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Until my mom's symptoms of Huntington's Disease started to progress, she would read to me every day. One book she read quite often was "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch. She'd tell me how she'd love me forever and always be my mom. Thinking about this book helped me get through the grief when my mom passed. Through books, my mom and I were able to connect as children.

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An audio clip of my dad singing my childhood bedtime songs

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Beginning at birth, my dad exposed me to the world of music, which has continued to be an essential part of my life. As a child, my dad sang to me every night as part of our nighttime routine. First, he would sing "Her Name is Taylor," based on the tune of Barry Manilow's "Copacabana." He would then sing the song, "You are my Sunshine". Finally, he would conclude his singing with his favorite rock songs. Classic rock music has become one of my favorite music genres, which I can attribute to my dad's influence in my life. Throughout my life, music has kept me motivated, been a source of relaxation, and a way to have fun. I've attached my dad singing some of our nightly songs.

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In First Grade, my teacher, Mrs.Donelson, read a new Magic Treehouse Book every week after lunch. Mrs.Donelson shared her love of literacy, which helped me develop a passion for reading throughout my life. I loved how these books transported me into a new world. That love for literacy and imagination continues to be part of my life.

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Growing up in the new digital age, I had access to YouTube and other online platforms. YouTube is a platform that I discovered and have used ever since. As a child, I created YouTube videos such as vlogs with my step-sister and little brother, and crafting videos. My favorite YouTubers would play games, vlog, and make DIY videos, which inspired me. This video of me creating road trip games for my family was one of my first official YouTube videos. Most of my videos are deleted now, but it was a creative outlet for me as a kid.

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My friends and I were featured in the local news publication for serving at the Millstadt VFW. 

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World: Millstadt VFW & Community Service 🤝

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World: Millstadt VFW & Community Service 🤝

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When I entered 6th grade, I was invited to join Beta Club, a community service organization for high-achieving students. This organization changed my life and instilled a love of service in me. This was my first opportunity to give back to the community and make a positive impact on others. Every Friday, I volunteered at the Millstadt VFW Fish Fry and at other events they hosted. The VFW was a new home for me- it was a space where I could be myself, help others, and learn about the lives the veterans have experienced. Since then, I've served the community through various organizations such as Key Club and Little Sisters of the Gold Rose at Mizzou.

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I graduated as valedictorians in high school, and this was me giving my speech. 

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In grades K-3, I struggled in school. I needed extra reading intervention, and I had no motivation to complete my work if it was graded. However, as the years progressed, I had teachers who instilled the passion for learning and showed me the impact you can make as a teacher. Nevertheless, in high school, my beliefs about school changed significantly. Sophomore year was one of the worst years of my life. My anxiety and depression were at an all-time high, keeping me from attending school. Yet, the teachers I had changed everything for me. They were flexible, got to know me for the person I am, and I was able to change the trajectory of my life. They reinforced that I should become a teacher because I can truly make a difference in someone else's life. If it weren't for my high school teachers, I would not be here now.

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This picture was taken for my position as Site Facilitator for Adventure Club

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Navigating the world of Mizzou has been transformative in my values and has kept my passion for service and teaching alive. Over the past year, I've had the chance to learn about Mizzou opportunities and take advantage of those: joining the College of Education's Honors Program, doing research about Gen Z teachers, getting a promotion as a Site Facilitator for Adventure Club, and serving as a site leader for Caring for Columbia. These experiences are helping me become the best person and teacher I can be. I've learned about myself through being at Mizzou and met people from diverse backgrounds that I did not have growing up in a small rural town. Mizzou is my chance to grow as a leader, future teacher, and person.

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World: Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire 📕 

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World: Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire 📕 

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Pedagogy of the Oppressed has been a formative book in my education. I read this novel for my Social Justice in Educational Leadership course last semester. This novel has empowered me to take a justice stance in my future as an educator. I've realized that, being a white middle-class female, I've been able to take advantage of the system. However, I need to create a classroom where the learning is not top-down, but bottom-up, where students have autonomy. Our education is perpetuating racial injustices, and as educators, we must fight against that.