grow up knowing that they matter and that they can do anything because I did not. I am passionate about teaching, I not only want to teach them what's in their curriculum but also important life skills. Self-esteem, especially in young girls, plays a very important role in how a child's mental health fares, as well. In the classroom, we would learn about shapes, colors, numbers, and the alphabet, but we wouldn't learn how to deal with emotions or how to talk things out. I cannot recall being prepared for any life situations going into school. One teacher that I had through the years of high school changed my life forever. My Spanish 1 teacher would share stories and life lessons. She would talk about how she travelled to South America and learned the language. I decided during her class, that I wanted to be like her. I wanted to travel to South America and teach kids English all over the Americas. There are heartbreaking stories all over the world about kids who have to drop out of school and work with their families to just survive. I want to be a teacher who will go to even more lengths to teach their kids, even beyond the classroom. No child deserves to miss out on growing and learning in a school with their peers. I want my students to thrive and become the beautiful next generation I know they will be.

Hello, my name is Victoria Washington, and all my life, I have wanted to be a teacher. There has never been a doubt in my mind. Teachers make a difference to every student, and I wanted to be a part of that. My dream is to teach kids and provide them with a life outside of home life, which may or may not be good. Diversity in teachers while I was younger was rare. Growing up in a predominantly white area and predominantly white schools all my life, I never had representation in teachers growing up. My self-image was damaged by the little to no representation that I grew up with. I grew up wondering why there were no teachers that looked like me and it left me questioning what I could amount to as a young black girl. It took me years to grow my self-confidence and believe in myself. I also grew up in a single-parent household with only my mother. I understand the pain it could cause to children in these homes. I want to provide a second home to kids when they step in my classroom and be another figure they can look up to. I want to inspire young people of color, especially women of color, that they can be anything and that they matter in this world. I can be an active spark in my community and an advocate for the people of color in Morehead City. I could also bring my teaching career to my church. The church I attend hosts Spanish-speaking services and it would be an honor to be able to attend those services and serve them as well. I also am an active volunteer in the National Honor Society and could use my ESL minor to serve the Hispanic community in my town. I could also bring music into my students’ lives as I am in music and choral ensembles. With this scholarship, I can put more energy into my classes without much financial burden. I also plan to move to high-need areas where children desperately need teachers and even more than that. I sympathize more than anyone with these children as I was a high-need child in a not-so-high-need area. To be a teacher to students like these would be a dream come true, as I would grow more as a person with them. This amazing opportunity would help me reach my goals by giving me a financial boost that I wouldn't have had otherwise. To be an elementary teacher, specializing in ESL, has grown over the last few years as I've seen how the pandemic and constant natural disasters have negatively influenced many lives. Receiving this scholarship would lower my cost of college and help me save to move to start my teaching career in places where I am needed most. Teaching the kids in these high-need areas English would make a big difference in their lives. With the money I receive, I will be able to put more focus towards making a small, but very important change in the world.

Hello, my name is Victoria Washington, and all my life, I have wanted to be a teacher. There has never been a doubt in my mind. Teachers make a difference to every student, and I wanted to be a part of that. My dream is to teach kids and provide them with a life outside of home life, which may or may not be good. Diversity in teachers while I was younger was rare. Growing up in a predominantly white area and predominantly white schools all my life, I never had representation in teachers growing up. My self-image was damaged by the little to no representation that I grew up with. I grew up wondering why there were no teachers that looked like me and it left me questioning what I could amount to as a young black girl. It took me years to grow my self-confidence and believe in myself. I also grew up in a single-parent household with only my mother. I understand the pain it could cause to children in these homes. I want to provide a second home to kids when they step in my classroom and be another figure they can look up to. I want to inspire young people of color, especially women of color, that they can be anything and that they matter in this world. I can be an active spark in my community and an advocate for the people of color in Morehead City. I could also bring my teaching career to my church. The church I attend hosts Spanish-speaking services and it would be an honor to be able to attend those services and serve them as well. I also am an active volunteer in the National Honor Society and could use my ESL minor to serve the Hispanic community in my town. I could also bring music into my students’ lives as I am in music and choral ensembles. With this scholarship, I can put more energy into my classes without much financial burden. I also plan to move to high-need areas where children desperately need teachers and even more than that. I sympathize more than anyone with these children as I was a high-need child in a not-so-high-need area. To be a teacher to students like these would be a dream come true, as I would grow more as a person with them. This amazing opportunity would help me reach my goals by giving me a financial boost that I wouldn't have had otherwise. To be an elementary teacher, specializing in ESL, has grown over the last few years as I've seen how the pandemic and constant natural disasters have negatively influenced many lives. Receiving this scholarship would lower my cost of college and help me save to move to start my teaching career in places where I am needed most. Teaching the kids in these high-need areas English would make a big difference in their lives. With the money I receive, I will be able to put more focus towards making a small, but very important change in the world.

