Upon graduating from Fort Valley State University I plan to attend the University of Nevada Las Vegas and pursue a degree in geology. From the first lecture in my intro to geology class, the field has always peaked my interest. The Earth is our home and there is so little we truly know about this planet we live on. I intend to explore my education further beyond the undergraduate level, to a graduate degree. So often many students just aim to obtain a bachelor’s degree and get out into the real world and make money. However, true value of a graduate education extends beyond the pay increase to the fact that it opens avenues in specified fields and teaching opportunities.
At Fort Valley State I am a member of several organizations. One of these is the Cooperative Developmental Program. This a three plus two year dual degree program, designed to alleviate the underrepresentation of minorities and females in the energy industry. I served as their treasurer for the 2018-2019 school year. I am also a member of several other professional organizations such as the National Association of Black Geoscientist and the National Society of Black Engineers. Community advancement is also very important to collegiate life. As a member of the Shepherds in the Valley and Faithful Black Men Association heightening the awareness of challenges facing black men and the black community as a whole, has been an integral part of my HBCU experience.
My grandma has a very simple philosophy to life, “if you are good person and you work hard, life will be good to you.” My grandma has always said she has never had much but whatever she has, she has had to work hard for. I have always admired how her resiliency allows her to see the good in almost any situation. When she was only 5 years old, her mother, my great grandmother, gave her up and moved away. Now six decades later, after never seeing her mother since, my grandmother continues to respect her and call her regularly. She believes that showing your parents respect is the right thing to do, despite, anything that has happened before.