Machenzie Whiteman Virtual Learning Academy Charter School - New Hampshire 2022 Committed to Thomas College - Maine Fall of 2022 I was 9 years old when my mother met my stepfather. With him came an older sister, younger brother and the furry brother I always wanted. His name is Cadence and he is a rescue. I had an appreciation and love for him that allowed us to bond immediately. For my brother and sisters, the excitement of taking him for walks and picking up his poop, wore off rather quickly. Winter approaching didn’t make that chore anymore appealing to them, and with that, we depended on one another even more. We never let eachother down. I’m 18 now, and he is my best friend. If I am in bed, he is in bed with me. If I am outside brushing up on my Field Hockey skills, he is basking in the sun. When the brown truck (UPS) approaches, he notifices the entire neighbor, and assures no one is allowed near me. He never passes up on the opportunity to use my mother’s garden as his bathroom, but because he has my back I have his. Seldom does she know. He is by all accounts, my favorite sibling. I was diagnosed with anxiety as a very young child. When Cadence came into my life, I had no idea what he would do for me, and continues to do for me. He gives me a sense of security and showers me with love. He brings so much laughter to our family with all his little corks. Paper towel rolls are his choice of toys, and he will only lay on a fluffy surface. He chases squirrels in his sleep, and I have to comfort him when he has a bad dream. If only he knew how much solace he gives me. I will be leaving for College in the fall and while there are so many things to miss about home, I am going to miss him the most. He is 100 lbs and I believe even with my best efforts, I won’t be able to sneak him into my dorm. I worry that he, too, will be worrying about me. There is a dependency between us, and while I understand what is going on, he won’t. There are no words to articulate the pain that this causes and I feel deeply in my heart. I never knew that an animal could be more human than other human beings. Cadence is my person, and I am his. Thank you for this opportunity. Sincerely, Mackenzie Whiteman

Where She Went is the sequel to If I stay, and is my favorite book at this time. The first book is Mis’a point of view and the second book is the point of view of her first love, Adam. In this romantic drama, Mia and her family get in a car accident that takes the life of both her parents and little brother. She must decide between life and death as she remains in a coma. Where She Went began 3 years after the accident. Mia chose to live and achieve her hopes and dreams. What I enjoyed about this series is the point of view change between books. Perspective is a powerful thing. These characters are teenagers with musical excellence they both possess, and outlines their road to stardom, without each other. I love this book specifically because of the emotional and mental strength Mia developed because of the tragedy she experienced. As a teenager myself, I could not imagine her world as mine and to think I could be as strong as her. I think all girls would love to understand the mind of boys, and this book being from Adam’s point of view, sheds some kind of light. Who knew men had feelings, never mind can be heartbroken. Without spoiling the series, the storyline was captivating and kept me needing to continue to read, even with eyes half closed. I ended up finishing the book in less than 2 days, something I’ve never done. I guess I finally know what people mean when they say they can’t put the book down.

Watch me, as I am going to challenge our SAU’s in cities where students who require accommodations to aid in the success of their education, stop being released from their IEP’s and 504’s because of overload. Many of these students still require their accommodations but are being cheated of their own right to education. Parents are being informed their child is doing so well that their academics that their accommodations can be lifted. Quickly these same students begin to struggle. Their program being removed gives them confidence, a little pep in their step, a relief that there will no longer be any classroom interruptions while your peers watch you leave for the assistance you require. 30 to 45 days later their self esteem hits rock bottom. Turns out they need those accommodations for them to thrive. Some students have families who will request the plan be reinstated, while others will find it to be too much work and tell their child to try harder. That child's education will have been robbed from him, and I refuse to allow this after watching how it affected my sister and my mother trying to help her. Learning comes so easy for some, and beyond difficult for others. We have our strengths and we have our weaknesses. As a teacher and advocate, I will not fail our students. They will not be a headache to me, and I will do it as tenatically as Alice Paul did for women’s rights.

