Growing up in a military family, especially with a father who dedicated 20 years of service to the Air Force, was a great experience that showed me the challenges and joys that come with a life of commitment. My father, who joined the Air Force in 1987, carried on a family tradition of military service. This provided our family with a stable lifestyle but also showed me and my brother the value of discipline, resilience, and patriotism. Even though it seems trivial, one memory of my childhood completely encapsulates my father's character and the value that he helped to instill in me and my younger brother. I was young, too young to remember the specifics of my father's stations around the globe, but this one thing remained etched into my memory. I was around 3 or 4 years old and we were celebrating my birthday. It was a very windy day and I was holding my birthday balloon. I ran outside holding the balloon and eventually, the balloon slipped from my hands and began floating away into the sky. I watched it float higher and higher beyond my reach. Seeing me in distress, my father came up beside me and promised me that he would fly a helicopter up there and get it back for me. Of course, something like that would never happen but on that day that was all I needed to hear. I was comforted and filled with pride in my father's abilities. I believe that his promise was never actually about the balloon itself but more about my father's commitment to his family's happiness and his ability to make light out of a sad or distressing situation, which are all qualities that are needed for military service as well as raising a family. Even though this memory is so simple, it speaks volumes about the kind of person my father is. His commitment to his duties in the Air Force was the same as his commitment to his family. He taught me that dedication extends to every part of your life. His promise to retrieve the balloon showed his endless love and the lengths that he was willing to go to bring happiness and security to his family and his country. My father's career was about the values that he lived by and imparted to his family. He showed me that service is about making sacrifices and that dedication to one's responsibilities is what defines a person's character. This lesson has stayed with me throughout my entire life. It has shaped my understanding of commitment and service and has guided me in many different ways in my own life. My father's promise to fly in a helicopter to fetch my balloon was an incredibly small moment in my life yet it left a lasting impact. I believe that this is a statement of his influence, love, and dedication as a parent and veteran.

I will start by giving you a little background information on myself. I am a junior at Southern Arkansas University and the son of a retired Air Force Sergeant, I aspire to become a middle or high school teacher specializing in history and geography. I believe that teaching offers me the perfect platform to share my love of history with younger generations. This coming semester I will have the opportunity to co-teach history and geography at Camden Fairview School District. This experience will reinforce my commitment to education and allow me to gain practical experience in the field. However, the path to this realization was challenging. In my first couple of years of college, I faced several pretty large setbacks that would eventually test my resilience and dedication to my collegiate studies. Being enrolled in demanding math and history courses, I found myself struggling to keep up with the volume of assignments, reading, and the complexity of the material. For the first time in my academic career, I felt entirely overwhelmed and doubted my ability to succeed. The challenge would eventually reach its peak when I received poor grades on a couple of major midterm exams. This failure was a massive blow to my confidence and made me question if I was cut out for a career as a history teacher. Instead of looking at this in a bad light, I decided to confront this setback and seek advice from my professors, who gave me valuable feedback and different study strategies. I also eventually formed a small study group with friends and classmates which allowed us all to support each other and learn together. Through this experience, I eventually learned the importance of adaptability and seeking help when it is needed. Thanks to my professors and friends, I developed better study habits and better time management skills, which improved my performance in that course and also in courses that followed it. Most importantly though, I learned that setbacks are not failures but opportunities for growth and learning. This is something that I would love to teach my students in my future classroom. I want to equip my students with the idea that failing is not entirely a bad thing, and that when you fail you have opportunities to grow from it. In conclusion, my passion for teaching history is not only about understanding the past but is about shaping the future by the way I will teach my students. Through teaching, I will be able to share my passion for history with my students, helping them to appreciate the value of it in their own lives and in the world around them. By using my own experience with setbacks and failures, I hope to encourage a new generation to learn and have confidence in their abilities and not feel despair when something does not go perfectly the first time. Hopefully, I can inspire a new generation and they will be able to apply my lessons to help create a better future for us all.

