Scholarship Essay

Jennifer Johnson Regional Scholarship Essay


My name is Jennifer Nicole Johnson. I am currently working towards a M.Ed. in Counselor Education at The University of Mississippi. My career vision is to become a school counselor, and obtain my LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor). As a school counselor, I want to provide all children with the guidance and attention they need to be successful individuals. If I am granted the Regional Scholarship, I will be able to continue my education and complete my lifelong goal of becoming a school counselor. This scholarship will also help ease my financial burden. I have been a certified teacher for four years. I have implemented positive classroom management strategies, individualized instruction for regular ed., inclusion, special ed., and resource students in various subjects. My role as a teacher is to provide all of my students with a positive learning environment and influence children by having a positive and encouraging attitude. My second year as a certified teacher, I was nominated for Teacher of the Year at Harper McCaughan Elementary in Long Beach, MS. I am currently a member of the American Counseling Association and the Mississippi Counseling Association. As an undergrad at Ole Miss I was on the Dean’s List and Chancellor’s List. I am an alumni of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and I was selected to be on the Panhellenic Council as a Gamma Chi. I worked for the Turner Center University, MS. I was voted Employee of the Month by the CMS staff.
Over the years I have realized that not everyone has had the same opportunities that I have had growing up. Many children do not get enough positive attention and fostered growth in today's society. Charles Platt once said, “Teachers don't just teach; they can be vital personalities who help young people to mature, to understand the world and to understand themselves." There are so many children who struggle to survive in our society today. Children sometimes lack the drive to succeed, and I want to be the one to challenge them. I want to be the one that opens a child's eyes to the possibilities that await them. I believe that education is one of the most important and crucial professions in today's society. Children today create the future of America. It is the school counselor's job to provide the student with a comfortable and safe environment where effective guidance for the future is provided. A counselor must be compassionate toward the student’s needs. It is so important to gain a personal relationship with students so that they feel comfortable with their surroundings. An important aspect of counseling is the ability to reach the needs of all students. A counselor must differentiate each session so that all students are given the ability to grow in an effective manner. The counselor must be committed to recognizing and addressing diversity throughout the school and relate to many different personalities. I believe every individual has the ability to be successful as long as they are given the appropriate tools. As a counselor, it is my job to show the student’s how to apply the tools. Being a counselor is the most personal and professionally rewarding career. The rewards of being a counselor may not be immediate, but I am proud to know that I have played a major part in shaping the future for America’s children.