Reevaluating the curriculum is essential in making education better for our youth. We live in a world where manners, values and self esteem are taught by social media, not home and school. I am not your typical teenager, I am an old soul and not influenced by my peers. I am proud of that, and sorry for those who struggle. The classroom needs more life skills, not math that 97% of students will never use in the real world. Our lessons need to be relatable to life and the generation they are growing in. We base what we teach on traditions from the past. Life is fluid and ever evolving and if we fail to evolve with it, we are failing our future leaders. Education will always be 3 decades behind if we choose not to address the issue. Education is a right. It is designed to understand our world, but not how to live in our world. In order to facilitate the necessary change, we need dedicated educators who desire to help shape the minds of our children and help build a solid foundation in which ensures their success in both academic knowledge and interpersonal skills. Life outside of school is very different. Home life seldom looks the same for any two students. Of all the things that are important in this world, the most important is understanding that what we do with the power of knowledge, will determine the success of the next generation.

Cofounder of the National Woman's Party and one of the most prominent activists for Women's Rights, Alice Paul relentlessly fought for the passage of the 19th amendment, granting women the right to vote. Her vocal persistence led to her being arrested 7 times. She never gave up and never gave in. “There will never be a new world order until women are part of it”. Brilliant words. I do not consider myself a femenist, however that does not take away from my appreciation for those who set out to fight for women's rights. My admiration for her is not what she accomplished, but for her tenacity to do so. She was a leader, educator, and vigilant. She inspires me to be bold, stand tall, hold my own. It is empowering when you know what you did positively affected millions of lives. I believe I have many attributes to lead change. The area I want to do this is the education our young students receive. I want to empower children to know they can make a difference. I desire to set a solid foundation of confidence and self esteem. I know we are all unique, and what makes us feel adequate, looks different for others. I am motivated to invest endless time cultivating ways to ensure when they leave my classroom, they believe in themselves and their abilities… because I believe in them.

Compound interest and the rule of 72. Sounds a little crazy coming from your average 18 year old, but when you have an intelligent stepfather who is relentless to share the things he wished he learned sooner, you listen. That is the best financial advice I have been given. Sadly children don’t learn enough about finances in school. If you are lucky as I am, you learn from a young age the importance of saving. My siblings and I have had savings accounts since 8 years old. 50% of money we received for Birthdays or Holidays, had to go to savings. This savings went on to buy us our first cars. In this house, you get what you need, and your Birthday and Christmas are for your wants. We pay our own Car Insurance, gas, repairs and cell phone. Some of my friends call it child abuse, while I feel empowared by it. The younger you understand compound interest and the rule of 72, the longer you get to watch your portion of earned income you invest, double every 9 years. Everyone has the ability to live comfortably. Comfortable may look different in each of us, but we all have the opportunity to make choices about our finances and plans to live the life of our choice. I intend after being a starving college student, to invest in my future with all the means I have been taught and continue to be taught. Mr. Money Mustache influenced my stepfather in 2014, and now he attends conventions all over the US to hear his favorite bloggers and podcasters, inspire and motivate him. I am grateful for his influence and how it will shape my future.

