On May 21st, 2021 I graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park! My undergraduate journey was pretty crazy. I started off at Kent State University where I just knew from the beginning that it wasn't where I was meant to be. I then transferred the next semester to UMBC because I could not transfer to UMD during the first year. UMBC was a much better experience than Kent State. There I joined a sorority, Alpha Sigma Alpha, was near home, and was in the Honors College. However, my lifelong goal at that time was to go to the University of Maryland because of the in-state tuition, closeness to my family, friends, and Washington, D.C., and the opportunities in Criminology and Law. Once I started at the University of Maryland in Fall 2018, I immediately began joining many organizations. I was a member of Club Field Hockey, University Student Judiciary, Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, Justice 4 Juniors, the Roosevelt Collective, CHAARG, Sociology Peer Advisor, and MLAW Ambassadors. While at UMD, before COVID hit, I was able to study abroad twice. I first went to London, England during Spring Break of 2018 to study History as a Honors course elective. There I learned a lot about the history and demographics of England and made really great friends. Later I studied abroad at the U.S.-Mexico Border during Winter Break of 2019, just months before the pandemic started. That experience was extremely illuminating and I learned a lot about immigration policy and some of the huge human rights atrocities happening at our southern border. At UMD I loved forming stronger bonds with some of my lifelong friends that I've known even as far back as Pre-K and making new friends that I will love forever. The opportunities that I had at UMD were unmatched and I am very thankful for all of the experiences that I had. Some highlights are doing research with Dr. Kris Marsh who helped me tremendously in learning more about race relations and applying for graduate programs. I also was a research assistant in the Group Processes Lab and for Dr. Korzeniewizc. During my undergraduate career I had three great internship experiences. First at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as a Social Science Research Intern, next in the U.S. House of Representatives with the late Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, and finally as a Clerk Intern with the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. I would not have had these opportunities if I were not located so close to D.C. or without the connections that I made at UMD. I originally dreamed of becoming a Civil Rights Lawyer in the future, but through learning more about law I decided that law school was not for me. Instead, I applied to PhD in Sociology programs as well as Masters of Public Policy and Masters of Public Administration programs. I realized that throughout my entire life I have always been drawn to leadership and elected roles. I also could not ignore that I have a strong passion for social justice and policy reform. I was lucky enough to be accepted into some great programs such as the Sociology PhD program at the University of Delaware, MPP programs at the University of Chicago, George Washington University, and American University. However, I decided to attend the University of Pennsylvania to get a Masters of Public Administration with a focus in Social Policy from the Fels Institute of Government. I believe that this opportunity will help open many doors for me and to learn more about what I would like to do post-grad school. I am currently interested in returning to Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant or policy analyst, leading an education or housing non-profit, or even possibly running for office. I will begin classes on August 31st, 2021. I am so excited to see where things go!
