My Journey to #AchieveMore As an undergraduate student I have been able to focus on research while also finding communities that encompass my intersectional identities on campus. This has proved essential in my journey of personal growth. I am a first generation woman of color of an immigrant background, and I dedicate my work to communities of color. I do research involving human rights and technology at the University of California, Santa Cruz and research on citizen engagement in local democracies across Europe and the Americas for New America in Washington D.C..The work that I do is dedicated to the communities that have uplifted me for years and that continue to inspire me to achieve more. Ultimately, my goal is for my research it to be easily accessible, diverse, and inclusive. The current U.S. state of affairs makes it difficult to navigate society with these goals in mind. Especially when you read, think, breathe social injustices as part of your educational and professional life. Moments like these are where I am reminded of how resilient my communities are. My experience in the recent DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) demonstration for the supreme court case of Regents of the University of California v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, reinvigorated my passion for social justice. My poster had an image of an immigrant father and daughter who lost their lives while crossing the border and it read "We are all Connected, Defend Immigrant Families, Defend DACA". While this was just my poster, there were many alike. Our posters were soaked after it started raining but people started handing out rain ponchos and emergency blankets. Our collective voices were hard across the road, our songs, our passion, "Home is Here! Home is Here!" The feeling of unity in the crowd was transcending and reassuring. We will be okay and we will continue to fight for a better future. Both independent work and public demonstrations are needed to make the world a better place. My research consists of a lot of independent work. I want to further knowledge and make it accessible for all communities. As an undergraduate student, I have the privilege of engaging in the academic world and I hope to bring that back to my communities. This interconnectivity keeps me going. We are each individuals who bring our own talents and together we form community with the power of a collective voice.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore My students and their heart to evoke change have been the guiding force for me. The vast majority have historically and systematically been excluded from higher education. They come into college with great ambitions and overwhelming responsibilities. Being a first-generation minority student and an immigrant, their goals and dreams deeply resonate with me. Pursuing creative careers is nerve-racking, let alone, seeking a degree in it, for both students and their families. It feels you are going nowhere at times and the odds are always against you to have a prosperous career. In the throes of my quarter-life crisis, I had considered leaving the U.S. forever and pursuing a monastic life instead. However, words by a Tibetan monk jolted me awake - "Living in a monastery is the easiest. Strive in the real world." How liberating it was! It led me to question and challenge the status quo and imagine. I have not stopped since. How do I prepare students to flourish? Imagination generates alternate future possibilities and can become wellsprings of freedom. This has become vital, more than ever in a VUCA world, that is increasingly socially divided. I strive to nurture students with adaptable skills and knowledge to fearlessly dream up and carve out space of their own. With this ability instilled into them, students can withstand the hardship, feed their passion to practice what they love, and through which, change the world around them. They open up new horizons. Over the course of their study, students come to find their own voice and transform into critical and creative thinkers and makers. They become future leaders and enable others to follow in their footsteps. Having the opportunity to partake in the process of their transformation has been rewarding - a privilege. This drives me to achieve more, for them.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore Towards the end of my sophomore year I got very sick from the common cold. I was in bed for 4 days and missed a whole week of school. Since I had been sick for almost a whole week, I was taken to the ER that evening because my body started shivering and my coughs were very bad. My visit to the ER was not covered for because my medi-aid was not filled out so I did not have any medical insurance that whole year. I told my dad that I did not want to go to the ER because I'm scared that the bill won't be cover and my parents may end up having to pay for it. However my dad insisted because I'd been sick for a whole week and he was worried that I might fall behind in school due to my sickness. After visiting the ER, I came back home with prescribed medicine which has helped lessen my coughs and made me feel a lot better. After two weeks, a bill was mailed to my house, it was a total of about $340. Seeing the bill made me upset and sad because I felt bad for being sick and so now my parents have to pay for it even though I knew they didn't have much left. Then another bill of about the same price was sent the following week of about $300 as well. The total of my visit to the ER was about $640-700. My hope is that no family will have to go through this because I know that a lot of families struggled financially during times like this. I've always dreamed of becoming a Heart Surgeon. I love the idea of helping people and seeing the smiles on their faces. Being able to complete a degree in Medicine and Health will be the best thing for me. After completing my education, I would like to help my Hmong Community out and most importantly the Community I'm living in right now. I want to advocate for things such as financial support, access to medicine, and everyone to have someone that cares for them. As a Doctor, I would like to be open and listen to my patients' problems and try my best to help them out. If they have financial issues, I would like to help them for free and I don't want anything in return but for them to be happy and healthy. Growing up in a low income family, and being the youngest out of my 12 siblings, I knew my parents could not afford to give each and every one of us what we wanted but they did their best to provide us with clothes and food to fill our stomachs. As the first child in my family who will be attending a 4 year college, completing my education will allow me to help not just my family but also my community in the future.