A Special Teacher Changed My Life and Influenced My Career Choice by Max

A Special Teacher Changed My Life and Influenced My Career Choice by Max - March 2023 Scholarship Essay

I have wanted to pursue a career in teaching for several years now due to the incredible influence of several people, including a teacher who has helped shape who I am today.

When I think back to those who inspired me most, besides my parents, several incredible teachers come to mind. For example, in elementary school, math was challenging for me and my ADHD made it difficult to pay attention in class. It took a special teacher, Ms. Lisa Sonntag, in the fifth grade to make all the difference in the world for me. Ms. Sonntag, a special education teacher at Kings Glen Elementary School backtracked to the basics to make math, a subject that I struggled with the most, understandable and even enjoyable for me. She gave me the foundation I needed to succeed and even excel in math through the rest of elementary school, middle school, and in my high school years. She made learning fun and even helped show me techniques to bring me back when I was drifting, instilling skills and coping mechanisms that I could use for future learning. These skills and maturing helped me to make it through the 1 ½ years of COVID-19 remote learning when I was in 9th and 10th grade, and really helped me to enjoy school and to excel. I have also learned some helpful new study skills, including budgeting my time, using flashcards and tricks to remember things, and not waiting until the last minute, which have proven to be incredibly helpful! At this time, I have a 3.78 unweighted GPA, and have successfully taken a challenging high school schedule while bowling nearly every day and competing in centers near and far each weekend. I even thrived in two college classes on the Northern Virginia Community College campus last fall, achieving an A in English and a B in Anatomy and Physiology, which was the most challenging class I think I have ever taken. I’m confident and I think I’m ready for just about anything that life sends my way!

Today I actually see my ADHD as a blessing rather than a hindrance in my life. Having the ability to focus on multiple things at one time has helped me to multi-task and capture new information in all of my core subjects. I also feel like my ADHD has helped make me a more creative thinker and a better writer. I can see things from many different lenses, which makes me unique in a sense. I look forward to bringing this creativity and understanding of children who are like me to the classroom, and to really make a difference in their lives.

To summarize, the most special and influential teacher in my life, Ms. Sonntag really cares about her students and that goes well beyond the classroom. She has patience and creative teaching methods that get through to her students. She is encouraging and you can tell that she truly loves her students, wanting to see them succeed in her class AND in the future. The fact that she is still in touch with me and my family is testament to how much she cares. I am looking forward to seeing this particular teacher sitting with my family as I walk across the stage in my cap and gown in June, as I graduate with honors from Lake Braddock Secondary School. I hope I can be just as good a teacher and inspiration for others as she has been for me in my life.