It comes easy to some, but not to all. It requires passion and determination. It takes understanding, empathy, and courage to stand tall. It starts as early as childhood in our schools, it does not discriminate between age. It, is leadership. I didn’t find my ability to lead until early High School when I realized how my families desire to volunteer, led me to finding more and more opportunities to do so. Feeling humble is exceptionally moving. Knowing you are making a difference is rewarding. Without even realizing it, your community remembers your face, and soon your name. You have become a leader without the mission to do so, it just suddenly happens. Volunteering for me started at a young age. My mother and stepfather set a strong example for my siblings and I, about the importance of paying it forward. As a middle class family, it was not money we could offer, it was ourselves. We’ve helped rebuild a summer day camp, plant a community garden for the Food Shelter, pack and send over 600 care packages to our Military overseas, Create and collect clothing drives, backpack drives, home good drives for Families in Transition, and more. I began to volunteer at Food for Children, which always made me shed some tears. Unexpectedly, I became a leader in my own home. My mother and younger sister suffer from Mental Illness. There are many times I had to be strong and take on responsibilities that were not mine. I am the second oldest of 4 and I am the only one dedicated to my education and future success. I do my best to inspire my siblings to want more, be more, believe they can be more. My mother tells me often that I am her best friend, and she doesn’t know what she would do without me. Our song is God Gave Me You by Blake Shelton, and she still sings it to us. Despite that I have had to pick her up off the floor many times, she inspires me to always do my best, and that not always does the best look the same in others. A leader is not defined by popularity, or being well known. A leader possesses the qualities that drive them to inspire and help others. My mothers favorite quote is “Aspire To Inspire Before We Expire”. She lives by that, and has inspired me to also do so.

Arrogance. The thought that anyone is superior to another is the world's biggest problem. We use intimidation tactics to get what we want. We boast about strength in numbers, technology, traditions, equality, and so much more. The problem lies within the delivery of how we address these issues. Often when using our voice it comes with hostility. We are emotionally charged when we bring light to suppression, understandably so. However, this is where arrogance plagues our desire for change. I am no better than you, you are no better than me. So why must we try to erase hate with hate? Because we think to make a difference, we need to display the same level of intolerance in order to be heard. From war to suppression, hate crimes to inequality, the right vs the left… We have taught our own that power comes from intimidation. Hate will never drive out hate. Growing up, my mother always said “drink what you want, but don’t drink the Haterade”. Anytime myself or my siblings complained about others, friends or not, she annoyingly challenged our way of thinking. Sometimes it was useful, other times it angered us that she didn’t have our backs. The older we have become however, the more we understand her lesson. Seeking change can happen peacefully when admired leaders choose to walk side by side, not in front and not in back, but hip to hip. Lead by example, practice tolerance, and challenge your ability to understand others. Arrogance is the Haterade some have consumed, only if it was illegal.

Coming from a family that preaches financial awareness, I understand the importance of future planning for success. In my home, responsibility is taught young. This does not mean I come from a wealthy family, nor am I rich. I know the fundamentals of early savings and how it can impact your future positively. I understand the difference between want and need and that depending on the lifestyle you desire, can determine and dictate how hard you need to work. Life is nothing but continual decision making. Every decision comes with lessons and blessings. I am well aware that teachers do not exactly make a great income. However, I can make choices that will support my ability to live comfortably, while pursuing my passion of working with children. Being reasonable and establishing your priorities is the very first step. What is important to you? It’s truly ok whatever you choose, you don’t want to feel deprived. This can be accomplished easily if you have a true understanding and respect of money. I don’t plan to have the largest house, newest car, latest version for IPhones, ect. My priority is to live comfortably within my means. You should never live to your income. This means that your cost of living absorbs all your income, with no ability to save. Your income may cover all your expenses but in the case of an emergency, you will struggle immediately. Living comfortably is having the ability to cover all expenses, and continue to grow your savings. I have learned a lot from my stepfather and he has instilled this knowledge in us since he has entered my life. His lessons have given me the ability to buy my first car, pay for my own gas along with repairs, pay my monthly car insurance and cell phone plan. I also pay for my annual AAA, my laptop necessary for Adobe Illustrator, school supplies and more. As a teenager, I am not perfect with money, however I have a very good understanding of how the choices I make affect the cash in my bank accounts. My goal is to make applying for scholarships a job. I am in the 3 + 1 program at Thomas College where I will be a Freshman in the Fall. I will earn my Bachelors in 3 years, and Masters in 4. This will make my course load heavier, demanding more time spent on studies. I would like to concentrate on my studies as it will be a fulltime job and then some. My hope is to earn scholarships that can be applied to my tuition and also my living. Perhaps it’s naive and maybe selfish to ask for further education to be the bare minimum financially, but I will do everything possible to graduate without debt. There has been no one before me, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great grandparents, you name it… that have received a College Degree. I’m going to break that cycle and show my family that YOU CAN reach your dreams and if you work hard to do so. I must add that my stepfather has read Mr. Money Mustache blogs to us and has recommended podcasts to listen to. This is why at 18 I’m blessed with at least some knowledge. If you know who he is, he inspired my family to live minimalistically.