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore I am driven to achieve more because I know, now, that I can. I've developed a rich relationship with confidence and a desire to immerse myself in meaningful work. I'm a fourth year undergraduate student at the University of California, Irvine. After I obtain my bachelor's degree in Criminology, Law and Society I have plans to attend law school. I foresee myself working in Civil Law with concentrations in Civil and Human Rights. Alone, these goals already seem ambitious; however, given context, 17-year-old me would have thought them to be unattainable. I remember this moment vividly - the senior students in my high school AP English class were excitedly talking amongst themselves about the universities that they had applied to. Throughout my entire academic career I was convinced that people "like me" did not go to college. I'm a daughter of an immigrant, I lived in a humble household, and I'm youngest child out of five; not a single person in my home brothers, sisters, and parents included pursued a higher education. I closed the door on myself because I didn't have the confidence to face these challenges. Instead of focusing on college applications during my senior year I took on extra shifts at the McDonald's down the street. I knew that work experience was key for those of us who would not be continuing their education. Fast forward ten years later, I'm on track to complete my Bachelor of Arts degree in June of 2020 just four days before my thirtieth birthday. What drives me to achieve more? I know that I can, and I know there are others out there that believe taking hold of their future is impossible. My goal is to share my story so that they know they, too, can achieve more.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore The sun heat is fiery in mid-day afternoon as I helplessly saw my mother works tirelessly without a pause. Her hand began to dry like a desert. Her face was full of sweat and worries endured pain of working countless hours for low wages. Her back pain began to intensified and her knee starts to crumble. The condition seem daunted but she did not give up hope on supporting me in my education. When my parents were young, they never had a chance to attend school because of war, education means everything to them. They were forced to flee their homeland, escape to Thailand refugee camp to save our family. In 2011 my family had an opportunity to resettle in America. They were so brave to leave everything they knew when we came to America however, they did it so that I could have a privilege and educational opportunity that they never did. Because of my family's sacrifices it drives me to want to achieve greater things than myself. In 2018, I graduated on top of my class and am now sophomores studies biomedical science for pre med. It is my dream to one day to reach back to the people who are left behind in refugee camps. I want to return and set up a clinic to help community there. Refugees do not have many resources to afford quality medical care like we have here in America. My desire is to help educate them.With knowledge, deadly disease could greatly reduced. Education is a powerful tool with the ability to change the quality of people's lives. It is also my dream to inspire those who comes after me in my community to believe in themselves that they are capable of achieving higher education no matter where they come from.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore Consuming new knowledge can feel daunting at times, especially if you don't have the proper skills, support, or confidence needed when educational challenges arise. I was raised by my grandmother in Saginaw, Michigan. As a teenager, I was fascinated with the idea of sharing knowledge with others, and by the time I started college I became devoted to developing deeper understandings of the world through literature and writing. Having been raised in an impoverished community where many of my relatives worked in service industries as custodians, cashiers, and dishwashers, I learned to value hard work and perseverance. When I wasn't helping my grandmother perform domestic duties, I devoured a diverse body of authors. I wanted desperately to understand the history of class, race, and poverty in America since so much of the obstacles faced by those I loved seemed to center around these subjects. My grandmother didn't have the resources needed for me to get ahead in my studies, and I was often challenged as a first generation low income college student while pursuing a undergraduate degree. However, when I look back on my studies in undergraduate and graduate school, it was the work that lead me to questions I needed answers to that gave me the most intellectual satisfaction. As a writing instructor, I work hard to encourage students to engage with societal issues that impact communities they care about and to ask important questions about the world in which we live. My work with students has shown me the importance of providing opportunities to engage the world with a critical eye toward encouraging change and moving beyond the polarizing depiction of issues where we lose sight of the complexities of the human experience. With this, students actively seek out solutions to problems found within the communities they cherish.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore Teaching future teachers is inspiring work. It is work, which makes a direct impact now and has a ripple effect for the future. I am driven in this work, because I know that that the teacher candidates I help to prepare today may also be a future teacher of one my own children tomorrow. My educator hero, Mary McLeod Bethune, had a powerful saying about always being ready to invest in a learner, because you never know when you might find a diamond in the rough. Mary McLeod Bethune's words  and her biography continue to be a source of motivation for my work. She understood that education is about the emancipation of the mind. It is about what Paulo Freire states as being able to read and re-write the world. As a teacher educator, I hope to continue to make a strong impact on my teacher candidates in guiding them towards becoming agents of change in their future classrooms. I believe that it is critical for teachers to help nurture learners in exploring the world and discovering their place in it. Educating for global awareness and for the development of global competencies is how learners go about this dual process of exploration and discovery. As a teacher educator, I am committed to the development of global citizens who are competent and curious about investigating the world. Part of this commitment includes coordinating and leading study abroad trips to places like South Africa so that teacher candidates have opportunities for international teaching experiences. The world is the biggest and best classroom. In my work as a teacher educator, I hope my teacher candidates will pursue the grand vision about the possibility of schooling as being a place of liberation for taking informed action towards a more sustainable planet. Showing and leading teacher candidates towards such a vision is an awe-inspiring aspect of my work, which I have the privilege and responsibility to continue to do.