Personal Statement

I am indebted to my K-12 academic experience and the growth it afforded me. Beginning in middle school I had engaged teachers that acted as mentors to me, and I began my experience with service under their wings. Years later I have decided to use my higher education, future career and the time in between to buy back into education and future generations. I firmly believe that change starts with children and their education should focus on challenging and developing the whole person. In addition to completing the Teacher Education certification program, I have devoted my time while in school to programs such as America Reads, the Boys and Girls Club and Tools for Social Change, a grassroots social justice group in the local community. It is through these groups that I am creating and implementing change in Geneva and hope to contribute to education initiatives in the area such as increasing graduation rates and getting our students on grade level. I hope that the programs I have been a part of and developed will increase accessibility to academic achievement in Geneva and provide models for future change on a larger scale.