Field Hockey has always been my choice of sport. I got my first stick when I was 6 years old. My skills allowed me to be a core player meaning I seldom came off the field. My position was Center and I covered most of the field. I was aggressive and never scared of the ball, always stayed low. It was my freshman year of High School tryouts. I felt confident as I was doing well with drills and conditioning. Though I was familiar with defense I had only played that position a handful of times. Coach asked to see me on defense, and I gladly complied. We were playing 7 v 7 in our 4th practice of the season. Because of my fearless approach to the ball and ability to stay low, I was playing the position well and actually shocked myself a bit, along with my coach. We finished our scrimmage, but I asked a teammate to do some more shots on goal so I could practice some plays I had learned. That would be the last time on the field for me that season. Staying low is imperative to this sport. It allows you better control and ability to intercept the other team. Defense is not an exception to these skills. My teammate approached the circle, and I steadily made my way to the ball. At the last second she decided to drive the ball and pulled her stick back and hit the ball with a high swing. All I remember next is laying on the ground with both my coaches over me trying to stop uncontrolled bleeding from the left side of my head. I heard someone on the phone with my mother telling her an ambulance was on the way. I had a laceration near the left side of my temple, and injured my knee as I fell. I sustained a concussion that inpaired my sequencing memory and vision. The School luckily has procedures are in place to help students with concussions. It took me 3 months and seeing a neurologist to return to some kind of normalcy, without Field Hockey. This injury interrupted a full season of skill building, endurance training and team bonding for me. My confidence and fearlessness of the ball was gone. Not only does the pain from the injury get to you, but also the mind games in your own head that you failed. The confidence that you had in yourself and your skills diminishes. I spent the following year doing everything I could to catch up on all I missed. My skills and endurance not only did not grow, but my game was regressing. My body was no longer conditioned, I had no endurance and I was petrified of the ball. I didn’t make Varsity like my peers who I had been playing with for years, and I hardly got play time. I was questioning if I still loved this sport. During my Junior and Senior year, my teammates and friends did nothing but encourage me and remind me of the player I am. I worked endlessly to rebuild my confidence by continuing to push myself both mentally and physically. I am proud to say that I have regained the attributes that made me a core player, and I have secured a roster spot on the Field Hockey team at Thomas College in Waterville Maine, where I will be a College Freshman in the Fall. You only fail when you give up, and giving up is not who I am.

My career as an Educator, no matter where it lands me, will be rewarding. I aspire to help shape the minds of our youth. I desire to make a difference in the lives of all students that I am blessed to have in my classroom. My goal is going to be known as The Teacher Who Dared. I am going to challenge our SAU’s in cities where students who require accommodations to aid in the success of their education, stop being released from their IEP’s and 504’s because of overload. Many of these students still require their accommodations but are being cheated of their own right to education. Parents are informed their child is doing so well that their educational plans can be lifted. Quickly these same students begin to struggle. Their program being removed gives them confidence, a little pep in their step, a relief that there will no longer be any classroom interruptions while your peers watch you leave for the assistance you require. 30 to 45 days later their self esteem hits rock bottom. Turns out they need those accommodations for their education to thrive. Some students have families who will request the plan be reinstated, while others will find it to be too much work and tell their child to try harder. That child's education will have been robbed from him, and I refuse to allow this after watching how it affected my sister. Reading books about struggle has always stood out to me. It helps to sharpen problem solving. It challenges your level of empathy and desire to help. If a book makes me cry, then it has inspired my aspirations even more to be a person who will make a difference. If you get goosebumps helping others, you know your calling. My mothers favorite quote is “Aspire To Inspire Before We Expire” She dares to stretch the minds of others by helping them to understand perspective. We are not meant to think alike therefore if we only acknowledged that, our world would be kinder. People flock to her for advice, that is how well respected she is. I want to impact our youth the way she has impacted all those around her. Highly sensitive people have an innate empathetic soul that provides solace and unconditional love, that leaves us feeling safe. If I can provide this to impressional minds, I will feel nothing but fulfillment in life. Thank you, Mackenzie Whiteman

