Your experience being raised by your parents and how it has affected your life. How do I plan on using it in my digital media degree? My experience being raised by my parents is unforgettable, amazing and diverse. My mom, being bi-racial, has exposed me to Black and white culture. My family is very diverse, and has taught me to be appreciative of different backgrounds and has prepared me for a world that is connected via different religions, cultures, socioeconomic status. My mom is also very intelligent. She has her master’s degree in Healthcare Business Administration, and she’s taught me the importance of reading, being caught up on current events and to always exercise my right to vote. Education is extremely important to her. My dad is African-American, and he has taught what it means to be a proud Black man and a great father. My dad is a former high school track athlete, a 4th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and 6x point fighting world champion. I inherited his competitive side. I love to train as my dad did when he was competing in sport karate. So that I can improve. My parents have given me life tips to prepare me for when I am on my own. My dad has taught me how to drive, clean, interact with people, and build positive relationships. My mom has taught me compassion, and that it’s important to help others. Both of my parents have made it a priority to help the underserved, especially during the holidays. Since 2004, my dad has made it a point to raise money and collect donations to provide turkey dinners to families in need. We pack the dinners two days before Thanksgiving and partner with PAL to identify families in need of a turkey dinner. When I was younger, my mother and I would go to the store and pick out a family or two in need of Christmas presents. She would let me choose the families and take me shopping to pick up the gifts. Being a part of these experiences makes me appreciate all that’s been given to me - love, food, shelter, clothes, electronics, and toys, etc. - and I do not take anything for granted. I will continue to give back to my community and those in need. One of the ways I want to help is by creating content that targets those less fortunate and brings to light speech impediments. I am a lifelong stutterer, and it’s not easy for me to talk, as sometimes my words do not come out smoothly. I want to show others with disabilities that our disability is what makes us unique. But we are not lesser than those who do not have disabilities. We should not shy away from our disabilities but lean into them.

To me, being a good neighbor means returning to Nashua after college to use my Exercise Science degree to help young athletes reach their full potential. image.gif Playing football and running track at Nashua High School taught me lessons beyond the classroom. These experiences pushed my limits, demonstrated the value of disciplined training, and showed me how injuries and setbacks can affect athletes. I realized that exercise is not just about strength, but about understanding movement science to help people train safely, recover quickly, and stay active. This realization inspired me to major in Exercise Science. My goal is to become a certified strength and conditioning coach and community wellness specialist. After college, I plan to return to Nashua to offer performance training for athletes and accessible programs for all ages, including middle schoolers, families, and older adults. Our community faces rising childhood obesity and mental health challenges among teens. The YMCA of Greater Nashua and local schools are addressing these issues, and I hope to partner with them to develop effective programs. These would include injury-prevention sessions, after-school conditioning clinics, and activities that help kids manage stress and build confidence. Sports have given me discipline, resilience, and a strong connection to my city. Through Exercise Science, I look forward to helping the next generation in Nashua move better, feel stronger, and pursue their goals. My community service work centers on helping my dad’s business, P.U.S.H. (Youth Sports Performance and Enrichment Program), an organization I helped found in 2019 as one of eleven original members. Each year, P.U.S.H. organizes the Turkey Brigade, a Thanksgiving initiative that provides complete turkey dinners to low-income families in our community. Through fundraising efforts and generous donations, we raise money to purchase turkeys and all the traditional Thanksgiving fixings. Community members also donate canned goods, boxed items, and other supplies. Our local supermarket partners with us by offering turkeys at a discounted price, which allows us to serve significantly more families. Two days before Thanksgiving, volunteers come together to assemble the turkey baskets and prepare them for delivery. We work closely with the Nashua PAL organization, which identifies families in need and helps ensure the meals reach the right homes. Since its founding, P.U.S.H. has delivered over 600 Thanksgiving dinners, a milestone that fills me with pride and gratitude. Working with the Turkey Brigade has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Seeing the direct impact of our efforts has taught me the importance of service, teamwork, and community. Helping people who are struggling is something I am deeply committed to, and it is work I plan to continue for as long as I can.