My name is Hannah Smith and I am currently a senior at Indiana University studying education. Ever since I was little, I wanted to be a teacher. This stemmed from my third grade teacher who was the first person, beside my family, to make me feel seen. She had this incredible ability to notice when someone was struggling—not just with math or reading, but with life. She'd leave little encouraging notes on my desk, check in on me during recess, and somehow always knew when I needed an extra word of encouragement. When I was dealing with anxiety about fitting in and keeping up with my peers, she never made me feel less than—instead, she helped me discover my strengths and taught me that everyone learns differently. That experience showed me that teachers don't just teach subjects; they shape lives. This is what motivates me to create the kind of classroom where students feel safe to take risks, ask questions, and be authentically themselves.