Then and Now

I graduated high school early and was going to take a year off but my mom said, 'Nope' and signed me up at SLCC. She wanted me to get a jump start and a feel for college classes. After a semester at SLCC, I switched to Weber State. One week in, I knew I didn't want to be there. It had this intimidating-college feel. I wanted smaller classes with professors who were easily accessible, approachable and supportive.

After I got the hang of what was expected from me academically, I got involved—older student leaders took me under their wing. After my first year, I became president of the Black Student Union. I wanted to be a doctor and went on to the U of U to earn a bachelor's in Health Promotion and Education. Then, I headed to graduate school at Vanderbilt University and earned a master's in Medicine, Health and Society with a bioethics and law focus.

Right now, I work as a clinical researcher at Meharry Medical College and I'm focused on studying for the LSAT. I want to be a lawyer and merge my knowledge of racial health disparities and the law, to close some of the equity gaps in communities of color.

"I graduated high school early and was going to take a year off but my mom said, 'Nope.'"

Advice

Allow yourself the grace to experience your journey. I fully intended to be a doctor and be married by now with kids. My aspirations changed; at first, I thought this was a failure on my part, but I found an entirely new passion. That's grace.

Be patient with yourself especially while at SLCC, where there is an extremely communal and supportive culture. It is rarely found in the places I've gone since. Take advantage of it.