For as long as Richardson High School Senior Chloe Grimes can remember, she has looked up to teachers and dreamed of becoming one.
Growing up in RISD, Chloe attended Terrace Elementary School, where her mom was her teacher in 3rd and 4th grade. Sitting in her classroom every day, Chloe got to see the impact an effective and caring teacher could have on her students, and she knew early on she wanted to follow the same path. “I think I always wanted to be a teacher”, says Chloe, “Watching my mom and getting to see how she helped people really inspired me.”
In high school, Chloe looked intentionally for opportunities that would prepare her to be a future educator, but also made it a point to be well-rounded and get the full experience. Through RISD’s Grow 2 Teach program, she spent two years as a teaching intern at Arapaho Classical Magnet, teaching third and fourth-grade math.
The experience confirmed what she had known all along, that she was meant to be a teacher. “Getting to work with the same students for two years was really cool,” she said, “I loved getting to know all of them and seeing them grow and learn.”
As a student in the Gifted and Talented program, Chloe was also involved with many advanced courses, orchestra, and the communications magnet at RHS. She serves as an assistant director at the Eagle Eye News. She says the leadership role challenged her to stay organized, communicate effectively, and support those around her– skills she knows will make her a stronger teacher one day. “I had to keep an eye on everything happening all at once and help people stay on track,” she says. “It taught me a lot about leading and working with different kinds of people”.
Now, as Chloe prepares to graduate, she is taking her passions to one of the top schools in the nation for education, The Peabody College of Education at Vanderbilt University, where she earned a four-year full-ride scholarship.
Questbridge, which is a prestigious National College Match program, awards high-achieving students full four-year scholarships to 55 of the top colleges in the country and opens the pathway to opportunity. Scholarships cover tuition, housing and food, and other expenses.
Questbridge Match Scholarship finalists not only demonstrate academic excellence but also show engagement beyond the classroom, whether through supporting their families, holding leadership roles in extracurriculars, or giving back to their communities.
Of the 7000+ nationwide finalists, only about a third matched with a school, and only about 75 were matched with Vanderbilt. “I’m super excited to have matched with Vanderbilt University through Questbridge because it has been one of my top school choices for many years,” says Chloe.
Chloe will be studying elementary and special education and following in her mother’s footsteps. Ms. Ashley Grimes, who is now the Dyslexia Specialist at Terrace Elementary. Her sister, who is a student with special needs, inspired her to pursue the specialized focus at Vanderbilt.
With an offer letter in hand from Richardson ISD and Grow 2 Teach, Chloe is already taking the first steps toward a great future in education. She says she hopes to one day return home and teach in the community that helped shape her. Congratulations, Chloe. Welcome to the world’s greatest profession!
