Teaching is Opportunity: Autumn Rosebur and the Achieved Dream of Becoming an Educator

Autumn Rosebur at her University 2024 Graduation

I always knew I wanted to become a teacher. There was something about the way educators could shape lives, lift spirits, and open minds that made me determined to join their ranks. But the path to becoming a teacher felt impossibly distant, especially when I thought about the cost of tuition, textbooks, and the countless other expenses that came with earning a degree. For someone like me—without the privilege of family wealth, without a safety net—I felt the pressure of financial burdens at every turn.

Growing up, I watched as my family struggled to make ends meet, always just a step away from financial hardship.The weight of that reality hung over me every day, reminding me that every dream I had for my future seemed to come with a price I couldn’t afford to pay.

Without the scholarships and grants I was fortunate enough to receive, I would not be where I am today. I would not have been able to afford the coursework, the exams, the materials, and everything else needed to pursue my licensure. More than that, I would have been forced to abandon my dreams, crushed by the weight of debt and the impossibility of affording it all. There were times when I didn’t know how I would get by, how I would pay rent and still attend classes. I spent nights awake, not out of excitement for the next day’s lessons, but out of fear for what would happen if I couldn’t pay the tuition.

But the financial support of  scholarships has made all the difference. It has been the light in the darkness. It has given me the stability to focus on my studies, to immerse myself in learning, and to keep pushing forward, even when the road ahead seemed too steep to climb. It has lifted a weight from my shoulders that allowed me to fully embrace my role as a student, not just in terms of academics, but in shaping my future as a teacher who will help others in the way I was once helped.

Because of my scholarships and grants, I was able to graduate and finally become a teacher. The generosity of financial support didn’t just cover the cost of education; it covered the cost of hope. It gave me a chance to build a life of impact, to change the narrative of my community, and to become someone who can not only teach children in classrooms but also show them what’s possible when doors are opened, when support is given, and when dreams are nurtured.

I will carry this gift with me always. I am forever grateful, and I am determined to pay it forward, not just as an educator, but as someone who will work every day to ensure that others who come from backgrounds like mine are given the same opportunity to rise.