Hobbies and interests
Crafting
Exercise And Fitness
Morgan Willis
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FinalistMorgan Willis
1,755
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FinalistBio
The value of education is something that I have always understood at a very young age. Neither of my parents had the opportunity to go to college and had some challenges later in life. My family made a commitment in my life to do everything in their power to ensure the love of learning and the importance of hard work and determination.
Because of my parent's love and support for my future, I have been one hundred percent devoted to academic accomplishment. Even though money has always been a little tight. In my senior year of Saint Charles Community college. I was nominated to be the president of MSTA (Missouri State Teacher Association). In addition to running a high-in program for the Department of Education, I was also improving my own studies. I also worked as a substitute teacher through my time in college as a way to contribute to the budget of schooling.
Additionally, along with substitute teaching, I have also been very active within my school and community outside of the classroom, volunteering at Special Olympics for two years, attending a teaching competition, and implementing a new program within the MSTA curriculum; called Stand for the Silent.
My family has been my support team for many years to help me focus on education throughout primary and secondary school. I now have the opportunity to become the first person in my family to graduate from college, though I am in need of some financial assistance to help me achieve my long-term goal of becoming the best educator I can be for my future students, and possible staff one day.
Education
University of Missouri-St Louis
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Education, General
Minors:
- Special Education and Teaching
St Charles Community College
Associate's degree programMajors:
- Education, General
Miscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
Career
Dream career field:
Education
Dream career goals:
Principal, Professor, Chairman, etc.
Substitute Teaching
2020 – Present4 years
Public services
Volunteering
Special Olympics — Office worker2020 – 2020Volunteering
Special Olympics — Referee2019 – 2019
Future Interests
Volunteering
Entrepreneurship
First-Generation Educators Scholarship
“I’m sorry, your daughter will never be more than average. You and her will just have to accept that.” This is what I heard from my third grade teacher at a parent-teacher conference. At the time I did not gather the whole meaning behind her words. However, seeing my mother’s face during that meeting told me everything. That was the moment I knew I wanted to be an educator.
Growing up I struggled in school. I had a reading/comprehension learning disability. School was very difficult for me, but it never tore down my spirits. I always gave my hundred and ten percent. Although, for my third grade teacher is wasn’t enough. I was continuously getting F’s in her class; at third grade. After that parent-teacher conference the learning environment changed dramatically. My mother seeked guidance from someone else who could help me pursue in my academics. Long behold my guidance counselor was my guardian angle.
She had been a guidance counselor for two, but had been a teacher for about ten prior to her promotion. She would stop her busy schedule, pull me out of class and help me with assignments. Not to mention she gave me practice packets, and reading materials to do at home with my mother. Back then I did not appreciate all the help I was receiving, but I did appreciate the words she shared with me when I moved. “Morgan, you will aspire to be everything you dream. Average is just a word others say when they do not know how to describe uniqueness.”
I went on through middle and high school excelling in grades. Then came my first ever education class; which was child development. I was so intrigued with the information I was learning. I poured countless hours into papers and projects. It could be said that I did more then “average” work on these assignments.
My next couple of classes were designed to get me in the teaching environment. I taught pre-K. Where I development lesson plans that correlated to appropriate grade level standards. I then progressed on where I was placed in a second grade classroom! Walking into the room I felt at home. Growing up school should have been the last place I wanted to be, but with the right person. I was thrilled to learn.
In my practicum I worked one one one with students. I worked with a little girl who had difficulty reading; she was below her grade level. I saw myself in this little girl. I went home and did some research and create a lesson plan designed for her.
I read an article about the science of reading. This article mentioned that students are taught to memorize words rather then read them. Sight words, word walls, etc they all teach students to look at it, know it, and memorize it. Rather students should be taught how to decode words. I presented this to my cooperating teacher and she fell in love! I began helping my student and we started this new learning adventure. I showed her how to properly decode and she progressed slowly but understand proficiently. My short time with that little girl. She was still below grade level but she moved two level up in her reading.
I am now a senior in college with two associates degrees in education. This is the career I was chosen for and I will guide child to be there best selves and let every child that I come across know that they are more then average. We are all just searching for our own uniqueness.