The moment I realized my strength in working with kids and how it influenced my growth. by Abby

The moment I realized my strength in working with kids and how it influenced my growth. by Abby - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

All throughout my life, I have truly loved kids and wanted to be a teacher. For as long as I can remember, I was playing school teacher in my basement with our old desk and chair, scribbling in a notebook and clunking around in much too tall high-heeled shoes that a principal would obviously wear. After COVID, I began to babysit to make money in the local community, and I loved it. I realized one day, as I left a family's house, I loved what I did, and it didn't feel like a job. This was the moment I realized the strength in had in childcare and that I could actually pursue a successful carear in it. As I got older and life got real, I involved myself more and more in activities and experiences that would make a career in childcare/education more prominent to me. From volunteering to run games and stations at the local elementary school's Halloween social, to getting 30+ service learning hours at God's Little Miracles daycare, to working a part-time job at Chick-fil-A and helping with events as the cow, over time, my passion for working with kids flourished and led me to choose a career in elementary education. I personally have had several impactful teachers in my life who changed me for the better, building my self-confidence and inspiring me to go into the education field specifically. This way, I could still work with kids every day, but also pursue the aspect of impacting students' lives and educating children.