Hello, my name is Victoria Washington, and all my life, I have wanted to be a teacher. There has never been a doubt in my mind. Teachers make a difference to every student, and I wanted to be a part of that. My dream is to teach kids and provide them with a life outside of home life, which may or may not be good. Diversity in teachers while I was younger was rare. Growing up in a predominantly white area and predominantly white schools all my life, I never had representation in teachers growing up. My self-image was damaged by the little to no representation that I grew up with. I grew up wondering why there were no teachers that looked like me and it left me questioning what I could amount to as a young black girl. It took me years to grow my self-confidence and believe in myself. I want to change this, I want to inspire young people of color, especially women of color, that they can be anything and that they matter in this world. I can be an active spark in my community and an advocate for the people of color in Morehead City. I could also bring my teaching career to my church. The church I attend hosts Spanish-speaking services and it would be an honor to be able to attend those services and serve them as well. I also am an active volunteer in the National Honor Society and could use my ESL minor to serve the Hispanic community in my town. I could also bring music into my students’ lives as I am in music and choral ensembles. With this scholarship, I can put more energy into my classes without much financial burden. I also plan to move to high-need areas where children desperately need teachers and even more than that. I sympathize more than anyone with these children as I was a high-need child in a not-so-high-need area. To be a teacher to students like these would be a dream come true, as I would grow more as a person with them. This amazing opportunity would help me reach my goals by giving me a financial boost that I wouldn't have had otherwise. To be an elementary teacher, specializing in ESL, has grown over the last few years as I've seen how the pandemic and constant natural disasters have negatively influenced many lives. Receiving this scholarship would lower my cost of college and help me save to move to start my teaching career in places where I am needed most. Teaching the kids in these high-need areas English would make a big difference in their lives. With the money I receive, I will be able to put more focus towards making a small, but very important change in the world.

I have contributed to my community in many ways throughout my high school years, and even before that! I have been volunteering to do mission work at my home church, First Baptist Church through a missions camp called Deep Impact. During this camp, I have spent weeks cleaning up elderly patients' yards, painting churches, providing food at the food pantry, doing Vacation Bible School, and preaching the gospel to the citizens of Carteret County. Coming from a somewhat comfy lifestyle, this opened my eyes to what people are going through within Morehead City. These mission trips provided me with a better understanding of how to help struggling people and I couldn't be more grateful. They also broke me out of my comfort zone many times and built me up into a stronger, more compassionate, young woman. I also had the amazing opportunity to be a part of the National Honor Society. In this society, while volunteering is required, I have found joy in volunteering within my school and signing up whenever I have the chance. I also take part in my school's Tri-M Honor Society where I am the Historian of the club. In Tri-M, we serve our community and our school in creative ways all having to do with music, which is something I love greatly. Another club I am the Historian in is Future Teachers of America or FTA. We volunteer in many areas around Carteret County and specialize in helping children. I have gotten the opportunity to be a princess, build Play-Doh Santas, read books, and just be silly with children. This club is especially beneficial to me, as I aspire to be an ESL Elementary teacher. My club advisor was an amazing woman and teacher. She has impacted me in many ways by giving me special opportunities to use my gifts and pour into my community and the children. I plan to continue doing just that as I grow into my own career as an elementary educator. I want to inspire many young children to grow up and live for something. I want the kids I teach to always remember that they are fearfully and wonderfully made. My contributions to my community have helped so many people, including myself, and I couldn't be more gracious to the club advisors who have given me so much support and so many opportunities during these four years. I plan to continue living for the next generation after me and try to be the best teacher I can possibly be.