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore I have wanted to be a teacher since I was 10. That was my unwavering answer for "What do you want to be when you grow up?". It may have taken shape in my mind since both my parents were professors and it just seemed like the golden choice. I have been under the supervision of some great teachers and that has shaped my life. The idea of being able to affect someone's life in a meaningful way has always been my driving factor attracting me towards this profession. As I grew up, I started understanding what this entails. Along the way, after I completed my Master's in Economics, I took up a high paying consulting job. Because that is what was right in front of me, was comfortable, and what my peers were doing. The idea of becoming a professor went to a backburner. Being in India initially, I saw human beings in different circumstances as different socioeconomic conditions, different religions, different political affiliations and there was a wide variation in health and economic conditions. And the question started forming in my mind, "Am I doing enough?". Economics is powerful as it informs public policy. Choices and incentives are important in shaping a person's life and that is what Economics studies. I was fascinated not by objects far away rather by my fellow humans and their lives. This is what led me to further my study to get a Ph.D. in the US. Given my interest, my work focuses on policy evaluation and the impact on people's livelihoods in developing countries. I can share this wonderful experience of understanding the myriad choices that human beings make with my students. And seeing that spark in their eye as they embark on this journey is priceless. There is truly no greater joy in life.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore What drives me to #AchieveMore I have always been fascinated by computers and computer programming. I grew up watching my father, a software developer, communicate with computer systems to create complex system applications. I was continuously amazed at what he could do and begged him to teach me. He never would, a fact that was even more damaging than disappointing: as a young child, I was diagnosed with several mental handicaps/learning disabilities. For the first half of my life, I was consistently told that I was limited, and that I lacked potential. I believed these things for many years, and truly thought higher education was out of my reach. I abandoned my childhood dream of a career in technology and found a job I was good at but that never challenged me. I thought I was doing well "considering my circumstances". Last year my world was turned upside down when I was diagnosed with degenerative disk disease and required a spinal fusion surgery. Doctors said in no uncertain terms that I could no longer do the work I had performed for 20 years. I refused to accept this as another limitation; in fact, I have always prided myself in my ability to provide for myself and my family no matter how much or how hard I had to work. During this time a friend gave me the encouragement I needed to finally take a chance on myself, and I found the courage to follow my inner truth despite a lifetime of messages to the contrary. As I decided to begin the journey of a lifetime, I engaged in a lot of soul-searching and reflecting. I discovered there are 3 main truths that drive me and have done so in different ways throughout my life. These are; that I do the right thing even when it is difficult or when it costs me, that I follow an honorable work ethic, and that I defend those who have been mistreated, taken advantage of, or who are vulnerable. Despite my less-than-ideal beginnings, these truths survived as key elements within my personality and my values. As a reflection of this fact, I have chosen Cyber Security as my major and my career, beginning my college education much later in life than most but also far more determined to make the most of this opportunity and my education. These truths, along with the burning drive to prove to myself that none of those other voices were right about me, drive me every day toward my goals—not just for me but for anyone out there who has ever been told that they are not enough, or that they shouldn't bother pursuing their dreams.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore The sacrifices my parents endured migrating to the United States act as the primary driving forces motivating me the past 22 years. My parents migration story began when I was born in 1996. Shortly 10 months after I was born, my father traveled to the U.S. with the hope of attaining the "American Dream" for his newly formed family. He couchsurfed and worked tirelessly to save money for us to migrate with him, however that took over one year. When the time was right, my mother abandoned her life, family and friends in Mexico. She risked her life crossing the U.S-Mexico border to provide me with the opportunities she never had growing up. My mother was nineteen when she placed the future of her two year old daughter before her own aspirations and goals. Despite our dangerous travels and sacrifices, I believe the American Dream is unattainable for immigrants like us. Immigration who are depicted as "criminals" and "rapist" for wanting a better future for their children. For over 20 years, my dad has worked through harsh weather conditions as a construction worker to provide us with food and shelter. Despite my father's strong work ethic, the money he earned was never enough. It is their constant sacrifices that push me through the hardships that I encounter as a first generation, low income student of color. Despite the odds, their sacrifices have paid off. In 2015, I became the first in my family to graduate high school with a 4.3 GPA. In December 2019, I will be the first in my family to receive a Bachelor's degree from the number one public university, UC Berkeley. These two accomplishments are only the beginning of my journey towards providing my parents with the financially stable lifestyle they deserve.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore For a couple of years, I worked as a Research Assistant for the Psychology Department in the local university; it was the first step for becoming a psychologist. However, when I started my Master's degree I was offered a TAship where my only duty would be helping as an ESL (English as a Second Language) tutor; after just one semester, it promptly escalated to having the opportunity of teaching one of these ESL classes. It was the Fall semester, and after no more than two weeks teaching, I discovered my real call, teaching. When I started college, I was just like them; new school, new country, new language. It was shocking culturally and personally; not the best, nor inspiring, way to start your college path. In fact I hated it! For this reason, when I had the opportunity of teaching my first ESL college class, I promised myself that I would devote my professional life to offer them not just all available resources, but also the opportunities, support, and caring environment in the classroom where they could feel integrated, respected, and valued. I promised myself to #achievemore for them by taking risks, listening to their stories, and more importantly, learning from them. It was never the plan, but teaching has led me to better understand the processes, struggles, and changes that I commited to when I first started college. Conjointly, teaching has also taught me that promoting learning is just one of the many goals educators might have as part of their agendas; teaching allows you to teach, to learn, to inspire. Now as I enter the ESL classroom, I remember the promise I made to myself of trying to offer them their best college experience, and it helps me to polish my passion for teaching.