What makes you a Difference Maker?

I believe I’m a Difference Maker because I strive to ensure that the people around me, and those I encounter, are always encouraged and inspired to surpass the status quo and be the best they can be; I always look forward to improving the wellbeing of those I meet. I strongly believe everything I do in this world should positively impact the lives of those around me and those who come after me. I devote my life to always lending a hand to others. When you help someone who doesn’t have the nicest things in life and you know you’ve helped change them for the better, that’s when you know you are living up to your purpose. I don’t believe in sitting back and watching people suffer, nor do I believe in not fighting for what I believe is right. I was always told the only way we can improve our situations is if we stand up for what is right, for we can’t be afraid to be the only one standing if we’re standing for what’s right.

Highlight your campus achievements:

My campus achievements include being Student Activities Board (SAB) student of the month for January, I also received the Emerging Leader Certificate two years straight. When I received this certificate, I was ecstatic. I’m used to being the background player and performing the work that goes unnoticed. Receiving these awards taught me that the there is always someone watching and the hard work that we display doesn’t go unnoticed. Other achievements I’ve received include having the highest gpa in my fraternity during the 2015-2016 school year. Lastly, I was awarded the Black Student Union (BSU) Member of the Year in 2015.

Highlight your leadership experiences both on and off campus:

My leadership experience on campus includes being the current president and the former treasurer of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. I’m also the Greek chair representative for the Student Organizations Advisory Council (SOAC). I currently work on campus with the University Unions and Events and my job is to guarantee that every client, guest, student and faculty member is happy. 

I’m not just an on-campus leader, my leadership off campus lead me to assisting two members at my high school get accepted into college with scholarships. I’ve always sought to learn from those who came before me and with the knowledge I gained, I’m able to help other people avoid situations such as the ones I was placed in. 

What is your dream career and/or long term life goal?

My lifelong dream is to help the kids in inner Detroit become successful. I plan on achieving this by teaching in the Detroit Public Schools systems with grades three through five. When we, as motivators and educators, empower and teach children when they’re young, we can establish the foundation necessary for students to be successful. I strongly believe, “he who opens a school door closes a jail cell, but it’s the teacher who cares more about the student than the paycheck who truly makes a difference.” My main goal in life is to help children and to further achieve this goal, I hope to someday open my own K-8 school where kids will receive the best education and support possible. Nonetheless, I can’t consider myself successful until I establish a three-tier community center where minority children can go and work on their craft, receive help so they can excel in the class and a place for the less fortunate to lay their head and receive a meal. I attended six different high schools, which could be very challenging, and as educator, I want to prevent children from having to face that trial. If I can save a child from living the bad experiences I’ve lived, my life will be complete and I will have served my purpose.

What was your most defining moment at UM-Dearborn?

My most defining moment as a UM-Dearborn student came my freshman year when I was offered a chance to intern with the Wayne County Prosecutors. As a freshman, it’s rare to even have this chance, but I was so involved on campus and carried myself with as much dignity as I could. The experience of interning with Wayne County’s best and brightest prosecutors was an honor—at the time I was a criminal justice major and it was my dream to be a juvenile attorney. It was during my internship where I had a wake-up call and I realized I had the potential to help kids turn their lives around and reach success before it was too late. And that’s when I realized my true passion for teaching.