I am a first-generation higher education graduate in my family, and yes, I take pride in my accomplishment for my ancestors. I have access to opportunities they were never given, and I will not waste any opportunity afforded to me. I spent my entire Junior and Senior Undergraduate year at Portland State University, Interning with IRCO (Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization) in Portland Oregon, as well as the Q-Center (homeless youth). During my undergraduate studies, I took a variety of courses centering Intersectionality, People of color and Women's studies, these courses prompted me to volunteer and Intern at these specific organizations. For the last four years I have been in education. For two years I was a middle school history teacher for 7th and 8th grade. Currently, I teach 9th-12th grade high school history, I also teach college prep courses and ACT prep. So overall if there is anything that students need to prepare them for life after high school, I am the teacher they come to! ! I see the need for more POC identified teachers. I knew personally life for me would have been drastically different if I had a teacher that looked like me, talked like me, walked like me that I could talk to about my questions or just simply lean on for advice if there was someone in higher education that saw me because they saw themselves in me. Working in education has shown me what a profound impact it does have on students' lives, I teach from a World History perspective not just an American history of white supremacy and domination narrative, our history is interchangeably linked with world history and it makes a difference in students lives when they see and know that. I do however want to take my platform into the political arena. I know I've only spent 4 years working in education, but in that short span of time, I've seen areas that require great change. I see more and more politicians and less and less actual educators making the decisions and that is never a recipe for success. There are areas in education that require much growth from, policy makers, to administrators, to processes, to teacher and student communication/relationships. Do I think I can change the world, no, but I can make it a little bit better by adding my experiences to the mix. I will finish obtaining my degree with a Masters in History-Education and move on from teaching high school to community college. I eventually have plans on running for a position within the school board and using that position to platform myself into running for a district seat with the house and eventually moving into a position of Senator of this state. Within 10 years I hope Louisiana has progressed enough to elect its first African American woman Senator, and that's the power of education through History.

I am a first-generation higher education graduate in my family, and yes, I take pride in my accomplishment for my ancestors. I have access to opportunities they were never given, and I will not waste any opportunity afforded to me. I spent my entire Junior and Senior Undergraduate year at Portland State University, Interning with IRCO (Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization) in Portland Oregon, as well as the Q-Center (homeless youth). During my undergraduate studies, I took a variety of courses centering Intersectionality, People of color and Women's studies, these courses prompted me to volunteer and Intern at these specific organizations. For the last four years I have been in education. For two years I was a middle school history teacher for 7th and 8th grade. Currently, I teach 9th-12th grade high school history, I also teach college prep courses and ACT prep. So overall if there is anything that students need to prepare them for life after high school, I am the teacher they come to! ! I see the need for more POC identified teachers. I knew personally life for me would have been drastically different if I had a teacher that looked like me, talked like me, walked like me that I could talk to about my questions or just simply lean on for advice if there was someone in higher education that saw me because they saw themselves in me. Working in education has shown me what a profound impact it does have on students' lives, I teach from a World History perspective not just an American history of white supremacy and domination narrative, our history is interchangeably linked with world history and it makes a difference in students lives when they see and know that. I do however want to take my platform into the political arena. I know I've only spent 4 years working in education, but in that short span of time, I've seen areas that require great change. I see more and more politicians and less and less actual educators making the decisions and that is never a recipe for success. There are areas in education that require much growth from, policy makers, to administrators, to processes, to teacher and student communication/relationships. Do I think I can change the world, no, but I can make it a little bit better by adding my experiences to the mix. I will finish obtaining my degree with a Masters in History-Education and move on from teaching high school to community college. I eventually have plans on running for a position within the school board and using that position to platform myself into running for a district seat with the house and eventually moving into a position of Senator of this state. Within 10 years I hope Louisiana has progressed enough to elect its first African American woman Senator, and that's the power of education through History.