I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. I grew up in a Latter-day Saint family with four siblings — three brothers and one sister. Education has always been very important in my family. My mom graduated with a degree in pharmaceuticals, and my dad is a pharmaceutical buyer. My parents always taught me that education is power and how important it is to continue to grow and continue pursuing education throughout our lives. I love sports! I played basketball and volleyball and ran track throughout my childhood. Right now, I coach track and field at a local high school. Sports have been very important to me. They are something that I’ve grown to rely on. Through sports, I found inclusion and discovered my talents. Being involved with sports and playing on a team helped shape my personality.

I originally went to a small university in Texas for a year before serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When I returned home, I moved to Utah for three months, but it didn't work out, and I moved back to Texas. I waited a year before returning to school, and at the time, I planned on staying in Texas. I had a friend that mentioned UVU, and at first, I was so against coming back to Utah. I didn’t have a great experience, and I felt very alone and lost. I went through the pamphlet for UVU, and one of the things that stood out to me was the price of tuition. It was phenomenal! Since I am not a traditional student — I'm a bit older than the average student — I knew I would need to pay for my education myself. I didn't qualify for government assistance, so I was looking for an affordable education. UVU caught my eye with the price, and I decided to move back to Utah without knowing exactly what I was getting myself into, and here I am! I am really grateful for the price of tuition at UVU. It was a big reason I decided to come here, and it’s a big reason why I’ve stayed.

I struggled the first year I attended UVU. Being a person of color, I did not see many people who looked like me in the classroom. I had a hard time meeting new people and making friends. I would come to campus, go to class, and head back home right away. That continued into my second and third years at UVU, and it was very hard. I didn’t feel included and struggled to find a place here as one of the few Black people on campus. However, this year has been the complete opposite! I went through a situation in my life that made me think deeply about what I wanted and who I wanted to be, and how I could leave a personal impact at UVU. I decided to get more involved, so I applied to be a member of UVUSA Student Council as an inclusion ambassador and was accepted! I’ve had the opportunity to get to know so many different people through that position.

I also joined UVU’s Black Student Union, where I met other people like me and had the chance to collaborate with them. I’ve seen so much growth in myself over the past few months, and it's made me realize how much I missed out during my first three years at UVU before I stepped out of my comfort zone. I’m so grateful for the experiences I’ve had as a part of UVUSA and BSU.

Recently, I helped plan UVU’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day event. I helped gather stories of Black people within the community for the event. I also created and planned a photo shoot to showcase the idea of Afrofuturism — Black people in the future. BSU also worked with the Center for Social Impact at UVU for the event, and they did a phenomenal job! It was neat to reach out to the community and people in BSU and hear their stories and experiences as people of color in Utah. It was an eye-opener to see what people have experienced. We put together a video highlighting the stories of a few students displayed on the MLK Jr. Exhibit website.

I'm currently majoring in school health education. At first, I thought that I would be done with my education as soon as I graduated from UVU. But this year, everything changed, and I’ve decided to pursue a master’s degree in educational leadership. My goal is to be a principal at a middle school or high school. I plan to attend UVU for my master’s degree, so they’re stuck with me for two more years!

To nontraditional students like myself, I would like to say that age does not matter when it comes to education. What matters is that you're willing and wanting to get an education. Please don't worry about your age or let it prevent you from forming meaningful relationships and getting involved. Age is just a number — if you’re still breathing, you’re good!

Specifically to students of color, it can be hard to come to Utah from a more diverse place. It can be lonely, but it's important to step out of your comfort zone. When you do, you will meet others like you and see great benefits in your life.