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore What drives Stacey Frazier to #AchieveMore? Picture a student, whose native language is Spanish and is over 2,000 miles from home, sitting in a computer lab trying to compose an essay in English. This student's life in the United States depends on his ability to succeed in college. His family's livelihood weighs heavily on his shoulders. The moment his instructor looks at him, after he sat staring at the computer screen for more than hour, feelings of failure rush over him. This particular scenario occurred my first year of teaching freshman level composition students. I realized, as I looked into his eyes, what underprepared writings students experience when they begin college. This was the moment I felt the push to commit myself to be the best composition teacher these students deserve. He and all of the other underprepared students are what drive my work. So many students enter their college careers having deficiencies in various areas. A deficiency in writing places a burden that may be hard for students to bear. Writing is such an essential piece to college success that students need mastery to be successful. I needed to find a way to not only help them learn to write but to also help them feel the success they can achieve. These students have been my continued motivation over the years. Those students, they, are the ones who motived me to go back to school and study education, focusing on curriculum, to help set a path for them and those who follow similar paths. I even used their needs as a focus for my dissertation research. I can only hope I can teach them that they have to ability to be successful, important and be the change our society needs.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore I work because I feel it is my God given responsibility. I do not work just for the money but I am driven to use my talents to the full. If I did not I would feel frustrated and even useless. I feel happiest when I am working at something that I know will benefit others. Without the satisfaction of knowing I am doing the best I can I will not be happy. When I left my first teaching role I heard that the staff did not expect my replacement to do all that I did. However, I do not begrudge that I worked hard. I am happy that I was able to give my students all I did. My parents and grandparents motivated me to do as much as I could. They worked very hard with little but accomplished a great legacy in rearing five boys who were successful and had families that break the norm. I have accomplished most of what I set out to do. I published, taught, and helped people in need. I experienced great joy in all these areas. Although I had hoped my books and articles would have had more of an impact, the discipline and accomplishment were worthwhile. I taught K- graduate school and have found great joy in being a role model to some of my students. Even as a youth I enjoyed helping others. Shoveling snow for neighbors and our family, visiting old people, and always being willing to help out after school. When something needed doing I guess I'd be the go to guy. After university I began teaching I coached at a small high school which meant I coached everything. However I enjoyed it. I was happy that I could give my students opportunities and experiences they may never have had. I helped with young people's groups as I wanted them to have more experiences to enjoy life. I feel that summer camps are a positive experience that many kids need. I had summer missions while at grad. school because I enjoyed working with people. I worked on the mission field not because I had to but because I felt I could make a difference in the lives of the people with whom I worked. In working with people who had specific needs ( physical, emotional, educational, or spiritual) I found that I was blessed. These folks helped me. They made me feel good about myself and showed me that hard work pays dividends. Now I set out to make a difference in our community. There seem to be so many people that need help. I try to share so that they can be better off. I want my children to be able to look at their lives and be happy. Thus my work is to try and help them as much as I can to succeed. They have done that in school and work. I trust they will do well in other areas of life.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore As an Assistant Professor at Columbus State University in Columbus, GA, I have had the pleasure of working with a number of students (undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate) over these 4 years. In the Department of Chemistry, I am the only female professor on the tenure-track line among 8 chemistry faculty. My presence in academia serves as an example for all women in STEM, and I constantly strive to demonstrate to our students the important work that women are doing in previously male-dominated fields. I am privileged and enjoy the ability to challenge and change the stereotypes typically associated with being a chemist. While at CSU, I have created a seminar class of“ CHEM 1715 as“ that informs and empowers our chemistry majors. Freshmen and sophomore chemistry students are introduced to career opportunities and research across the various disciplines through invited talks by university researchers, industry representatives, and local companies (ie. beverage development, water treatment, chemical industry, and academic research). This course is a "living user's manual" for their chemistry degree and future careers as successful, resourceful chemists. CHEM 1715 was implemented to give students confidence and assurance that they have unlimited options as a chemical specialist. My goal, as a researcher in the field of medicinal organic chemistry, is to create an environment where the topics and tasks associated in chemistry are viewed as conquerable, rather than challenging. It is essential for an academic researcher to provide a path for all students by utilizing collaborations and developing interdisciplinary opportunities for learning and growth. The catalyst of my successes is and has always been my students. I see incredible value in both their present state and their future potential. I lead by example to provide a collaborative and supportive environment to better disseminate their work through publications and national scholarship applications.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore My name is Elena Miller. I moved to the United States from Russia 21 years ago. I'm a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (Ultrasound Technologist), college professor and the program director of the ultrasound program at our local community college in Illinois. I love both of my jobs because I get to take care of my patients and train future sonographers. I spend 4 semesters with my students and I'm the only instructor they have for 16 months. I have a small group of students, typically 10 to 12 in each cohort annually. Therefore, we become really close to each other like a family. The program is very challenging, takes lots of hard work, dedication and perseverance to successfully graduate. In addition, students must pass 3 difficult national credentialing examinations prior to graduation. It's not an easy task and therefore it's very important for me to be there for them and give them as much support and guidance as I can. They are very much like my kids to me. I encourage my students to see the "good" of our profession which inspires them to become the best they can be. Hearing words of kindness and thankfulness from the patients goes a long way and makes my students want to go an "extra mile". I'm so grateful that I have the opportunity to teach brand new students and mold them into excellent sonographers who value every individual, every life and take care of their patients as their own family members. It's very rewarding to see students transform from day 1 to day 480 into confident and competent sonographers. It brings me much joy and satisfaction to know that my students receive a high-quality education, find employment and receive compliments about their skills.