One of my biggest life lessons that I have learned through playing golf was patience, determination, and being goal-driven. I am highly active in my school and local community outside to the classroom. I am in National Honor Society and several individual honor societies such as Science, Math, English, Art, and Social Studies. I serve as Student Body Vice President, Vice President of Future Farmers of America, Co-Captain of Varsity Cheer and a member of the Varsity Golf. I also volunteer on a weekly helping to take care of wild and domestic animals. In 2018, I was diagnosed with a chronic illness known as Crohn’s. I was determined to educated myself about this incurable disease, not only for myself but for others. Throughout all the hospitalizations, countless flare-up, numerous medication changes, and painful surgeries; I remained positive and hopeful. Being goal-driven and determined are two qualities that I think make me successful. A great student has the motivation to set goals and the persistence to reach them. Even though you may face challenges and obstacles you should never give up. No goal should be unreachable, so make no excuses and push forward to attain your goal. Determination equals hard work. No matter how difficult your subjects/courses are, you will not give up on regularity. This encourages me to want to do more and become available when needed. I was determined to educate myself when I was diagnosed with the incurable Crohn’s Disease, not only for myself but for others. I was going to have a normal high school life and this disease wasn’t going to take it away. Throughout all the hospitalizations, countless flare-up, numerous medication changes, and painful surgeries; I made it my mission to become an advocate for the disease. Golf has taught me to learn to accept the uncontrollable. Many things can go wrong on a golf course. One thing that being in First Tee taught me was how to accept the things that are out of my control. I embraced my illness and decided to help educate others like myself. I was delighted to be asked by CHKD’s Director of Gastroenterology, if I would be the Youth Advocate for children newly diagnosed with this disease. Meeting others in the hospital and encouraging them push on and not allow this illness to break them down, gives me hope to stay in remission. Some may look at being cursed with Crohn’s as a setback, challenge, or failure. I look at it as a life learning experience. I was raised by a single mother, and she always instilled in me “Just because I carry it all so well doesn’t mean it’s not heavy.” People are placed on this earth to help each other that’s why we have communities. So, I always believe the knowledge that I am given was placed in front of me to be given to help some else. This is why I feel I would be an excellent leader.

I have always had a love for animals, not just any kind of animal, but exotic animals. People seem to make the statement that you don’t see black veterinarian in zoo setting. My response to them is, “You are looking at a future one.” I have been invited to several workshops and summer programs. Rarely do I see people with brown faces represented or lecturing. I hope to make a difference in this future outcome. I am in the environment studies program at my local high school. There are very few blacks in the program. I have been an ambassador for our academy with hope of recruiting more African Americans. Unless we make the can of see more people of color in the STEM field, our population will never grow. I’m hoping to continue to advocate this change. In 2018, I was diagnosed with a chronic illness known as Crohn’s. I was determined to educate myself about this incurable disease, not only for myself but for others. Throughout all the hospitalizations, countless flare-up, numerous medication changes, and painful surgeries; I remained positive and hopeful. Through it all my faith never wavered. I embraced my illness and decided to help educate others like myself. I was asked if I would be the Youth Advocate for children newly diagnosed with this disease. Meeting others in the hospital and encouraging them push on and not allow this illness to break them down, gives me hope to stay in remission. This disease has made me realize that I can overcome and achieve anything I set my mind to accomplishing. Albert Einstein once said, “Only a life lived in the service to others is a life worth living.” Service to others is not simply an extracurricular, it is a way of life. Devoting your life to change somebody else’s for the better is what it means to lead a life of significance, and more specifically, what it means to be a model citizen. To be fearless means to be without fear. I would be lying if I said I was completely fearless. I still close my eyes during scary movies and call my mom to come kill a bug for me. But when it comes to advocating for change, I believe in, I will lead without hesitation, and I will do it fearlessly. I have always emphasized heavily on service and leadership throughout my high school years. The main motto I choose to lead by is, “put others before yourself”. When I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, I was able to achieve excellent grade and honors while dealing with a life altering chronic illness that would have defeated most adults. I was often hospitalized for long periods of time, but I was able to thrive academically despite my health challenges. It was very important that I was treated no differently due to my illness. Since my freshman year I was determined to participate on the school sports, clubs, and other extracellular activities. My attitude is that I have Crohn’s Disease, it does not have me! I would have summer programs there for younger children so they can experience the love that I feel and achieved for animals. I think that younger children should be able to learn about domestic and wildlife animals. Some children do not have the option of going to the Norfolk Zoo. We have the mean right in our beautiful city of Hampton, VA to taught our youth the importance of keeping our animal population from becoming extinct.

I have always had a love for animals, not just any kind of animal, but exotic animals. People seem to make the statement that you don’t see black veterinarian in zoo setting. My response to them is, “You are looking at a future one.” I have been invited to several workshops and summer programs. Rarely do I see people with brown faces represented or lecturing. I hope to make a difference in this future outcome. I am in the environment studies program at my local high school. There are very few blacks in the program. I have been an ambassador for our academy with hope of recruiting more African Americans. Unless we make the can of see more people of color in the STEM field, our population will never grow. I’m hoping to continue to advocate this change. In 2018, I was diagnosed with a chronic illness known as Crohn’s. I was determined to educate myself about this incurable disease, not only for myself but for others. Throughout all the hospitalizations, countless flare-up, numerous medication changes, and painful surgeries; I remained positive and hopeful. Through it all my faith never wavered. I embraced my illness and decided to help educate others like myself. I was asked if I would be the Youth Advocate for children newly diagnosed with this disease. Meeting others in the hospital and encouraging them push on and not allow this illness to break them down, gives me hope to stay in remission. This disease has made me realize that I can overcome and achieve anything I set my mind to accomplishing. My hope is becoming an African American female veterinarian that works with exotic animals and help find a cure for Crohn’s. Albert Einstein once said, “Only a life lived in the service to others is a life worth living.” Service to others is not simply an extracurricular, it is a way of life. Devoting your life to change somebody else’s for the better is what it means to lead a life of significance, and more specifically, what it means to be a model citizen. To be fearless means to be without fear. I would be lying if I said I was completely fearless. I still close my eyes during scary movies and call my mom to come kill a bug for me. But when it comes to advocating for change, I believe in, I will lead without hesitation, and I will do it fearlessly. I have always emphasized heavily on service and leadership throughout my high school years. The main motto I choose to lead by is, “put others before yourself”. When I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, I was able to achieve excellent grade and honors while dealing with a life altering chronic illness that would have defeated most adults. I was often hospitalized for long periods of time, but I was able to thrive academically despite my health challenges. It was very important that I was treated no differently due to my illness. Since my freshman year I was determined to participate on the school sports, clubs, and other extracellular activities. My attitude is that I have Crohn’s Disease, it does not have me!