My path to pursuing a degree in Hospitality and Tourism(Resort) Management hasn’t been a straight line. It’s been shaped by loss, growth, and the unexpected places life led me. Being from Memphis, Tennessee, hospitality wasn’t something I learned in a classroom, it was something I lived. In my family, you didn’t walk into a house without being offered a plate, a seat, and a conversation. My childhood was filled with the smell of food cooking, relatives and friends laughing, and neighbors stopping by just because they felt comfortable enough to do so. Those moments taught me that hospitality is really about making people feel like they matter. I started college right out of high school majoring in chemistry, determined to push forward academically even while carrying the weight of losing my mom in the ninth grade. She was the person who guided me, encouraged me, and would have been by my side through every step of the college process, but she had just missed my high school graduation which felt like my biggest accomplishment. Trying to navigate everything while feeling alone — applications, financial aid, decisions quickly became overwhelming. Eventually, I reached a point where I needed to step back and breathe. I wasn't putting my best foot forward and I could feel it. During my break from school, I began working in hospitality and food service. What started as a job quickly became something deeper. I found myself drawn to the energy of the kitchen, the creativity behind each dish, and the way food could bring people together. Cooking became a source of comfort and expression for me — a way to reconnect with joy after years of pushing through grief. It reminded me of the warmth and togetherness I grew up with, especially in Memphis, where food is a language of its own. At the same time, my love for travel kept growing. What started as a last-minute trip with my cousin awakened something new inside me. Every new place I visited opened my eyes to different cultures, flavors, and ways of welcoming people. I realized that travel and food were the two things that consistently made me feel alive, curious, and connected. And I wanted to find a way to bring them together. That’s when my boss recommended hospitality and tourism(resort) management and after a few talks it started to make sense. It felt like a field where all the pieces of my story could finally fit — my love for cooking, my passion for exploring new places, my desire to create meaningful experiences for others, and my understanding of how important it is to feel welcomed and supported. As an African American who has had to navigate life without the guidance I once depended on, I want to be someone who brings empathy, representation, and cultural awareness into this industry. My background didn’t just influence my decision — it shaped it completely. Losing my mom taught me resilience. Working in hospitality taught me passion. Traveling taught me curiosity. And together, they led me to a field where I can honor my past while building a future that excites me. With the support of this scholarship, I hope to continue my education and build a career where I can celebrate diversity, promote cultural understanding, and help shape a more inclusive hospitality industry. My goal is to represent my community proudly and use my passions to make a lasting impact.