Hannah Curren

2022 "Pass the Torch" Scholarship Finalist

“So swim to the surface. Embrace your mind and your heart.
We’ll rebuild your ship and you’ll get a head start.”

A small boat founders in rough seas, on the verge of sinking beneath the waves, when a caring lighthouse keeper notices, and sets out to help. In her poem, “The Lighthouse Keeper”, Hannah Curren uses poetry to sensitively capture the struggles she experienced at high school, and the powerful role her teacher played simply by seeing her. Now, as an elementary and special education teacher, Hannah hopes to likewise shine light into the darkness for her own students.

Here is Hannah's poem about Mr. Womack, the teacher who inspired her.

Want to hear the stories of the other nine finalists? Visit our 2022 Scholarship Finalists page.

Thinking of applying to this year's program? Learn more on our Teachers Test Prep "Pass the Torch" Teacher Scholarships page.