What makes you a Difference Maker?

What makes me a Difference Maker is resilience. Whether it is a challenging class, another obligation on my plate, or one of life’s many tough decisions, I always put my best foot forward and lead without hesitation. I pride myself on being the best person, student, colleague, and friend that I can be and always look for room for improvement. Resilience is standing back up with determination and optimism when faced with adversity. However, resilience is learned not given. The endless support, encouragement, and even failures have helped me learn how to be resilient in life. I would not be nominated as a Difference Maker today if it were not for the valuable skills, relationships, and practices that I have gained from my experience at the University of Michigan – Dearborn.

Tell us about your leadership experience.

Leadership experiences I have been able to be a part of on-campus was the Student Athletic Advisory Council (SAAC). There, I helped on a committee to lead a canned food drive on campus to help families in need during thanksgiving. Off-campus, I am a social media & marketing manager for a small startup company in Plymouth. I oversee all our company’s social media platforms and Google Ads.

What is your dream career or goal?

My dream career would be to be a rollercoaster enthusiast. I am an adrenaline junkie and like to live life to the fullest. However, my long-term life goals are much more serious. I would like to create my own non-profit marketing agency to help small businesses grow their brand awareness, giving back to the local communities that shaped me. I hope to eventually help my hometown, Wyandotte, Michigan, sustain its community-based and family-owned small businesses through this.

What is your most defining moment?

My most defining moment at Dearborn would be discovering my true career path. Originally, I had started my academic journey by pursuing biology where I quickly realized it was not my passion. After some self-searching and contemplation, I transferred to the College of Business and was able to find my calling. I took an interest in all things business; however, Marketing allowed me to combine the artistic and creative skills that I had always enjoyed. Throughout this process, I discovered what I wanted to do with my future and found purpose in my academic and professional life.