All my life, I have wanted to be a teacher. There has never been a doubt in my mind. Teachers make a difference to every student, and I wanted to be a part of that. My dream is to teach kids and provide them with a life outside of home life, which may or may not be good. As a child growing up in a predominantly white area, there was no representation for a young black girl like me. I want to change this, even if I am just one person. My dream as a teacher is to become an ESL teacher for kids in poorer-level schools. Everyone deserves a chance to have a better life, even as a child. As a teacher, you become a child's second or third parent/guardian. As an elementary education teacher, you are teaching young kids in their peak brain development years. What you teach a child will impact them forever. I want the kids I teach to grow up knowing that they matter and that they can do anything because I did not. I am passionate about teaching, I not only want to teach them what's in their curriculum but also important life skills. Self-esteem, especially in young girls, plays a very important role in how a child's mental health fares, as well. In the classroom, we would learn about shapes, colors, numbers, and the alphabet, but we wouldn't learn how to deal with emotions or how to talk things out. I cannot recall being prepared for any life situations going into school. One teacher that I had through the years of high school changed my life forever. My Spanish 1 teacher would share stories and life lessons. She would talk about how she travelled to South America and learned the language. I decided during her class, that I wanted to be like her. I wanted to travel to South America and teach kids English all over the Americas. There are heartbreaking stories all over the world about kids who have to drop out of school and work with their families to just survive. I want to be a teacher who will go to even more lengths to teach their kids, even beyond the classroom. No child deserves to miss out on growing and learning in a school with their peers. I want my students to thrive and become the beautiful next generation I know they will be.

Education plays a crucial role in shaping the future of our youth. As a teacher, I firmly believe that my role extends beyond imparting knowledge and academic skills. My ultimate goal is to inspire and empower the next generation, equipping them with the tools they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. In this essay, I will outline my plan to inspire youth through teaching by fostering a positive learning environment, promoting critical thinking and creativity, and nurturing their personal growth and self-confidence. To inspire youth, it is essential to create a positive and inclusive learning environment. I will establish a classroom culture that values diversity, respect, and collaboration. By encouraging open-mindedness and embracing different perspectives, I will help students develop empathy and appreciation for others. I will promote a safe space where everyone feels comfortable expressing their thoughts and ideas, fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging active participation. In today's complex world, critical thinking and creativity are vital skills for success. I will design lessons that challenge students to think critically, analyze information, and solve problems independently. I will encourage them to explore multiple perspectives, ask probing questions, and develop their own opinions. By incorporating project-based learning, hands-on activities, and real-world connections, I will ignite their creativity and enable them to apply their knowledge in meaningful ways. Inspiring youth goes beyond academic achievements; it involves nurturing their personal growth and self-confidence. I will provide opportunities for students to set goals, reflect on their progress, and celebrate their achievements. Through constructive feedback and encouragement, I will help them develop resilience and a growth mindset, understanding that failure is a stepping stone to success. I will foster a sense of agency by involving students in decision-making processes, allowing them to take ownership of their learning and develop a sense of responsibility. To truly inspire youth, I will build strong relationships with my students based on trust and mutual respect. I will take the time to understand their individual interests, strengths, and challenges, tailoring my teaching to meet their unique needs. By acting as a mentor and role model, I will provide guidance and support, helping them navigate through obstacles and discover their passions. I will actively listen to their concerns, provide a shoulder to lean on, and encourage them to pursue their dreams.

Music has an incredible power to touch our souls, inspire us, and shape our lives. For me, the impact of the K-pop group Stray Kids has been nothing short of life-altering. Through their music, talent, and unwavering determination, Stray Kids has left an indelible mark on my life, transforming me into a better version of myself and providing unwavering support during my darkest moments. Stray Kids' music has served as a guiding light during challenging times, providing comfort, encouragement, and hope. Their lyrics delve into personal struggles, mental health, and the complexities of life, resonating with my own experiences. Whether it is the motivational anthem "Miroh" or the introspective ballad "Voices," their songs have consistently uplifted my spirits and inspired me to persevere through adversity. As a young girl and teenager navigating the complexities of self-discovery, Stray Kids' message of embracing one's true self has been transformative. Through their lyrics and personal stories, the members have openly shared their own journeys of self-acceptance, reminding me that it is okay to be different and to embrace my quirks and insecurities. Their authenticity has given me the courage to be unapologetically myself, encouraging me to embrace my unique qualities and pursue my passions without fear of judgment. The fandom surrounding Stray Kids, known as STAY, has become a supportive and inclusive community. Through online platforms and fan events, I have connected with individuals from around the world who share a common love for the group. This community has provided a sense of belonging and acceptance, offering a space where I can freely express my love for Stray Kids and engage in meaningful discussions about their music and impact. The support and camaraderie within the fandom have fostered lifelong friendships and a sense of unity that transcends geographical boundaries. Stray Kids' journey to success has been an inspiration in itself. From their humble beginnings on a survival reality show to their rise as one of the most influential K-pop groups, their story epitomizes the power of perseverance and resilience. Witnessing their unwavering dedication, hard work, and determination has instilled in me a newfound belief in my own abilities and the importance of staying true. One of the most significant ways Stray Kids has impacted my life is by empowering me to believe in myself and my dreams. Their music is filled with messages of empowerment, encouraging listeners to overcome obstacles, chase their dreams, and create their own path. The group's unwavering passion for their craft and their relentless pursuit of their goals has served as a constant reminder that I, too, can achieve my dreams with dedication and hard work. Stray Kids has taught me that success is not measured by societal standards but by personal fulfillment and happiness. Discovering Stray Kids has opened up a whole new world of Korean culture and language for me. Through their music, I have developed a deeper appreciation for the beauty of the Korean language and the rich cultural heritage it represents. Their performances and music videos showcase traditional elements woven seamlessly with modern concepts, providing a unique blend of artistry that I have come to admire. Stray Kids' impact has sparked my curiosity to learn more about Korean culture and has inspired me to explore other aspects of Korean entertainment and history. Stray Kids has undeniably left an indelible impact on my life, transforming me into a more empowered, self-assured, and resilient individual.

