Mrs. Whitworth's impact by Alicia

Mrs. Whitworth's impact by Alicia - January 2025 Scholarship Essay

A teacher who has had a significant impact on my educational journey is my AVID teacher Mrs. Whitworth. I first met Mrs. Whitworth freshman year of high school when I was really struggling. Covid had just ended and I was not a good student in middle school so the idea of succeeding in high school felt extremely overwhelming and unattainable. I had no confidence in my ability to get good grades and be a good student.
In my freshman year I struggled. I often showed up to the first period late, procrastinated my work, and if I did not understand something I would give up. Despite the hard time I gave her Mrs. Whitworth never gave up on me. She pushed me to do my work and get good grades. With frequent grade and missing assignment checks she kept me accountable for doing my work and did not let me fade away in the background while I was struggling. Never once did she take my excuses for why I could not do my work, instead she would listen and help me come up with solutions so I could be successful.
Mrs. Whitworth made it her personal mission to make sure everyone in our AVID class had the tools they needed to succeed. Whether that be school supplies like notebooks or binders, or the knowledge and support needed. In her class I not only learned how to take notes but she also taught us how to go back and study them for a test. She was always happy to help me with my school work when I was confused even if she didn’t know the answer or had much information on the topic. In our AVID class she created a positive and friendly environment where everyone felt comfortable enough to help and keep each other accountable. This lack of annoyance and positive attitude towards my learning was irreplaceable in my learning because it gave me the courage to ask for help without shame.
These are only a few examples of the impact Mrs. Whitworth had my education. The list of her contributions goes on. But the impact of these few things she did had a monumental impact on not just my education but in how I view all education. Before her help school felt like the lottery rigged so only the lucky few could succeed but after her help it feels possible. School no longer feels like a broken puzzle but it is now something that I can succeed at and enjoy. I would not have been able to succeed without her contributions for which I will always be forever grateful.