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore What drives me to commit to higher education in the last forty years is my students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Given the time, adequate amount of resources, enthusiasm, and patience, anybody can teach. Whether the student is willing or not, the subject matter can be presented in a fashion that is entertaining and soon the student will find himself or herself enticed by the material. I admit these couple of statements may seem a bit idealistic, but it is an ideal I know is worth holding and striving for simply because every student can be taught and made into a willing individual if the professor is able to identify with each student on a personal level and adapt. A professor's goal should be to convey the concepts and subject matter efficiently as a whole, but one cannot reach every student in this fashion. Those who need extra help should feel comfortable to come to the office. By expressing an interest in the students themselves, a level of trust is created personally and professionally. As I have already mentioned, the ability to identify with a student enhances the teacher-learner relationship. These days, as a record number of young adults embark on the journey to higher education, many of them unconsciously embark on a path to self-realization and actualization. It is no surprise that young adults mature almost at an exponential rate in college. For the past forty years, I have had some ten thousand students to cross paths with me in the classrooms and laboratories, and as the times change, teaching techniques have changed and knowledge of the universe around us has expanded which in turn has shaped new generations of pupils. As a professor, it is imperative that with the changing technology, times, and students, that one is willing to adapt and utilize any new methods available. Experimentation is key to a scientist, and for a Physics professor, this is no different. I have actively tailored my tests to the online realm by having the students take examinations online via their laptops. Canvas has provided a means of instant communication and efficient information distribution. I have made sure not to ignore these invaluable instruction advancements, nor have I shirked my duty to experiment and adapt by trying something new with respect to the rapidly rising technology. A professor is never endowed with all the knowledge of a subject. It is important to remember this humbling fact and therefore one should constantly be learning. By attending seminars, conferences, reviewing new textbooks and editions, and striving to be better professionally, I am avidly attempting to broaden the scope of my knowledge. The mark of a degree does not signify the end to one's studies. If a professor epitomizes this commitment, the students will reflect and exemplify the same passion. In the end, the food chain of knowledge reaches the student even beyond graduation realizing the "seeking of knowledge from the cradle to the grave."         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore My mom was the first one in her family to get higher education. She always encourages me to reach higher and to learn from others. Once I became a mentor three years ago, I realized that I can develop my own interests , share them with others-and help them grow. There are days when it's just hard to kick the Impostor Syndrome to the curb-but I learned to do it after thinking about the crocodiles and gators. :=) You have to STOP making them run in your head and question everything that you do. I currently mentor for IT Mentoring program at the University of Michigan and through the ID2ID Educause program. My mentees and I learn a lot from each other-we are currently working on developing a resource site for Universal Design and Accessibility. I put together a list of resources during my first year as a program participant and now creating a more viable and, hopefully, user friendly resource with my current mentee. Collaborative work allows both of us to grow-we attend and discuss webinars together, talk about the best ways to support faculty, students, and our fellow colleagues-and have fun! It's worth taking the first step-even if it means doubting yourself. If you need a listening board-a mentor, a colleague, and someone who won't judge-let me know. ps. I just wrote a blog on mentoring and professional development-American Talent Development . Let me know if you'd like me to attach it. It also has my picture. :=) Otherwise, I use a cute gator or a croc (or Inspector Gadget), as my avatar.             What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore From the days of pretending to be teacher to my childhood playmates, to the day I stood before my first class of college students, I always wanted to be a teacher. In the intervening years, observing teachers became a favorite pastime. I enjoyed teachers who were not only smart, but also warm, genuine, and effervescent. My favorite teachers, however, had all the above characteristics plus excellent story telling skills. I wanted to be just like them when I grew up. After earning a BA and then an MFA in Voice and Interpretative Speech, my dream to be a teacher became a reality. For the past 35 years I have taught in the Music and Communication Arts Departments at Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown, Wisconsin. Besides teaching classroom communications and music classes, I teach private voice lessons, and direct one main-stage play or musical each school year. We all have stories to tell—personal stories, the stories of others, and stories born in our imagination. Equipping the next generation to unleash their stories in the most communicative way possible—whether spoken or sung—is what motivates me to enter the classroom or my studio every week. Scholarly research verifies that strong, effective communicators have a definite advantage in any sphere of life. I want my students to have that advantage. Seeing them employ clear thought, creative language, genuine emotion, and heartfelt empathy assures me that the art of skillful face-to-face communication will not be lost in this age of burgeoning technology. In the community of Watertown I am heavily involved with the Euterpe Music Club and the Watertown Area Chamber Orchestra. I am Music Director of Fellowship Baptist Church and the host/producer of a monthly TV show (Carol's Kitchen) at WatertownTV—the local public access station. The 30-minute program has three components: (1) I cook one or two recipes; (2) local musicians—often students of mine—perform 2-3 selections (and are taste testers); and (3) I read an exciting story I have written. It is an amazing opportunity to model the kind of communication I am hoping to instill in my students.