1. Admission Essay
Whitworth University
Stacia Jarvis
I began my journey in the fall of 2013 at Spokane Community College. Summer of 2013 I transferred
to Spokane Falls Community College to finish up my AAS. To my surprise, college came very easy for me. I am
absorbing knowledge and my education up like a plant to rain and loving every bit of it. With two quarters
left, I could not ignore my desire to teach and serve others. I was meant to teach. I had done so well during
my experience at the community colleges, I see no reason to cut myself short. I committed myself to my
education almost two years ago. Now, is my time! To sacrifice four to five years in education to obtain, not
just a job, a true vocation that I will be happy with for 40 more years to come, is no sacrifice at all! It is an
investment. An investment that I find extremely rewarding and proud of. I desire to serve others, especially
children. Reflecting on my childhood dreams and experiences, I know I was always meant to teach. Teaching
is my purpose.
I feel strongly that a vocation in special education was always meant to be my destination. I can
remember as a child spending much of my time playing in the horse fields with a cousin who is Down
syndrome. We would often enjoy sitting in his room jamming out to John Denver and plucking awayon the
country guitar. With my grandmother, I often took trips to visit a distant aunt living in a group home. A
highlight to each trip was taking her shopping for coffee and always visiting a local thrift store.
In my church family, I quickly made friends with our members who had special needs. I delighted in
many conversations with a friend in youth group. He had Cerebral Palsy. He passed shortly after he turned
21 years of age. I treasure the memories spent with him and the valuable lessons he had to share with all he
touched. Through church choir and our softball team, I grewclose to an individual who had Down syndrome.
She had quite the sense of humor and was always very positive and uplifting. She had something to bring to
your week, more often than not it was a smile that set you off on a positive foot.
It is hard to put into words all the reasons why I wish to be a teacher. Throughout my high school
career, I assisted in the special education department. Every day, I respected the teachers as they shaped the
future through impacting their students’ understandings and skills. I witnessed the nurturing of creativity,
character building, and skills needed for their students success. The teachers, in the special education
department, at Central Valley High School were making a touchable difference in the lives of their students.
The many experiences throughout my childhood was bringing me to this moment. Something, deep within,
told me this is what I was meant to do.
I do not wish to simply have a job. It is my aspiration to gain a true vocation. I wish to make a
difference and to serve. I desire to empower children to take full advantage of their gifts, imaginings, abilities
and character. For myself, becoming a teacher is not a means to an end. I do not want to simply work for a
paycheck in order to live my life. Planting seeds, though I may never see them personally flower, is humbling,
stimulating, and extraordinarily worthwhile. My aspiration is to nurture creativity, character building, and
skills needed in order for students to reach their highest potential; making a touchable difference.
Whitworth aspires to educating our future teachers with the same values I hold dear: “An education
of heart and mind”. This statement is so precious to an aspiring teacher. Teaching, for me, is not just about
nurturing the mind. Teaching is making a touchable difference on the lives and hearts of our students.
Teaching is about building confidence, compassion, and enthusiasm for life and learning. Whitworth
University also has come highly recommended by Instructors and advisors during my educational experience
at the community colleges. I would consider myself honored and privileged to be a student, and eventually a
graduate, of Whitworth University.

2. Admission Essay
Whitworth University
Stacia Jarvis