What makes you a Difference Maker?

Whether on campus or off, I strive for positive change in my environment. My definition of a difference maker is someone who does all that they can to always make a positive impact on their community no matter what they are doing. A Difference Maker could be someone who simply puts a smile on others faces whenever they come around, someone who is positive and makes a difference in other peoples lives by bringing them positivity. A Difference Maker could also be someone who strives for long term change in their community. That change being of laws or rules to better serve the public. I am a Difference Maker because I strive to both positively impact each individual that I come in contact with and I work for long term change to rules affecting our society.

Tell us about your leadership experience.

The first leadership position that I ever held was back when I was in the Army at my first duty station. I was stationed at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks Alaska. We had just gotten back from a yearlong tour in Afghanistan, soon after, I was promoted to team leader and was placed in charge of two new soldier. The thing about leadership is that no matter how much someone prepares for the responsibility, it seems like they are never truly ready for the task. Through trial and tribulation, I vastly improved my leadership skills over the next few years. A few years, I got to my second duty station in Fort Bragg North Carolina. While at serving in the 82nd Airborne Division, I was put in charge of a multitude of tasks to include: solider accountability, training, solider fitness and personal development, intelligence briefing, equipment security and maintenance. My leadership experiences did not end when I got out of the military. When I began attending the University of Michigan-Dearborn, I immediately started working with the Student Veteran Association (SVA) on campus. After volunteering my time to help out with various meeting and events I was elected Treasurer of the SVA. Continuing my hard work, it was not long before I was elected President of the SVA. Everyday I strive for the excellence of the SVA and our student Veteran population.

What is your dream career or goal?

My dream career is becoming the CEO of my own engineering research, development, and consulting firm. I would like to develop new and innovative technologies to improve the standard of living across the world at price where everyone could obtain them. My long-term goal and my dream career are both one in the same with a few additions. I would like to fund a free STEM based primary school for low-income families that promotes early learning of the math and sciences. I would also like to provide healthy food alternatives for the same low-income families and impoverished communities and promote dietary health literacy. My long-term goal is to have my dream career so that I may fund my dream of a better society.

What is your most defining moment?

My most defining moment at UM-Dearborn would have to be last summer when my girlfriend and I participated in a protest for police reform. As a black male growing up in the inner city of Detroit, I saw a lot of injustices committed by police officers. So much so, that it began to seem normal to me. Only after I got older and these injustices were being captured on video did I realize that what I considered “normal” policing was anything but. Protesting and chanting the names of those who were murdered at the hands of officers truly saddened me, and it also motivated me to advocate for change in our community. I grew up with the belief that protesting really doesn’t solve problems, however, after I saw the power of the small group of protesters that I was in, I’ve changed my viewpoint. This one defining moment at the university has driven me to become more active about civil right and police reform in our communities.