The characteristic I most value in myself is my dedication. Throughout my life journey, I have always been told, "You have to keep going. You are a minority young woman who's capable of anything and do not let anyone or anything keep your head down!" I was raised by a black single mother who did not attend college but stressed the importance of committing to rewarding passions, that can help others, and that personally drive you. During the early stages of adolescence, I wasn't sure how I was to find this passion. I knew her passion was embedded within the nursing home and within food drive organizations, as I often traveled with my mother on Saturday mornings to play Bingo and transport food. However, I did not know how she could have the will and energy to help others and our lackluster financial situation simultaneously. However, as I grew older I began to possess the spirit that my mom carried unapologetically. I became driven, focused, and unwavering in regards to my passions. I initially became passionate about helping my peers who were in the midst of mental health issues, toxic relationships, unsafe home environments, and suicide. Fortunately, I found an outlet that aligned with my goals and aspirations and was nominated as one of eleven National Youth Correspondents within the National Organization of Youth Safety. Originating from various states within America, we all gathered in Alexandra, Virginia. We immediately approached our work with an intensity that would not easily be dimmed. This position required me to develop and implement preventative safety measures for various issues, such as suicide, poor mental health, domestic violence, and bullying. Within two years of service, I developed and designed graphics, presentations, and events that positively impacted my community and were displayed on NOYS’s national platform to this day. Additionally, attending a prestigious institution such as the University of Texas at Austin opened the opportunity to revel in success, but quickly succumb to unplanned failure. Upon entering my first semester, I dealt with mental troubles, physical setbacks, and a powerful blow to my motivation and work ethic. I was confident that I would thrive academically but chose not to address my mental troubles and bad habits as a student. Oftentimes, I made poor habits such as: utilizing incorrect study habits, not implementing a study schedule, and lacking the understanding of how to live as a productive and efficient student. My ignorance of these subjects led me to feel deeply inadequate and like an imposter in my success story. My grades began to decrease rapidly and I was placed on academic probation at the end of my very first semester, with a grade point average of 1.8. However, in response, I immediately assessed my learning style and made a study plan that complemented it. I also sought out and utilized resources like academic advisors, peer mentors, and online tutoring sites. I began to increase my course load while discovering various opportunities to become active, one being a research assistant in a lab that studies the effects of Mexican-American children who translate for their non-English speaking parents. After three years of both dedication and perseverance, my GPA now sits at 3.24. Because of this, I have now been accepted into a master's program at the University of Texas at Arlington, where I will dedicate my studies to Industrial/Organizational Psychology. This field takes a micro-level approach to analyze human behavior and attitudes within the workplace to help employees thrive in challenging environments, something that is rewarding, helps others, and personally drives me.

Being a Texan means being unapologetically driven, motivated, and focused. I added a photograph of myself when I was accepted into the University of Texas at Austin and held all those characteristics in high regard. As a child to a single mother--who did not attend college--I was destined to attend one of the most prestigious institutions in Texas and succeed beyond my expectations. Throughout my time as an undergraduate student, I have been placed on academic probation with a 1.8-grade point average, climbed up to a 3.24 GPA as of last semester, held a senior ambassador position within an organization dedicated to academia, service, and support. Additionally, I have held a research assistant role while undertaking 18 hours of coursework. One thing about Texans is that we may be perceived as an underdog, but we always shine light and excel when given the opportunity. Because of my love for Texas, I decided to continue my studies within the Lone Star State and have been accepted into a master's degree at the University of Texas at Arlington, a wonderfully equipped Texas school. It's time for me to utilize my education and give back to the state who has provided me with a great education, great cuisine, lots of traffic, and priceless memories.

The fragility and complexity of the mind has always intrigued me. I found myself in awe of how psychologists are able to solve issues within the mind, of which even their subjects may not be aware. However, I have always been inclined toward business. This lean led me to serve as National Student Advisor for the National Organization of Youth Safety and preside over the local chapter of Business Professionals of America. While holding these two offices, I decided to enroll in a psychology elective course. I did not realize it then, but two separate passions were emerging that would later become incredibly interwoven with one another. I had been developing training sessions for regional conferences, promoting ways to prevent teen suicide and seek out mental health resources at their schools, and organizing meetings to discuss methods that would provide members with engaging, comprehensive, and accessible tools to develop skills for the corporate world. These experiences led me to the field of Industrial-Organizational Psychology (I/O) because I began to wonder about the impact of the mind on the workplace and vice versa. I am hoping to pursue a Master’s in Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology to reach my academic goals of collaborating with other students and organizations, mastering knowledge and skills within the field of I/O, and gaining leadership and social responsibility within my community and the workplace. In the field of I/O, professionals must have great networking, communication, and collaboration skills, as many tasks involve workplace organization dynamics, globalization affairs, and inclusion. Mastering the knowledge and skills needed within I/O psychology is a critical academic goal of mine. After dedicating four years to studying general psychology, I am eager to gain knowledge and have committed my time to learning more about both the multidimensional and ever-changing nature of I/O psychology. The knowledge I gain will provide me with the tools necessary to master knowledge and skills within the field. Upon graduation, I hope to recognize ways to develop successful internal hiring processes, implement useful training methods and coursework, promote self-improvement, create policies and workplace structure that considers the cultures and backgrounds of employers, and provide open communication between individuals in leadership roles and other positions. I have had the pleasure of working in a leadership position when I served for two years as a National Student Advisor within the National Organization of Youth Safety. This position required me to develop and implement preventative safety measures for various issues, such as suicide, poor mental health, domestic violence, and bullying. I developed and designed graphics, presentations, and events that were displayed in my community and on NOYS’s national platform. Because of this experience, I have developed a passion to practice leadership and responsibility in an academic and professional context. My goal is to establish a practice in which individuals with diverse backgrounds and expertise in various specialties of I/O can contribute their skills and services to local and extended communities. I aim to address both diversity affairs and the trend toward globalization, as many businesses are changing policies and standards to reflect local practices. I also intend to promote open communication and increase job satisfaction, as research has shown that low job satisfaction results in lower productivity, increased time missed from work, and produces low morale amongst workers. Health and safety also remain a critical part of the workplace, and I hope to use the knowledge gained from my Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certification to implement suitable safety and health measures. My commitment to bettering the experiences of workers while improving the outcomes of businesses drives me to complete this level of study. I am a natural collaborator who is unafraid to take initiative when necessary. But most importantly, I have found a field that integrates my passions and strengths.