Hi! My name is Ali Brown, and my story begins in an orphanage in China around 2003. I was placed at an orphanage after I was born, and was adopted by my adoptive parents in June of 2004. I have held a passion for education since I was in elementary school. To me, school was, and still is, a safe place. A place where I could go and be myself, explore, and learn about the world around me. I could know that there were people who were supporting me, and were going to be in my corner even when others were not. I am beyond privileged in this area, and with that privilege, I fully understand that there are many children, and even adults, who have never felt that sense of security before. I am now a junior, studying primary education at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. These past three years have been transformative to me and my future as a teacher. A concept that we discuss a lot in my courses, as well as in my field placements, is the idea that every child deserves a champion. This concept stems from a TED Talk by Rita Carter, in which she describes what it means to be a teacher. Students deserve to know that they have someone, even if it is just one person, who is rooting for them, and who will be in their corner. They deserve one person in their lives who believes that they are already someone, and that they will become even more as they go on. I think about this concept and I relate it to my teachers that have guided me to this point in my life. My favorite, and most impactful teachers were the ones that I knew would be my champion. The moment that I set foot in their classrooms, I knew that I was loved, and that I meant something to them. As I end my college career, and begin a career I have such a strong passion for, my desire is to not only impact my students, but let them impact me as well. Students, in their short years of living, carry stories that will impact me. My goal is to build relationships with students, and to demonstrate what it looks like to unconditionally love. Beyond caring for, and loving my students in the classroom, I want to be their biggest advocate. I want to be the voice for them when theirs go unheard. I have a lifetime opportunity to lay the foundation for students to see themselves as someone. I will not take the opportunity lightly, or for granted. Instead, I will use it to create a space in which my students will know that their teacher cares for them, and that I care more than just their academic abilities, but also who they are as people in this world.

My story begins in a small orphanage located in Hunan, China. When I was 15 months old, my mom and dad flew around the world to meet me for the first time. While I was too young to fully remember the experience, I know that the first hug my mom gave me as she held me would be everything I would ever need to feel loved, protected, and secure. My parents instilled a passion in me to continue learning about my culture, even when I lived in the United States. We celebrated holidays like Chinese New Year together, and my parents always encouraged my adopted older sister (also born in China) and I to learn more about our cultures and to embrace them. When I was ten, I sat in my little chair at my desk, and decided that I would become a teacher someday. This idea had been something I had thought about a lot, especially considering how much I loved school, but also because I began to realize the impact that teachers can have on their students. Just like many schools, multiplication and division time tests took place every week at my elementary school. While many students disliked it (very much), I found it as a way to constantly push and challenge myself. My teacher had an incentive called the Math Hall of Fame. This activity allowed students to move slowly towards getting their name in the Math Hall of Fame. But you can imagine my disappointment when she told us that she never had a girl make it onto the list. From that day forward, I stayed focused. I was convinced that I could do this, not just for me, but for other girls who felt like they were written off already before even really trying to get there. A month later, my name went down as the first girl in the Math Hall of Fame for the fourth-grade. About a minute after learning this, I told myself that I would become a teacher. You may find this silly, that something as small as a timed-test from the fourth-grade could drive me to where my passion lies, but it goes so much deeper. That teacher encouraged me every single step of the way. She knew that there was a lot of stigma and unfair stereotypes surrounding females and mathematics, and wanted to encourage that barrier to be broken. She instilled confidence in me that I did not know I had until I finally completed my goal. Now, as a rising junior, I see education and teaching in similar ways that I did as a ten year old. I see teaching as an opportunity to extend a passion for students even when they don’t think there is a passion for them to pursue. Since then, I have also taken a step-further in advocacy. While I loved my school years, there was something missing to me. That piece missing was the ability to learn from someone who looked like me. Through this realization, I have had the wonderful opportunity to work alongside one of my professors to create a program called Teach Like Me, an infinity group in association with the Read Like Me program through Cleveland Metroparks School District (CMSD). This program encourages students at the high school and undergraduate level to create a pipeline of diverse educators with support from the university and school districts. My hope is that through this program, and throughout my career, I can continue to follow my passion of making sure students get the opportunity to see themselves in their educators.