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore What drives me to commit to the work that I do is to show people that you don't have to do what people expect you to do, you can do what you love. Whatever I do, I try to work as hard as I can until I make it happen. A specific person who has motivated me along my pathway is my squash coach. He moved to Canada from England with the vision to have the best Squash program in Canada. At the time, no-one believe that he would do it. There were many excuses like he doesn't have the resources or that he didn't have enough people who wanted to play. But he persevered throughout all the doubt and ended up creating what many called the best squash club in Canada. The impact that I hope my work will do is motivate others to followw their passion, because at the end of the day, that is what makes the world a better place. When I get older I want to become a teacher of the lessons that I learned along the way. I hope to be the first Canadian to ever win MVP honours in Squash and in football at the same year. I feel as if my grandparents were the ones who showed me where hard work can get you. The also came to Canada as immigrants with little money, but they had the drive and desire to become the people they wanted to be. They paved the way for my life, have I hope to pave an even better one for my children. I believe that education is such an integral part of my life because it brings such joy to my life to learn something new every day. I believe that knowledge is power, and power can help build a better world.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore What drives me to achieve more was sparked the day in class, midway through my underachieving early undergraduate years, when a professor said: "The most important thing you can learn in college is how to learn." If I could write a letter now to that 19-year-old self, sitting there almost half a century ago, I would tell him, The fact that for once you were listening at that moment will change your life exponentially. You will write twenty years for newspapers, which will transition from manual typewriters to Selectrics to mainframe computers to PCs. Nurturing the skill of how to learn will guide you through that, and it will ignite the ongoing versatility to evolve from sports to news to design to features to columns – and to see storytelling from multiple perspectives in developing a flourishing freelance sideline. In time, it will enable you to engineer a complete career transformation through five years of master's and doctoral work, and to thrive more than ever teaching media law and media history for almost two decades. You will come to see learning how to learn as not just skill, but art. It will enable you to apply your academic learning – far beyond padding the vitae – to making a difference in everyday life. It will enable you to understand diversity and inclusion not as "politically correct" mandates but as keys to a richer world for all. As you try to help alert your Millennial and Gen-Z students to studies revealing the addictive, mind-numbing qualities of smartphones, you will one day be inspired to promise them that learning how to learn will deliver an infinitely more lasting high than the dopamine-delivery shots of social media. And you will sincerely hope they may look back one day and see how that path made all the difference.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore I hope to become a doctor to fulfill my dream, but also to give back to the country and my parents, who gave so much to me and my adopted siblings. I want to become selfless to those who live selflessly every day. I want to take care of the hurt and the lost. Writing this makes me think of all the hardships that made me into the servant leader that I strive to be today. I was mostly influenced by my parents, especially my Dad. He came from a family that wasn't much for communication or physical love. Yet, he was second person to go to college in his lineage. My adopted grandfather served this country in WWII. My adopted grandmother was a an inhabitant of the Dutch community, Pella in Iowa. On my Dad's side, my grandfather spent his whole life on the farm. My sweet grandmother died when my Dad was 13-years-old of Jaundice. My eldest adopted brother, John David was adopted from Wisconsin. My next eldest brother, John Luke was adopted from Illinois. My eldest sister was adopted from Ohio. My older twin sisters were adopted from around the area of Guangzhou, China. My twin sister and l are adopted from around the area of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. My little sisters, who are about a month apart, are adopted from Guatemala. The three eldest adoptions and us younger six adoptions stories show the difference of how hard it was to get out of a country because you were born with something or someone that could get you killed. My three eldest brothers and sister never had to worry, at birth, if they were going to survive another day or if their last breath was going to be breathed. That's how serious us younger six adoptions were. Being able to be here now, proves that there is better plan for me somewhere.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore Since I was a little girl, I always knew I wanted to teach. Through my university life, I worked really hard to become an English Teacher. I worked as a graduate teaching assistant and an English teacher for 7th and 8th grade. I always thought I wanted to continue through higher education. However, as the year has progressed and I have worked with my new school, I have seen how much I really love working with kids. My kids are my motivation to keep moving through my thesis and MAEE studies. They are my cheerleaders on tough days and good ones. They help me grow as an educator and teach me new experiences in my path. My students have taught me that everything is perfect, no matter how wrong it goes. That planning isn't everything as long as I know where to go. They have let me seen how much they appreciate my work and all I put into a single class. And how to work cohesively, not only with each and every one of them, but with my peers and administration. While this is only at school, they have let me seen how organized I am in real life. How loving of a person I can actually be. How focused I am on the little details. How much I love being creative and bringing in new things for both me and them to make. And to be able to be myself around everyone, even the kids. Throughout my time teaching, both in college and in school, I have seen how much I have grown as an educator and a person. I see that what seemed trivial at first is really just a stepping stone into a new future. And while I do not know what exactly the future has in store for me, I know I will always have a new group of kids ready to take that next step alongside me.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." - Aristotle Aristotle's words, although written more than two thousand years ago, resonate just as powerfully with our world today as they did then. To me, education is at its heart as a way of developing critical thinking, especially in a higher education sphere. It is a way of empowering students with the skills and knowledge they will need not just to navigate the exams and assignments they encounter in the classroom, but to inform their professional decisions throughout life. I have been teaching, in a variety of capacities, for more than 10 years and remain as passionate about imparting knowledge as when I began. I have proudly run classrooms in Australia, Costa Rica, New Zealand and here in the USA, and have developed a teaching style that is inclusive and encouraging. I believe all students have experience and knowledge that they can bring to the classroom, and their education must be led by their own discoveries. One of my proudest teaching moments came from a high school lesson in which my students unpacked signs of racial prejudice in their community. It was encouraging to see their awareness unfold as they talked about what they had experienced, and to watch them take stock of their own – and other – viewpoints. Despite their age, they were able to begin to critically analyze their perspectives. This kind of critical thinking is so important in today's political and social climate, especially when it comes to media consumption, and educators have a vital role to play in teaching students not what decisions to make, but how to make informed decisions.