My name is Zachary Strickland, and I am currently a junior at Southern Arkansas University majoring in history education. Here’s a little about myself. My involvement in community service runs deep, collaborating on fundraising and donation drives with numerous local organizations. Notably, I've supported Rainbow of Challenges, which assists those with physical and mental disabilities, and orchestrated a successful "fill the truck" event for our local dog shelter, gathering essential supplies like dog food and beds. Additionally, I've personally adopted two dogs with medical conditions from shelters, a testament to my commitment to service and compassion. I love music, I play piano, trumpet, and have taught myself electric guitar over the past few years. However, one of my biggest loves is my lifelong passion for learning about history! Ever since high school, history has always been my favorite subject. I very clearly remember being incredibly fascinated with history. My teachers would bring the subject to life with their engaging storytelling and presentations that began my interest in the subject itself. This initial spark is what I believe ignited an intense passion for history that has grown even stronger since I have taken more in-depth classes in college. My career aspiration is to become a middle or high school history teacher. I believe that teaching is the perfect way to share my love of history with others and inspire the next generation of students just like I was inspired. By teaching history, I hope not only to give knowledge to my students but also to help encourage critical thinking and allow them to understand the world more deeply. I want my students to see history not just as a series of past events, but as something that shapes our present and future. I believe that understanding history is incredibly important for society. It allows us to learn from our past mistakes, appreciate the progress we've made, and recognize recurring patterns. For example, studying the civil rights movement has given me a greater understanding of the struggles for equality and justice in today's world. By looking at historical events and figures, we can gain very valuable insights into the challenges we face today and hopefully develop more effective solutions to these challenges. In addition to attending college, I will be gaining practical experience in the field through an internship at Camden Fairview School District, as a co-teacher who specializes in history and geography. This opportunity will allow me to apply my knowledge in a real-world setting. I'll work alongside experienced teachers and interact with students every day, the idea of this has further fueled my commitment to becoming a history teacher. My personal goal for my classroom is to create an environment where my students will want to explore history and draw conclusions about current events. I want to equip my students with what they need to think critically about our world and have them learn to appreciate the importance of not only our history but the world's history. I also believe that by showing my love for history I will make a lasting impact on them and help them become informed members of society. In conclusion, my passion for history has been one of the biggest driving forces in my life, shaping my educational journey and my career aspirations. Through teaching, I hope to share my passion with others and inspire the next generation of students to appreciate the value of history. I'm excited about this opportunity, and I am excited to contribute to the field of education and make a positive difference in the lives of my students.

Growing up in a strong military family with my dad, uncles, grandfathers, and cousins all serving in various branches of the military, I've seen firsthand how PTSD can deeply affect someone's life. The most profound impact of PTSD I have witnessed is my Uncle Rob. As a reserve Navy Seabee, he was seriously injured during a convoy mission in Afghanistan, when his vehicle was hit by a rocket propelled grenade. He was thrown 20 feet out of his vehicle by the explosion and sustained multiple injuries. He still struggles daily with those injuries, and the resulting neurological and mental health issues. Unfortunately, this was not the only cause of his PTSD. Another significant factor was the tactic used by Afghan soldiers of stopping US convoys by placing innocent children in their path and then firing on them. These and other types of atrocities as well as the constant barrage of bombings and gunfire caused just as much psychological trauma. His experience with service-related PTSD has been a journey that has taught me lessons about empathy and the importance of direct support. Through his struggles, I've gained a much deeper understanding of this condition and the impact that it has on many veterans and their loved ones. The biggest thing I learned is the different things that can trigger an episode of PTSD. For my uncle, any loud noise, medical helicopters flying overhead or the presence of crying children can trigger his symptoms. I believe that when you can understand these triggers you can create an environment where they feel more understood, safe and protected, whether by providing a quiet space or offering different alternative therapies, such as music or art therapy. My experience has also shown me the importance of destigmatizing PTSD and being able to have open dialogues about mental health within the veteran community. Too often veterans feel ashamed or are reluctant to seek help due to the misconceptions that surround mental health. By sharing my uncle's story, I aim to challenge these stigmas and encourage veterans to seek the support they need, whether through peer support groups, counseling services, educational workshops, or even something as simple as direct family support. One of the most important things that you can do is understand the significance of PTSD. This first step can help shed light on the realities of living with PTSD. By breaking down the stigma that surrounds mental health in the military community, we can begin to remove the idea of veterans feeling like they shouldn’t seek help. In terms of supporting veterans like my uncle, I believe in the power of personalized care. This means understanding that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to PTSD. Each individual will require a unique combination of different types of therapies or interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy, medications or alternative therapies. There are and will continue to be lots of different approaches that can help veterans cope with PTSD and help to reclaim their lives. In conclusion, I hope to use my experiences with my uncle's PTSD to help make a positive difference in the lives of other veterans who are currently suffering. Through direct support, I will be a voice for those who struggle to use their own and a source of hope for those who are in need. I believe that as a community if we can work together, we can work towards a future where veterans living with PTSD receive the care, understanding, and support that they very much deserve.