With sponges for brains, everything we exude children absorb. I aspire to inspire these children, as they have done so for me. Overcoming anxiety that affected my learning ability in Elementary School, gave me a deep appreciation for the resources that were available for myself and my single mother. Amazing how I was so young and yet profoundly admired my mentors. By middle school, my IEP coded "Other Health Impairment- Anxiety" was lifted and I thrived from there. I found a thirst for knowledge and applied in the 5th grade for the Manchester Breakthrough Program. This program is a diverse community of dedicated and determined students with a desire or more from their education. I gave up all 3 summer vacations (2015-2017) in a row voluntarily, to complete this program of excellence. Each summer I gained knowledge of the curriculum for the following school year to come. Upon completion I entered College Bound. This program meets one Saturday a month to support and mentor students who are college bound. I am still active with this program and accredit so much of my success to Southern New Hampshire University, and other partners for the creation of such a prestigious program. I want to use my knowledge to create programs just like those that will enrich education for our future leaders. I want to help shape the minds of our youth. I want to inspire their way of thinking by allowing creativity, diversity, culture, and problem solving that will forever be tools in their tool boxes. Thank you for this opportunity. Sincerely, Machenzie Whiteman

Anxiety. Anxiety is why I am passionate about becoming a teacher. As a child I was ridden with anxiety. It impacted my elementary education greatly. Sadly I spent much of my time in a corner crying, they told my mother I was inconsolable. My story is like that of so many, my father abandoned my sister and I. Unfortunately this happened during a child's most impressionable years. My school proceeded with testing assessments to determine if I indeed had a learning disability. Findings were borderline, however with the help of my Pediatrician and outside Counselor, I was coded “Other Health Impairment - Anxiety”. From there I began receiving support academically with a team of educators, educators that would become my reason for my aspirations to become an Elementary School Teacher. Confidence doesn’t come without finding some kind of success. With each achievement, my confidence steadily rose. One year of Summer School and 3 years in Chapter One, I entered the sixth grade. During the normal yearly meeting to discuss my IEP, my current teachers expressed that I became a straight A student to my mother. It was suggested that my IEP can be lifted, and so it was. Another success aiding in my confidence. I began a thirst for knowledge, I truly loved learning. I was nominated by my teachers to apply to The Breakthrough Program of Manchester. This program is offered to high potential middle school students, to participate in a rigorous academic program throughout the summer and school year. I applied, and was accepted, truly blessed. I voluntarily spent 6 weeks each summer for 3 years in a row and many Saturdays, spending a full school day dedicated to furthering my education and building life skills. This program ignited a deeper desire to follow my dreams in education. Upon graduating the Program at the end of the summer before 9th grade, I was asked to join College Bound. College Bound is partnered with Southern New Hampshire University and only offered to students who completed The Breakthrough Program. The structure of College Bound is to match a high school student, with a college student as their mentor. Students check in twice weekly to discuss academic needs or questions, along with meeting 1 Saturday a month to continue skills building at Southern New Hampshire University. I will complete this program this summer, and will become Alumni once attending Thomas College, where I am headed in the fall. Anxiety, though undesired, actually provoked my desire for knowledge that I have in me. It was the very thing that began to build my foundation. My passion is to take the very same encouragement I received, and give it to others. Teachers shape minds, and minds shape our children. It’s my time to pay it forward, and inspire children, as I was.