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore This world will never be perfect, but that's the beauty of it.  Imagine a world where everything was perfect; no drama, no wars, no stress, and most of all no conflict of any kind. A world like that becomes boring after a short time. Conflict exists for the sole reason to make us stronger as human beings and to give us a reason to keep on fighting. Perfection is something that can never be reached, but that also means things can always be better. Everyone in the world has their own challenges to face and not everyone can overcome those challenges, at least not alone. I learned at a young age how to overcome my obstacles while saying "Is that all you got?"However, not everyone has that ability and they even struggle whenever things get tough. That is what keeps me going, the thought of helping and influencing the creation of a better life, for others and for myself. I want to be the hand that picks people up when they fall, the shoulder they cry on, and the person who helped ignite their passion to keep fighting on. I have succeeded, failed, and conquered my fair share of challenges in my lifetime, and I have grown stronger from each and every one of them. Not everyone has the same willpower like I do, except I want to show them how to overcome their obstacles. I want to be a shining example of what humanity can achieve, and to teach other human beings on how powerful persistence is. Life can be tough, however like how water cuts through rock, it is not done because it is strong, but because it has unstoppable persistence.           What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore During my lifetime, my parents heard it all from, "She will never walk, talk or sit up, to "College prep courses will be too much" to "Community College will be all she can handle." Fast forward to 2019 & here I am: a director of the Accessibility Resource Center at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) who makes it her goal to be an encourager of students with disabilities, removing attitudinal and other access barriers one conversation at a time. While I haven't always been a confident disabled individual, I want the students with whom I work to know that with hard work, grit and determination, anything is possible. #luvyalions         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore I lost my dad back in 2010. I had always respected his work, in that he had owned his own pharmacy in a small Alabama town for over forty years. I watched night and day as he helped the community he served with long hours, straightforward advice, and genuine empathy and concern for his customers. I think back to his advice and his life often; he wanted to serve with everything he did professionally and carved out a place in the heart of my little hometown as he did it. The entire community knew Mr. Jimmy, and as his son, I knew the man behind the reputation was just as serious and dedicated to those around him as he appeared. So in choosing my professional path, I found my way to a role where I would follow my Dad's example. I began my work at Auburn University in the Bookstore learning about an industry that had a lot of similarities to that of my Dad's profession. There were serious challenges of accessibility, affordability and choice but huge benefits to finding the right solution for those I would serve. The world of course materials selection and management has become my chance to work for change and find a way to serve all those around me. We've now achieved savings for Auburn students of almost $10 million dollars on the outright costs of their instructor's selected materials over the last decade. I've led the initiative to become an academic champion that prides itself on serving faculty as a resource while advocating strongly for the student in the same conversation. This conversation introduced better outcomes to campus through one of the largest and fastest growing inclusive programs in the country. Faculty find that having extra resources and help to jumpstart their semester produces superior results. I act as a personal liason for over 300 faculty every term as they integrate into the LMS and as their students face technology questions. Faculty don't have to be technical experts to succeed in a digital classroom, because I'll be behind the scenes waiting. I have helped exceed expectations in service by being available for students however and whenever they need help. Students have mentioned repeatedly that it is refreshing not to have to wait until the next business day to get help. I work to communicate with students so their success is never in jeopardy, even if that means non-traditional hours and methods. I've also learned that having personal service and complete transparency around the mission goals of affordability and accessibility for students has brought them into a greater relationship with our store and with campus. I have had countless emails from students telling me they appreciate being able to talk to someone on campus, and someone they know cares about their issue. I've even received emails from students about all kinds of campus needs, even requesting advice on decisions about their major. It turns out that Dad prepared me with everything that I would need.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore My name is Bashir Hassan and I am from Ethiopia. I am in the 11th grade, and my school name is Wellstone International High School. I have been in the United States for a couple of years. I am very enthusiastic about becoming a part of Ecolab. I will want to attend for at least four years colleges. The factor influence me to make these career and education choice is my parents, and my friends. I want to challenge myself to working hard for my school and I will do all of my assignments. I have taken many classes but the class that challenged me the most was Math. Because the teacher did not explain the lessons more clearly. I am satisfied with all my classes but I particularly like JAG class the most, because I learn how to apply for jobs and lots of various things. I get an in every quarter. The academic in areas are scientistic, social studies, political science, and economics. These classes are important for my future career because I will work for the people and I will also benefit myself. This year, I'm part of Leos Club and I will learn how to check children's eyes or anyone's. I did not do any projects for the community yet, but I hope I will work with the community. I have various experiences. In addition, I have experience in how to welcome customers and how to talk to them. I have hobbies like assisting people who survived from civil wars. I am interested in rescuing people and how they learn good things. These