Hobbies and interests
Community Service And Volunteering
Psychology
Psychiatry
Running
Cooking
Gardening
Hiking And Backpacking
Travel And Tourism
Reading
Academic
Education
Cultural
Anthropology
Psychology
Health
Self-Help
Religion
Leadership
Philosophy
Folk Tales
Folklore
I read books multiple times per week
Elizabeth LaPadula
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FinalistElizabeth LaPadula
1,575
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FinalistBio
In 2010, I lived in New Orleans as a volunteer. I experienced profound poverty and never thought about education in the same way again. My neighborhood was dangerous. My immediate neighbors were tied up, beaten, and robbed. My roommate’s car was broken into. I finally left my first apartment right after Christmas, when my roommate explained her friend had been murdered, and it wasn’t safe for any of us to stay. Without money, my options were limited, and I moved a few blocks away to the next ward. In addition to regularly feeling like danger was imminent, I also lived the shame of being unable to provide for myself. I will never forget running out of food stamps, being denied by a cashier, and returning items to their shelves. No matter what adversity I faced, though, I still had my education. I had a way out while my neighbors did not. I no longer took my education for granted, and I left New Orleans more impassioned to serve in education than ever.
I am now a teacher because I work to empower others. I work to equip students to be the main drivers of their own lives and become self-aware, global citizens. A person is educated when they are independent, life-long learners. They can research anything, make their own informed decisions, and take action through intentional expression. A well-educated person is empowered to navigate the world and fulfill their life purpose and dreams. A well-educated person cannot be stopped. I am proud to play a role in young people’s lives that will help them on their way to becoming their highest selves.
Education
National University
Master's degree programMajors:
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
- Special Education and Teaching
Boston College
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- History
Minors:
- Geological/Geophysical Engineering
- Philosophy
Miscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
Career
Dream career field:
Education
Dream career goals:
Help others self-actualize as I grow, too.
High School Physics Teacher
Dallas Independent School District2012 – 20131 yearManager, Customer Success
NoRedInk2017 – 20203 yearsCustomer Success Account Manager
Amazon2013 – 20174 years
Sports
Volleyball
Intramural2009 – 20101 year
Awards
- Refereed as 3rd job while full-time undergrad
Track & Field
Varsity2002 – 20064 years
Awards
- Qualified for States (400m)
Soccer
Junior Varsity2002 – 20042 years
Awards
- Most Spirited
Volleyball
Club2004 – 20062 years
Awards
- Team Captain
Research
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
Stanford University — Auditor2014 – 2015
Public services
Volunteering
Building Educated Leaders for Life (B.E.L.L.) — Tutor2011 – 2012Volunteering
Americorps — Volunteer Coordinator2010 – 2011Volunteering
FOG Readers (San Francisco Public Library) — Tutor2018 – 2019Volunteering
San Francisco Education Fund — Teacher's Assistant2013 – 2014
Future Interests
Advocacy
Politics
Volunteering
Philanthropy
Suraj Som Aspiring Educators Scholarship
Science and math are languages to discover and explain natural and supernatural phenomena; they are descriptors of God the Universe (Mother Nature) and descriptors of who we are in relationship to God. Likewise, to pursue science and math is to pursue understanding about our own spirits and connection to Nature. As individuals and as a global community, the more we pursue and learn about our connections to Nature and our natural selves, the more we discover the purpose of our singular lives and that of the collective human race.
The most acute experience I've had that represents my belief about the connection between spirituality and science is my experience with Okyu, an ancient Japanese healing tradition. As a patient, I listened to the practitioner, Mukund (a Harvard and Stanford graduate), while he tended to me: "Let Nature be your parents," he advised. Earlier, he had called forth the Spirits of animals, of "everything that creeps and crawls," and supernatural forces to bear witness and aid in the healing of my spirit via my body. As Mukund tended to spiritual wounds that were physically inflicted years ago by a violent father, he encouraged me to find parental love and wisdom in the living beings all around me; by observing them, seeing how they grew and related to one another, and by understanding my own identity within the natural world.
Using only his hands, moss, garlic, and fire, Mukund electrified my nervous system, my muscle tissue, my spine. I felt where he dug into my body, kneading my organs carefully, releasing toxins I didn't know I carried. I cannot explain everything that happened that miraculous day, but the best way I can describe its outcome was that my spirit came fully into my body in a way I had not known was possible. Colors became brighter, music became sweeter, food tasted more flavorful, and I felt a brightness and joy in my body that I never knew had been missing my entire life.
I noticed the absence of fear. For the first time in my life, I felt relaxed in the presence of middle-aged men; men I knew were trustworthy, like my friends' fathers, organizational leaders at work, well-meaning doctors in their offices with closed doors. Even though I had known there was no threat, my body used to panic. My heart would race, my palms would sweat, my stomach would wrap up into knots. After Okyu, though, that panic was gone, and it's never come back. A whole new world has opened to me, one where I feel confident and enjoy the richness and humanity in all people.
I am living out my philosophy that spirit and science are connected in the body and described by math. I am currently studying to teach middle and high school students these disciplines specifically. Furthermore, because of gratitude for my own survival and healing, I choose to work with populations where there is a high likelihood students have experienced or are experiencing trauma like I did. While I’m not a certified practitioner like Mukund, my experiences inform how I interpret and respond to wounded behavior when I recognize it in others, and I’m eager to incorporate all the tools I’ve collected to benefit children who are also on their journeys to live fully.
The connection between spirituality, science, and math is not just an interesting overlay; it is a profound tool that, when wielded with intention, can heal and transform people into higher versions of themselves. We need to understand this connection in order to fulfill our purpose as individuals and as the collective.