I am an undergraduate at the University of Oklahoma, majoring in Biomedical Engineering. I was originally born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, but moved to Muskogee due to family disputes. I lived in a single-parent household with my mother as my guardian. I love to research topics and learn facts I didn't know before, biking, and volunteering as well. I also like to brainstorm and invent project ideas I come up with. During my high school career, I took honor classes along with doing mostly academically focused activities like Academic Pursuit Team and FIRST Technical Challenge. While engineering has always been an interest since my childhood with my father being a machinist, my interest in biomedical engineering started when I took Project Lead The Way Principles of Biomedical Sciences. This class inspired me to take my aspirations for engineering into a medical application and to pursue biomedical engineering. Classes, I took in my junior year, like Aerospace Engineering and Project Lead The Way Cybersecurity inspired me to specialize in prosthetics and biometrics possibly. I've also tried to further my learning in this area by participating in medicine-related programs like A Cowboys Calling and classes like AP Bio and Engineering Design and Development. Health Occupations Students of America is also a club I participated in to further the medical aspect. Overall Biomedical Engineering has become an aspiration for me and I hope to get a doctorate in this field as I attend the University of Oklahoma. Starting my freshman year in college, Being part of the President's Community Scholars, and working on my Biomedical Degree at OU helped build my path toward industry and building connections in order to get there. During my sophomore to Senior year of college, my plan to apply for scholarships and internships during the summer and take on college classes or volunteer work helped me stand out from my peers as a wanted worker in my field. As I graduate from OU, my choice to pursue a doctorate in Biomedical Engineering will help enhance my knowledge base in order to be a more qualified applicant in my field. Once I acquire my doctorate, I will obtain career opportunities starting from my hometown of Muskogee going outwards while working on a project to help my hometown deal with the high pollutant emissions near the public schools. Pollutants in my hometown are a significant problem on top of low economic status and having title 1 With all of these accomplishments under my belt, I feel that I will have succeeded in making a positive impact on the world.

Within the 8 years from now to possibly entering my first year in graduate studies, I hope to accomplish plenty of goals throughout my college years. My current goal from now to the end of next summer is to participate in the Boeing Stem Signing Day for Oklahoma honorees as a momentous occasion showing my dedication to the stem field. Through this program, I will also be participating in a Virtual Mentorship program near the beginning of my freshman year of college. During my freshman year, I hope that through my great involvement in volunteer service through President’s Community Scholars and career-enhancing clubs such as the Biomedical Engineering Society and National Society of Black Engineers, I will gain a vast network to help me move forward in my career path. I hope to be a volunteer for projects for my hometown volunteer group as a Youth Volunteer Corps member and possibly team leader. I’ve also considered applying for the Federal Work-Study program at OU to pay for my Room and Board. On weekends, if I am not busy, I hope to volunteer more with my group as a team leader. During my sophomore to Senior year of college, I plan to apply for scholarships and internships, and during the summer either take on college classes or volunteer. As I graduate from OU, I will consider based on my interest and financial situation if I will pursue a master's or doctorate in Biomedical Engineering. If I decide not to, I will try to obtain career opportunities starting from my hometown of Muskogee and going outwards. A situation that caused me to learn three values all started with the announced shutdown of the PLTW engineering program at my high school. This situation that I faced happened to me when I was a junior in high school. I decided to petition and advocate for the program and garnered support to keep it for another year. Although, we were able to keep the program, it was defunded to an extent and overshadowed by sports. It taught me three values that I always keep in mind if I ever end up in a similar situation. When you fight against something that seems unfair, the outcome may be different than what you expected, or your actions may be in vain. I hope to utilize these lessons for when I advocate or protest for something I'm passionate about in the future.