There is no easy answer to why I would like to become a teacher. I grew up in a school that ruined my self-confidence, my mental health, my social confidence, and much much more. All those negatives didn’t change the very few positives I saw that led me to the seat of an Intro to Education and Exceptional Child college class in High-school. My family is full of educators. My Great-Great Aunt was my pre-k teacher and I wasn't even aware at thattime. I was told after I graduated pre-k but it’s still something I think about when it comes to why I want to be a teacher. My Great-grandmother, Uncles and Aunties are educators and do nothing but inspire me and help me achieve my goals and dreams. While I have so many positives in my family, my kindergarten-8th grade school years were not positive at all. I went to Wolf Branch Elementary School, also known as the “Rich White School”. Which isn’t wrong, I knew all too well being one of the only black kids in my grade. I was ostracized by my teachers and classmates. In kindergarten I was one of the only kids that looked like me in my class. Teachers groaned when I asked a question, making me feel dumb like I was stupid for not knowing. I hated feeling dumb, I hated school, and I hated how they acted around me. However, just because they were disrespectful that didn’t make me hate teachers and the idea of being one. It actually grew my desire to be an educator because it allowed me a chance to become the teacher I needed; for my future students. Negative experiences help people grow and learn what NOT to do in a career. I want to take the teachings of my positive and negative experiences to become the best teacher I could possibly be. Realizing this I decided that teaching is what I need to pursue. There are teachers in every generation of my family, I will continue the line. The change I will bring to the world is to be a place where kids think positively about themselves and how they learn. If they struggle they can have a teacher who can help them, if they need help they have teachers who actually teach, if they have a problem they have principals and superintendents who listen and work on the situation. A’s and B’s are what is cool but kids are not discouraged by C’s and D’s but motivated to do way better next time to prove that low grade wrong. That adults do not berate and shame but uplift and encourage. I plan to become an English teacher in Japan. Sadly, Japan has the highest youth suicide rate in Asia (2020) the competitiveness, long schedules, no breaks, and just stress leave many of the youth ages 10-24 to choose to commit suicide as a last resort. I would like to help with the mental health of these kids in any way I can. I will strive to be my students inspiration, their second parent, and their trusted adult. If I can be that non-judgemental adult that my students can talk to, rant to, and cry to; My mission will feel complete. I can raise awareness to fight for positive education, less stress, less competition. Of course, make it important to get good grades but let a 97% and 88% be alright and a grade to still smile about.

I love every soul in my community and it hurts when I see them on the streets alone. My father had bipolar disorder and was only diagnosed the month he was murdered. When he had episodes he would run away from my grandparents and I and become a person on the streets. Mental health steals people from their families. I know that personally because when my Dad wasn't having an episode he was right next to me, laughing and tickling me. I've been fighting for mental healthcare for my community as one simple diagnoses and treatment can save billions of families. In Jack and Jill of America we traveled to Washington D.C and spoke to the senators of Illinois and Missouri fighting for the Crown Act, Mental Health facilities, Mental Healthcare, and mental health assessments for minors. On that trip we were met by Vice President Kamala Harris where she spoke to us about how our fight to change America by helping our community is just what America needs. I am a leader in my school and community. I established East Cares, a club that collects and donates in my freshman year of high school. The items we collect range from clothes to personal hygiene products. In 4 years we donated about 8,000 items to homeless shelters and The Covenant House of St. Louis. I also served as the Regional Teen Foundation Chair for Jack and Jill of America Central Region 2024–2025 where I helped plan many community service events for homeless, poor, and food insecure people. I’ve been a member of Jack and Jill of America since 2016 and community service is a monthly requirement. I’ve donated a variety of necessities and helped in soup kitchens at churches and chapels. Community service is something I am committed to because helping my community is a must. People struggle and sometimes don’t have support. People who have more should serve more and that is exactly what I’ve been doing. I strive to help people with zero thought of expecting anything back. In college I plan to continue helping people anywhere I go, when I graduate and start teaching my fight for mental health will start with my students. Rising them higher than ever and giving them the motivation they need.

“Every child deserves a champion: an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the best they can possibly be.” -Rita Pierson Being awarded the Christopher K. Swartz Scholarship will allow me to transition to college as an independent student, give my full attention to my education, and allow me to graduate from college with minimum debt. I am attending Indiana University Bloomington to pursue a degree in Secondary Education with a focus on English in the Fall of 2026. My career goal to teach English in Japan. It is important to me to establish myself as an independent student because it will minimize financial stress on my family. My Dad was the only active parent in my life until he passed in 2020. I have been fortunate to have the love and support of my grandparents, but financial resources are limited. It is time for me to be responsible for myself. Being awarded the Christopher K. Swartz Scholarship will allow me to pay tuition and housing during my first year of significantly reducing my financial responsibility and allowing me to focus on my studies and the transitions to independent living successfully. Earning my degree will provide me with the technical training to change lives for a lifetime. Educators have a profound opportunity to train the thoughts and ideas of a student, to partner with families in shaping the character of their child(ren), and to build a student’s confidence until they are strong enough to believe in themselves. My goal is to impact my community by creating a safe learning environment where students feel seen, heard and accepted, while keeping learning fun and engaging. Feeling unsafe physically or emotionally does not allow students to fully show up in the classroom. Their ideas sometimes get trapped in the student’s fears and insecurity, never being expressed and fully developed, ultimately stunts the student’s growth. Creating a safe educational environment promotes participation and creativity. It gives students a space to freely express themselves without fear of judgement. Educators have an important role is setting the tone of their classroom and creating this safe space. Students will assess if your class is one to dread or look forward to based on the behaviors and attitudes demonstrated and tolerated in your classroom. Creating a culture of safety can also help students feel seen, heard, and accepted. Embracing diversity, race, gender, ability, religion, and socio-economic status must be the standard in a safe environment. Inclusiveness, respect, equal opportunities, and a helpful mindset are all skills, that when practiced, empowers students to engage in learning, builds confidence, helps students express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas, and develop a since of belonging. When teachers address issues privately and with kindness, it gives students the opportunity thrive and helps the student keep their dignity. I have wanted to be a teacher since I was in kindergarten. I have benefited from the kindness, inclusive, compassionate, open-minded, and creative teachers throughout my whole educational experience and cannot wait to champion a child to reach their full potential! I understand the power of an educator is beyond the classroom, but extends to helping individual people become thriving contributing members of our community. My hope is that my education will equip me to help students in my community become their best selves by creating a safe learning environment where they feel seen and heard and learning is fun!

