When Camilla Torres arrived on NC State’s campus to interview for the College of Education’s Transformational Scholarships Program, she was a little nervous. Not only was it her first time navigating NC State’s campus, but she had to do it on crutches after breaking her ankle during a cheerleading competition.
Despite these obstacles, she was determined to show why she was a good fit for the program, which provides scholarships of a minimum of $40,000 over four years to promising high school students from Eastern North Carolina who will return to the region to teach.
In her presentation as part of the interview process, Torres told the interviewers everything she loves about Duplin County — its small town atmosphere; how everyone knows one another; how no one honks their horn like they do in the city; how, when East Duplin High won its first football title in 2023, the whole town of Beulaville threw a parade for the football players and cheerleaders.
She also loves how, after she broke her ankle, her friends, cheer coach, teachers and advisors continued to check up on her and support her as she prepared to apply to colleges and pursue her goal of becoming a kindergarten teacher.
“I love the kids here,” Torres said. “I want to give other kids that amazing, awesome experience that they look back on and say, ‘Oh my gosh, I miss elementary school.’”
Torres’ determination paid off. After her presentation, she was named a Transformational Scholar, which not only provided her with the financial support she needed to attend NC State, but also instilled in her a sense of accomplishment that has stuck with her ever since.
“I never thought in a million years I would ever be able to go [to NC State],” said Torres, a sophomore elementary education major. “It made me believe in myself so much more. It made me feel like, ‘OK, I can do anything now.’”
In addition to the encouragement she receives through her family — Torres’ dad taught mathematics in Honduras, and her aunt and grandmother were also teachers — she has enjoyed the opportunity to join a support system of educators who care deeply about teaching in Eastern North Carolina.
“It reminds me of high school because, in high school, you grow up with everyone and then you graduate together, and it’s the same thing with the College of Education,” Torres said. “We’re all going to go through this together … it gives me people who I know I can always fall back on.”
As a Transformational Scholar, Torres has also been able to hear from a variety of speakers and engage in team bonding activities, while attending a number of school site visits.
“It makes me want to really be a teacher, like I just want to be there,” Torres said. “I never want to leave.”
Soon enough, she’ll have the opportunity to return to Duplin County as an educator, where she is looking forward to using the skills she developed at NC State in the classroom.
“Without teachers, you just can’t learn or grow,” Torres said. “You always need a teacher in your life.”
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