I have been drawn to the field of teaching for a very long time by a passion for learning and a desire to positively impact other people. Throughout my academic journey, especially in high school, I was fortunate enough to have educators who inspired and challenged me. These inspirations ignited a great appreciation within me for the power of education. One teacher, in particular, stands out as one of my main inspirations for my decision to pursue a career in teaching. Mrs. Foster, my middle and high school English teacher, not only helped me learn and imparted valuable knowledge to me, but also had a very nurturing and inclusive classroom environment where every student felt valued and empowered to succeed. Mrs. Foster's enthusiasm for literature was very prevalent in her classroom. We often had lively discussions, and she ignited a love of learning and teaching within me. She had a great ability to connect with each student on a personal level, she recognized each of our unique strengths and changed her classroom style to better fit and work with our talents. As I look back on my high school life, Mrs. Foster not only served as a mentor and a role model, but she also gave me many important life lessons about empathy, resilience, and the power of expressing myself. Her belief in my potential gave me hope and eventually empowered me to overcome some challenges and pursue my passions with more confidence and determination. One moment that I remember more than all the others stands out to me and is a testament to Mrs. Foster's impact on my life. During a particularly difficult period in high school, I struggled a lot with self-doubt and uncertainty. I'm certain that she could tell; she took the time to listen and offer words of encouragement and gave me her unwavering support. Her belief in me never stopped and served as a light to guide the way during a time when I was very self-conscious and full of doubt. Ultimately, my interest in pursuing a career in teaching stems from the fact that education can be a catalyst for empowerment. Teaching is a way to help students think critically, cultivate empathy, and instill a love of learning. By giving future generations the knowledge, skills, and confidence that they need to navigate a very complex world, I hope to contribute to the creation of a more compassionate society. My experience with teachers like Mrs. Foster has fueled my passion for teaching and showed me how effective education can be in the transformation of people's lives. I am very eager to start a career in teaching where I can inspire and empower future generations of students so that they can reach their full potential, just as she did for me.

Growing up in a military family has given me a great appreciation for history and its significance in the creation of our modern world. My father, a retired Air Force member, is a history enthusiast like myself. I would say that he instilled in me a deep curiosity about events, figures, and stories that have shaped our civilization. I believe that His passion for the past, combined with our family's own experiences, created the foundation for my journey into the field of history. As I currently pursue a degree in education to become a history teacher, I am driven by my desire to share my love of history and inspire future generations to appreciate its relevance and importance. Through my studies, I have learned many valuable things about how past events, cultural dynamics, and political movements are interconnected to today's modern world. I see history not exactly as a line of events but more as a web of human experiences that allows us to understand where we came from and in turn, allows us to understand the world. I will begin co-teaching as an undergraduate student next semester and I understand the importance of making sure that I create a learning environment that will allow for every student to feel value from my course. I understand the importance of accommodating students from diverse backgrounds and those with disabilities, making sure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in my classroom is a major driving factor for me. As I look ahead to my future career as a history teacher, I have a vision of empowering my students to think critically, engage with different perspectives, and form their own opinions. In today's world, there is plenty of misinformation and rhetoric on social media and things similar. I believe that the ability to critically evaluate different sources and create informed conclusions is more important than ever. I aspire to make sure that my students have the skills and knowledge they need to navigate a complex world with confidence. My long-term goal is to be a teacher who not only shares my knowledge but also creates a sense of curiosity in my students. I believe that by teaching them how to research, analyze, and interpret historical information, I can help them become informed and engaged members of society so they will be able to contribute positively to our world. In doing so, I hope to honor the legacy of America's past and present military members and make a meaningful difference in the lives of future generations. In conclusion, my journey into the field of history was shaped by my upbringing in a military family and my aspirations to become an educator. By sharing my passion for history, fostering understanding in my students, and empowering future generations, I plan to inspire a new generation of learners who are equipped to understand our complex world with wisdom, knowledge, and insight.

My views on history have been heavily influenced by my background as the son of a veteran. Growing up as the child of an Air Force veteran has shaped my views and perspective and fueled my aspirations when it comes to teaching students about history as I am currently a junior at Southern Arkansas University studying education with an emphasis on history. While I was mostly too young to remember all the memories of my father's actual deployments, he tells great stories about fun enjoyable experiences he had overseas in the Philippines. These stories have left a mark on me, and despite the challenges that are guaranteed when one commits to military service, my father's ability to remember the fun times and tell funny stories is amazing to me. I often find myself drawn to the connection of history, education, and military service. It is with this connection that I see an opportunity to teach more effectively. My course work in my future classroom will serve as the path to merge my and many other families' experiences to create a more dynamic learning and classroom environment where my students will be able to connect with real history on a personal level just like I can. The connection to my family and the military has constantly been shaping my goals within the field of education. Those stories that my father and uncle would tell, made me very curious about how things worked in a broader scope. This curiosity and thinking led me to my love of history and the understanding of how the world used to work, and even how the world works today. My goals in education are not only to make history interesting to the students but also to make it engaging and to allow the students to create their own individual thoughts on different societal subjects. As I continue to progress in college, I continue to stay committed to keeping these values that I've inherited from my father, uncle, and all my other veteran family members. I recently came to learn that the experiences that have been passed down through my family have been serving as a foundation for my future career, goals, and aspirations. Those experiences have also been used to make sure that my teaching as a future student will not only be very beneficial to the student but also carry a deeper, more personal education. To sum up everything I've previously stated, my journey through the education field as the son of an Air Force veteran has influenced my ideals in teaching history. As I move forward and continue to learn more about the world, I am constantly driven by my father's commitment to our country and to integrate the values into my teaching, making sure that the past is not just studied by my students but brought to life for the benefit of many.