My family is the most important thing in my life. Without my family and friends I would have never made it this far. I was taken in by my grandparents when my mother stopped contacting me and my father was struggling with mental health issues. My father never stopped coming around to make sure I saw him. My upbringing wasn't common, nor was it preferred, but it worked for me. In 2020 my father was killed and my heart was broken. Just because he struggled doesn't mean he was a bad father. He always inspired me, cheered me on and supported my crazy ideas. A part of me was ripped away with zero warning. People brought food, gifts, sympathy and love which was everything I needed as I mourned my father. Loss does something to everyone no matter how old or young. My brother and sister were broken. Watching my little brother only fall asleep if he was holding a framed photo of our Dad was so painful. None of us should’ve gone through that. My baby sister doesn’t know who our father is. She sees pictures but doesn’t remember his voice, his laugh, his jokes, or his smile. I can barely remember his laugh either. Having a support system is how I was able to persevere through the continued pain of losing my father. My grandparents taught me almost everything I know. How to be responsible, work hard, and love others as much as I love myself. They are both hard workers who don't let anything bring them down, they climb every step and hold their hand out to guide me up as well. My uncles basically were my older brothers, growing up beside them 12 and 14 years apart they taught me how to navigate friendships and always made me comfortable. They spoiled me rotten and still do but also are never afraid to correct me and steer me in the right direction. Having a community is essential to living and nobody can live without a village. With the highs and lows of life, I know my family will always be excited and proud of every accomplishment I have. They continue to stay by my side and love me unconditionally. Attending Indiana University Bloomington will also allow me to be closer to my Brother and Sister as they are Indiana residents. When I get my degree I will be showing my family everything they’ve poured into me and continue the generations of educators in my family.

“Every child deserves a champion: an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the best they can possibly be.” -Rita Pierson Being awarded the Christopher K. Swartz Scholarship will allow me to transition to college as an independent student, give my full attention to my education, and allow me to graduate from college with minimum debt. I am attending Indiana University Bloomington to pursue a degree in Secondary Education with a focus on English in the Fall of 2026. My career goal to teach English in Japan. It is important to me to establish myself as an independent student because it will minimize financial stress on my family. My Dad was the only active parent in my life until he passed in 2020. I have been fortunate to have the love and support of my grandparents, but financial resources are limited. It is time for me to be responsible for myself. Being awarded the Christopher K. Swartz Scholarship will allow me to pay tuition and housing during my first year of significantly reducing my financial responsibility and allowing me to focus on my studies and the transitions to independent living successfully. Earning my degree will provide me with the technical training to change lives for a lifetime. Educators have a profound opportunity to train the thoughts and ideas of a student, to partner with families in shaping the character of their child(ren), and to build a student’s confidence until they are strong enough to believe in themselves. My goal is to impact my community by creating a safe learning environment where students feel seen, heard and accepted, while keeping learning fun and engaging. Feeling unsafe physically or emotionally does not allow students to fully show up in the classroom. Their ideas sometimes get trapped in the student’s fears and insecurity, never being expressed and fully developed, ultimately stunts the student’s growth. Creating a safe educational environment promotes participation and creativity. It gives students a space to freely express themselves without fear of judgement. Educators have an important role is setting the tone of their classroom and creating this safe space. Students will assess if your class is one to dread or look forward to based on the behaviors and attitudes demonstrated and tolerated in your classroom. Creating a culture of safety can also help students feel seen, heard, and accepted. Embracing diversity, race, gender, ability, religion, and socio-economic status must be the standard in a safe environment. Inclusiveness, respect, equal opportunities, and a helpful mindset are all skills, that when practiced, empowers students to engage in learning, builds confidence, helps students express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas, and develop a since of belonging. When teachers address issues privately and with kindness, it gives students the opportunity thrive and helps the student keep their dignity. I have wanted to be a teacher since I was in kindergarten. I have benefited from the kindness, inclusive, compassionate, open-minded, and creative teachers throughout my whole educational experience and cannot wait to champion a child to reach their full potential! I understand the power of an educator is beyond the classroom, but extends to helping individual people become thriving contributing members of our community. My hope is that my education will equip me to help students in my community become their best selves by creating a safe learning environment where they feel seen and heard and learning is fun!