I am my mother's daughter. I am supposed to be a spitting image of her and exceed all of the dreams she was unable to accomplish. Except I'm not. I spent the first 20 years of my life afraid to be who I was intended to be because of the backlash I received from my mother. I couldn't talk to her about my crushes because she would likely find out that they were not boys, as she expected. I couldn't go shopping with her because I would end up leaving with a dress that I wouldn't dare wear in public. I watched her support my lesbian cousin and neighbors, a gay couple, in front of others but had her threaten to anoint me with holy oil behind closed doors. For the first 20 years of my life, I was afraid to love, be expressive, or to even be me. Most people, never make it out but for me, I used these experiences to fuel my passion for letting people know that it is okay to be yourself. I am currently majoring in plant and environmental science at Clemson University. It has been a challenge leaving the state of Florida to go to the bible belt state of South Carolina but the challenges make my fight even more worth it. With my education, I plan on changing the face of agriculture. When most people think of a farmer they do now think of a black queer woman and that is going to change in my lifetime. After graduating I plan on enrolling in the peace corps to serve two years proving assistance to farmers in different regions to help maintain their food. Upon my return, I plan to either work for the USDA and/or a BIPOC farm. An ultimate career goal of mine is to eventually open up my farm and continue my teachings throughout different communities. As a minority student at a PWI that mostly consists of cis-gendered white men and women, it became evident to me how important my presence is in this world. In my classes, I am usually one of 2 students of color and 1 of 3 openly queer students. In only a short time at Clemson, I have participated in some history amongst my LGBTQ+ peers, which has been inspiring. I currently serve as the president of my sorority and have been continuously working to create a safe space for others. These experiences will help me continue to impact the community around me in my post-grad life. I plan to continue to advocate for those in this world who feel as if they don't have a voice or platform. I want to be an example for the youth and even the elders, that anything is possible, especially if you truly want it.