There are so many reasons that I want to be a teacher, but one of the main ones stems from the idea that every child needs a champion, an idea that I got from the late Rita Pierson's TED Talk. In her TED Talk, she spoke about how crucial it was that every child has a champion. The idea that there is someone in a child's corner, rooting, supporting, and encouraging them is needed more than ever. School years can be difficult, and often it may seem easier to just give up. I have learned that a lot of students do not have access to a support system at home or school. This breaks my heart. While inevitable for some, it does not change the need for good teachers but amplifies the need for them. While I know that I will be far from the perfect teacher, because I am only human, the relationships that I will build with my students are what get me the most excited about this field. My role models, the people I look up to in education, were all educators who invested their time in me. They demonstrated to me that I was worth investing their time in because they saw the potential that I could not see at the time. I know that this is probably the case for a lot of students. It's easy to judge your own life when you are the one living it. But, from the outside, if there is just one person who sees you, hears you, who you are, and believe in what you are capable of, it will instill confidence that you may have never known before. I want to become a teacher because students need that someone who spends time with them every day for six to seven hours, who will watch them grow, and who gets excited about learning. To me, teaching is much more than academia which is learned inside a classroom. It is the ability for a person to be able to produce a student that is emotionally, academically, mentally, and socially thriving. This is far from an easy job and is often overlooked, undercut, and undermined, but the results of this job are what make it worth it. From the moment a student "gets it" to the moment that a child looks you in the eye and says, "This is my favorite class ever," and every moment in between, I learn to appreciate the small victories that we can make with our students every day, and it can all start from being in their corner from day one. Making the effort to get to know your students, to learn who they are with all their various personality traits, their quirks, likes and dislikes, their favorite games, all of it. Learning each of these important aspects only shows children that you care about them beyond who they are as a student. You care about their well-being and their happiness. This goes a long way. In my classroom, someday, I dream about creating strong relationships with my students by being their champion. I want them to know that each day is a new day and that we are not defined by the mistakes that we make, but by how we chose to move on from them. I want them to know that they have someone who is rooting for them, believes in them, and knows that they are capable of doing amazing things. I want to be a teacher because every child needs a champion, and I want to be a champion for them.

I have always loved the idea of education. I love working with kids and letting them use their curiosity to grow their minds. School goes beyond the academics we teach them. As I am studying early childhood education, I realize more and more, the importance of investing in students and their minds. I want to be able to lead by example through gentleness, but also firmness. I want them to see that I stand for something, and while they do not need to believe the same things I do, I want to encourage them to find something that they are also passionate about. We say that children are our future, so why not invest in our future? Why not spend all the time needed to get to know these kids? Listening to their ideas and letting them ask questions. When I was younger, one of my biggest fears was asking questions. Often times, I was afraid of being judged if my question seemed too simple. Now, as I am older, I see that some of the most simple questions are the most interesting and intriguing. These are the questions that make you think and learn. I want to inspire kids to be curious and to love learning. I want them to be able to learn from me, for me to learn from them, and for them to learn from each other. Letting them know that I might not always have the answer, allows them to feel more able to share their questions and thoughts. I love that idea of an environment where students can just be themselves, but also grow the way that they need to.

We say that children are our future, but giving them a future to look forward to is just as important. For as long as I can remember, I was mesmerized by my elementary teacher, especially the way that they so daringly interacted with me. I am passionate about early childhood education because it all starts there. What children learn when they're young, the habits that they exhibit, the way that they learn, who is there to help them grow, is extremely crucial to who they become when they are older. I love how their minds think so differently from us, but puts so many of our own situations into perspective. They are children. They run, play, laugh, talk, make new friends, and a lot of times, they help us become more like them, in the best ways. While the majority of children are happy, and having a wonderful childhood, there are still a handful of young children who are not as fortunate. Whether they come from a financially disadvantaged family, or they come from an abusive home, they carry that with them every where they go. School, though, is the one place that they can escape that for 7 hours a day. I want to make an impact. I want to help them get the help that they need or be a support factor in their situation. In other students, it's not the home situation that makes education difficult for them. It could be a learning disability. When I was younger, I watched my big sister who was 7 or 8 years old at the time, crying and crying at the kitchen table just trying to get through her math homework. She didn't learn the same way as a lot of people, and it became her biggest struggle. We were blessed enough o have found resources to help her, but what if it was caught sooner? What if we could have saved her from the pain of feeling like she wasn't smart enough? If she went through this at age 7, how many other students are in her same position today? There has to be a lot. Through early childhood education, I want to open the door even more to identifying learn issues, and catch them as early as possible. I am so beyond excited for this journey in education. With that said, I know the challenges that I will face as well. Education is difficult, and there are a lot of obstacles that educators must overcome in order to continue to teach their students. I am confident that with the help of others, my friends, my family, and my overall passion for this career, that I will not stop trying to further the education system. Thank you for considering my application, I greatly appreciate it.

