Every child deserves a champion an adult who will never give up on them,

who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the
best that they can possibly be.
-Rita
Pierson
Growing up I had those adults who would never give up on me and who
saw my potential and used everything in their power to make sure I knew
and saw my own potential. My parents have always inspired me. They are
attentive, loving, hardworking and are essentially the strongest people I
know. They provided strength for me throughout the years and instilled in me
the many essential morals to a happy life. They taught me to be
understanding, accepting, supportive, and to always remain optimistic. I was
born and raised in Austin, Minnesota. In elementary school I attended St.
Augustine for two years. The school had very little diversity and was a
private religious school. From second through fifth grade I attended
Southgate Elementary School, which at the time was one of the most racially
and culturally diverse schools in Austin. I attended Ellis Middle School for
sixth through eighth grade. For ninth through twelfth grade I attended Austin
Senior High School. Growing up in a small town that was culturally diverse
and a very close knit community, I developed a respect for differences and
an understanding for the adversity other people face. During my time in the
Austin School District I formed many long lasting friendships and essentially
met my second family, of teachers and students. It was in my elementary
school that I met my fourth grade teacher, Lisa Deyo. She is who inspired me
to become teacher. Her passion for helping her students and her love for
teaching have led me to feel the same. She started out as a teacher but
because of the connection she created with me, she is now my lifelong
friend.
My family has always been very close knit. I am an only child, so my
cousins were always like my siblings. In 2007 my aunt passed away. It was a
very sudden death. She left behind a four-year-old daughter. She has many
emotional issues, such as PTSD, from the death of her mother. After that
whole situation I wanted to help her but was in no place to do so, because
her father had custody and not her mother's side of the family. This made me
want to become a children's psychologist, so I could help children like her.
She is like my little sister and I wanted to help her in any way I could. I
mentored with a school psychologist and found the job to take too much of
an emotional toll on me. I did most of my mentoring with the children at
Gerard Academy, in Austin, Minnesota. I still wanted to pursue a career in
which I could help children.
 After that experience I knew I still wanted to work with children and my
fourth grade teacher at Southgate Elementary School suggested I stop in the
classroom. After my first stop I began mentoring with her and volunteering in
her classroom. The experience was incredible. It was the more positive side
of the school environment and a career which I could actually see myself
pursuing. I was given the opportunity to teach lessons and activities, correct
assignments and assessments, and work with the students, one on one. I
realized after this experience it was exactly what I wanted to do. I started
looking into the Elementary Education Teach 21 Program, coming to Austin,
Minnesota. Immediately after graduating from Riverland Community College,
I applied to Winona State University. When I got accepted and registered for
my classes I was beyond happy.
I plan to apply to Southwest State University to receive my Masters
Degree in Elementary Education. I would later like to minor in psychology
and maybe obtain a degree for working with Special Education. I want to get
a teaching position in a local community immediately after school.
In my free time I enjoy being outdoors. I always like to curl up with a
good book. Running is liberating and one of my favorite ways to relax.
Volleyball has always been one of my favorite sports and I like to play
noncompetitive ball in the summer. Photography has always been a hobby of
mine. I usually take nature pictures. Yoga is a hobby of mine as well that I
participate in frequently, to relax and start fresh.
I have always worked with young people, or kids younger than myself.
At the age of ten I began babysitting for neighbors and family friends, when I
got my official babysitters license from The Red Cross. I have led Vacation
Bible School each year at Queen of Angles and St. Augustine since fifth
grade. During my senior year of high school, I mentored freshman students,
in Link Crew. I volunteered at Sacred Heart Care Center, since the age of ten,
in activities. This is where I began working with the elderly. I have worked at
Sacred Heart Care Center since my sophomore year of high school, and I
have created a bond with many of the residents. They, along with my
coworkers, have become my Sacred Heart family.
Throughout my clinical experience and course work I have learned
many things. I have learned how to create a positive atmosphere and a safe
community in the classroom. You create that type of environment with
introductions of students with others, getting to know your students as
individuals, and using an all-inclusive approach while teaching. I have
learned how to create and build classroom management through rules,
expectations and routine. I have also learned how to challenge students with
content that is at their level by differentiating. I have learned to be open
minded and to push my students as far as they can go because that is how
they grow. I have come to realize the overall importance of my classroom
being a home to all of my students. I have learned to teach every subject,
and am comfortable incorporating technology, like the SMART Board,
Newzella, and Kahoot.
I am excited to have my own classroom with my own students, where I
can utilize what I have learned and pursue my passion. I want my students to
feel safe, loved, respected, and cared for. I want my students to feel at home
in my classroom. I want to help my students learn and grow. Most of all I
want to better the life of my students and be their champion.