Breaking Barriers in Education by Anna

Breaking Barriers in Education by Anna - May 2025 Scholarship Essay

As a special education and elementary education college student, I've learned that every child learns differently. I am a special education paraprofessional at an elementary school, and I can confirm that with the right support, every child can succeed. I would use my knowledge to build schools and programs that offer access, interest, and relevance for every child, no matter what their abilities or backgrounds entail.
First, I'd develop inclusive schools throughout the world where special education and general education teachers work together, classes are taught in partnerships, and teaching is tailored to student needs. The schools would feature adaptive technology, sensory rooms, and educators who have training to work with diverse learners. Most importantly, there would be schools where kids with disabilities are not just included, they're celebrated.
I would also fund teacher training programs to share strategies like differentiated instruction, behavior support, and Universal Design for learning. By equipping teachers with these strategies, more classrooms would be able to effectively teach students of all abilities and allow them to excel.
I've always shied away from those with disabilities because I just simply did not understand. However, now that I am an adult, I understand more and I am interested in learning ways to help.
Beyond schools, I'd develop community centers offering tutoring, life skills programs, and mental health resources for students and families. Education shouldn't be limited to academics, it should nurture confidence, empathy, and independence.
With unlimited resources, I'd support the conviction that inclusion is not only best, it's necessary. The world becomes a more compassionate and humane place when all voces are heard and every child is valued. That is what I would wish to do with unlimited time and money, and my education is only the beginning.