My name is Alison Brown, and I am adopted from Hunan, China. My mom has always said that she has wanted to adopt since she was in second grade. So, when the opportunity arose for her and my dad to adopt, she knew that it would be the perfect timing for them. I came to America when I was 15 months old. I couldn't talk or walk very well because the orphanages were so packed that they had to feed the babies very quickly by taking the nipple off of the bottle, so my muscles in my tongue didn't develop very quickly. My leg muscles were weak because of the lack of activity I was given in the orphanage. I have never known my biological family. That kind of information was not disclosed in my adoption because it was illegal to give your child up. So, my mom dropped me at the footstep of the orphanage and ran. I thank her in my mind that she put me somewhere she knew for sure that I would be found. If I was ever given the opportunity to meet her, I would do it in a heartbeat.

During my first fall semester at college, I found myself talking to my, now, mentor, and associate professor of education about beginning a program that would be specifically for diverse education majors. The Teach Like Me Fellowship is growing faster than ever. This program allows diverse education majors to seek support and fellowship with one another. I have had the privilege of mentoring other majors, and some who have mentored me. This program is wonderful because we are hands-on, working with schools nearby. The best wya for students to learn and have a passion for learning is from people who look like them. Having representation in schools are crucial to our future leaders. They need to know that they matter. Many students in these low-income schools don't even believe that they have a future, let along someday become an educator. Some students don't know or have the resources to apply for college. Being able to walk alongside them, and show them that they can have opportunities is what this program is all about. I love mentoring my fellow peers, as well as encouraging high school students to think about a career in education, and make a difference.

Coming from a single-parent household, I would have to say that my mom has supported me the most in reaching my educational goals. The sacrifices she has made for my sister and me, so that we could have a good education still baffles me. After my dad left when I was six, my. mom could no longer afford our house and was looking for apartments nearby. Because of our financial state, we were no longer able to attend our private school either. So, my mom wanted to find the best private school for us possible. She made the sacrifice of paying more money for rent in order for us to live close enough to the school district she knew would be good for us. And it was. I made so many memories there, and grew as a person. When I made my decision to attend John Carroll University, I was beyond thankful for the support my mom had given me. Although she knew the tuition would be a lot for the both of us, she has generously supported me as much as she can.

As a child of a single mother, I have seen first hand the struggle that families experience when they are broken apart. My dad chose to leave us when I was six years old. As an adopted child, I felt abandoned once again, and often struggled with who I was because of my dad's decision. As I've gotten older, I see my mom as a superhero. She stepped into the role meant for two, and has handled parenting us with such grace, patience, and love. She has made sacrifices for us, that I didn't know about when I was little, but am forever thankful for today. If someone were to ask me, "What inspires you the most about your mom?", I would have to say her perseverance. There were moments that were extremely difficult for us. Becoming a low-income household, trying to pay for medical bills, transportation, but through it all, my mom remained steadfast. She would mind us that God would provide for us, and He always did. She remained strong for us, being our protector when we needed her most, even though she was falling to pieces inside. I am forever grateful for her ability to lead by example, and to persevere when life gets shaky.

The summer before my freshman year of high school, I was diagnosed with an eating disorder. I felt my whole world falling down, turning, and twisting, so quickly, like I couldn't even find a moment to take it all in. I denied treatment for a really long time, I thought I could manage it with general therapy, and a lot of secret-keeping. However, fall of my junior year, I felt so weak that I couldn't even workout like I used to. I finally started treatment at the Emily Program. Scariest day of my life for sure, but I was optimistic. Since stepping foot into the treatment center, I have been to face my eating disorder head-on. Don't get me wrong, there are definitely days where I struggle, and times where I have relapsed, but even throughout those times, I remain hopeful that I will keep my body strong and healthy. This extremely tough time in my life taught me firstly, that I cannot do this on my own, despite my will to try to, and secondly, that every day is a new day, a new try.

My dad left when I was six years old, leaving my mom to raise my sister and I by herself. School was very difficult for my sister because she had a different learning style than others. My mom didn't have the resources or the money to reach out and get help for my sister. When I was ten years old, I found a passion for learning, and decided that I wanted to become a teacher. Now, I am a current undergrad studying early childhood education with the plan on pursuing a career as an elementary teacher. My main goal, after seeing my sister struggle, is to make learning less painful for both students and their parents. My mom tried her very best, but the role of a parent is not to have to do it all alone. I want to be the kind of educator that takes into consideration the. struggles that families might be facing, whether it is financially or emotionally. I want to provide a classroom where I can access resources that helps students of all learning styles, so no child feel left behind.

Growing up, I noticed how not everyone learns the same way, and that students who are struggling are often intentionally and unintentionally overlooked. I want to be a part of huge change in the education field. Working one on one with students to give them encouragement and hope, even if they are struggling. We all learn differently, but rather than ignoring it, why not embrace it? Why not encourage it? I would love to be in a system that is for all students, no matter their educational background, and grow their self-esteem. By growing their confidence, we are actually helping them achieve academically.