All my life, I have wanted to be a teacher. There has never been a doubt in my mind. Teachers make a difference to every student, and I wanted to be a part of that. My dream is to teach kids and provide them with a life outside of home life, which may or may not be good. As a child growing up in a predominantly white area, there was no representation for a young black girl like me. I want to change this, even if I am just one person. My dream as a teacher is to become an ESL teacher for kids in poorer-level schools. Everyone deserves a chance to have a better life, even as a child. As a teacher, you become a child's second or third parent/guardian. As an elementary education teacher, you are teaching young kids in their peak brain development years. What you teach a child will impact them forever. I want the kids I teach to grow up knowing that they matter and that they can do anything because I did not. I am passionate about teaching, I not only want to teach them what's in their curriculum but also important life skills. Self-esteem, especially in young girls, plays a very important role in how a child's mental health fares, as well. In the classroom, we would learn about shapes, colors, numbers, and the alphabet, but we wouldn't learn how to deal with emotions or how to talk things out. I cannot recall being prepared for any life situations going into school. One teacher that I had through the years of high school changed my life forever. My Spanish 1 teacher would share stories and life lessons. She would talk about how she travelled to South America and learned the language. I decided during her class, that I wanted to be like her. I wanted to travel to South America and teach kids English all over the Americas. There are heartbreaking stories all over the world about kids who have to drop out of school and work with their families to just survive. I want to be a teacher who will go to even more lengths to teach their kids, even beyond the classroom. No child deserves to miss out on growing and learning in a school with their peers. I want my students to thrive and become the beautiful next generation I know they will be.

I believe I overcome adversity with a response filled with positivity. There have been many times in my life where I have felt like I couldn’t do something or I wasn’t enough and over the years I have learned to accept the challenges I am faced with. Due to my struggles as a young black woman growing up in a place where I don’t have many role models, I now try to look on the bright side of things when I am faced with a challenge. I want to bring my positivity and coping skills that I have learned into my community through teaching children. I believe in giving kids the power to make their own decisions and the power to change the outcomes of their life no matter what situation they were born into. I have always wanted to be a positive influence to everyone I’ve encountered throughout my lifetime and I believe teaching would be the perfect way of doing this. The classroom is a wonderful place to teach kids the importance of their feelings and bodies and show them that they really do have a purpose in life. In my community especially, there is a heavy overcast of negativity due to drugs, poverty, and sicknesses. Kids in my community also fall victim to these tragedies, and I believe bringing positive spaces into their lives would impact them greatly. I have a strong desire to push people to be their greatest and I have always been a big cheerleader for others’ success. I never got this support as a child and was constantly pushed down by peers and it affected me, in time I learned how to deal with mr own self image and love. Even though I learned over time, it would have been nice to have that positivity while growing up. Supporting and cheering for people is important especially in their younger years where they are most heavily impacted. Kids need that support to create a good self image and confidence in themselves and their abilities as young leaders of the world. If we don’t raise up the next generation to have confidence and leadership skills, we will not have a next generation worth living in. Raising and helping kids should be the biggest priority a teacher should have and thats exactly what my mission would be as a young educator for the what could be the world’s next president.