activities make me a good person. As a result, last year I got an award from my school, and that made me do more activities. It definitely encouraged me. These experiences contribute to making the person I am today. In fact, I already know a little information about Ecolab. Ecolab is a company that produces various items. Furthermore, this time I know about more information from Ecolab and their employees what type of positions they wore in. I go to Wellstone International High School. And first of all, I will basically give Ecolab good information about my wonderful school and teachers. I realistically, share good information about my school, such as we do not accept something that consists bad decisions.The best positive thing I should tell Ecolab is our students and teachers are cooperate well and solve problems together. The best advice I passion to receive is when my mentor tells me the good things to do. For instance, when my teachers and students encourage me I feel brave. I could feel good advice to give that my mentor helping is to teach someone who does not know about anything. Whether you teach somebody one word or something else, you assist the whole earth.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore What Drives Me to Achieve More! One really doesn't understand how precious life is, until it's almost taken away. My story is a reflection of this. So many times, we wake up each day and fall in to a "normal" routine. Make the bed, get ready for work, drink a cup of coffee, eat breakfast, and head out the door. What if one day changed all of this? What if we don't have to do the "normal" routine anymore? I'd like to say on July 22nd, 2017 I was transformed. I was doing what I have loved for many years that day. Riding my bicycle alongside my husband. On that day, we decided we were going to ride towards the beach and enjoy the beautiful day. That all came to a crashing halt, when I was hit from behind by a car going 55 MPH. My husband said watching me hit the windshield of the car, flying up in the air 10 feet, and then crashing to the ground, he thought for certain I was dead. I don't remember anything from the incident. I woke up when I felt individuals pulling at my ears to take out my piercings in the trauma room. Since then, I have made a full recovery. Although, there is one caveat. I will live with traumatic brain injury for the rest of my life. I can appreciate the things that are "abnormal" much more. I find that my writing skills are not "normal". I'm fine with that! Having family by my side is much more appreciated. It took me some time to overcome getting back on a bicycle again. On November 9th, 2019 I walked out ready to ride. My husband tells me, "The Phoenix has risen". Learn to appreciate the "abnormal" to achieve more!         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore Growing up I had a normal and happy life that any kid could ask for, but as I had gotten more mature I realized that was not the case. The ending of my junior year really impacted and changed my life. Child protective services was called to my home reported from my school, and from one day to the next my life took a shift in another direction. For months the case remained open, and there were caseworkers in and out of my house constantly. My school's reputation was tampered with and I spent days on end in the guidance office trying to handle what I was going through emotionally on top of finals coming up. When the case finally closed, I thought it meant change for life at home. That everyone would be more open, less hostile, and we could improve as a family. Although it did seem like that for a while, but eventually it all backtracked. April 2, 2019 I left a my parents as it was the only way to fix myself. Thankfully, the only reason I was able to make a move to better my home life and mentality was due to the support of my boyfriend. We moved in together at the age of 18 into an apartment away from our hometown. This move was a drastic change, but something I definitely needed to change my perspective and give myself the life I deserve. I managed to get a new job and continuously looking for new opportunities, enrolled in a different educational path in order to get a higher education even with the changes, and learn independence. Going from little expensive to budgeting for savings, food, animals, school, and bills was a big reality check. The responsibility, determination, and independence has built, and continuing to build, real life education and experience at such a young age. Having to do this for myself makes me want to achieve more everyday to save, and show the world that I can do it despite having to go through the obstacles to get where I am and am going to go. Most people listen and don't believe the stories I have told them or being capable of living alone at 18. People constantly ask "How can you afford" type questions. My boyfriend and I work ourselves hard and will sell our souls for a paycheck in order to prove to people that its possible. While managing to pay for our education, as we have no college debt a year in. We have been to two different countries since we moved out together less than a year ago and have a trip planned for 2020 already. There is a lot of doubt that people have, especially loved ones, and that hurts the most. So what makes me want to achieve more is not only so I can have a better future than my past but also to prove that if your motivated you can make it -- despite age.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more

  My Journey to #AchieveMore Four years ago, I unexpectedly became a sister to two baby girls, Emerson and Paisley. Less than two years later, I moved away to attend the University of Michigan and I have missed them every day that we are apart. However, they inspire me to continue giving it my all in school and to get the most out of my education. My goal is to become a doctor and at the end of this very long academic journey, I hope to have shown my sisters that all of their dreams, no matter how big, are obtainable. My mission is to prove to them that although achieving their dreams may be challenging, it is worth it if it means following your passions. Hearing Paisley say that she wants to be a doctor when she grows up or Emerson say that she wants to become a veterinarian or a teacher makes me feel so excited because they already have big dreams and the potential to achieve them. Paisley would be among the first in her family to attend college and knowing that I am showing her that a higher education is obtainable means a lot to me and our family. Whether or not she decides to attend college when she is older, she will know that she is fully capable. Every time I achieve something at U of M, whether it be earning good grades, finding a job, or being accepted to a study abroad program, I think about how my sisters will grow up with the confidence that they have the ability to do so many amazing things, too. Being a student can be exhausting and at times it can be difficult to maintain motivation, but going home to visit my sisters or even just calling them helps to put me back in the right mindset. I aspire to be a role model to my sisters and every little girl by demonstrating the fact that girls are capable of achieving anything and everything they put their minds to.         What Drives You to #AchieveMore? View Current Winners   See All Stories   Submit Your Story ... View more