Christina Cantrell

I am a driven individual when it comes to completing anything. I am 22 years old, married, I work 20 hours a week managing a call center at Eastern Kentucky University, and I am a full-time student. I originally attended a private university and obtained my Music minor, and decided to transition to Eastern Kentucky University to achieve my degree in Elementary Education. It changed my life when I became a member of Big Brothers Big Sisters because I realized I had the ability to make a difference in the life of a child placed in unfortunate circumstances. When I began the program, the child was disrespectful and had no reason to go about life, but I made her want to do well in school and strive to do her best. Once I realized that I could help one child, I pondered what I could do in an entire classroom of children. It is my dream to be an Elementary teacher. I do have the patience to teach and love them. I love their enthusiasm to learn and their precious opinions of their leaders. The hugs are so rewarding. I am just dying to get into the classroom to be the adult to tell the children that they can do it and I will support them through their struggles. As a student that was told I would never learn how to read or write, I became determined to prove my teachers wrong. No other child will be told those discouraging words as long as I am around. Yes, I had a visual impairment and struggled with simple tasks from an early age, but I graduated in 2012 as the Top 25 in my class at Montgomery County High School. It is only because of teachers who believed in me that I am where I am today. Children may be difficult to teach, but every child or student is capable of achieving great things.