What is your career goal and why?
When I think about my career goals, my aim is to be able to fulfill my enjoyment of cultivating new relationships. This led me to choose to major in marketing because I believe that will allow me the opportunity to be flexible with my career and allow me to interact with people on a daily basis. I feel like my personality best suits the career field that I have chosen due to my aspirations in life. Yet, I will admit that I haven't exactly figured the specific career that I will succeed in the most, but I believe that is all in God's plan for me. I have thought of many options that are available to me, but as for now, I am working on graduating with my bachelor's degree while also working towards getting my real estate license because that has always been an interest of mine.
Why did you choose UMHB?
I've grown up playing volleyball for as long as I can remember so I had many colleges contact me asking me to be a part of their volleyball program. I was contacted by Coach Frost, who was the current head volleyball coach at that time, and I agreed to come on a visit. I honestly had no clue where UMHB was, but I decided to come visit anyway. During the visit, I just had a feeling that this was the place where I was meant to be and every single person I met just in that one day showed so much love and kindness toward me. There were also other factors that influenced my decision such as the Christian environment, nice facilities, and the smaller community. I have not regretted my decision to continue my education at this university since I committed. I still feel that UMHB is the best place to be!
Tell us about your life growing up.
I am extremely grateful for everything in my life, especially the way I was raised. In my early childhood, my parents divorced and it was difficult for my brother and I to stay with my Dad, who works all of the time, and my mother, who I didn't really have a good relationship with. My grandparents took us in as their own and raised us with the help of my father. My grandparents are my life and I love and appreciate them more than anyone in this whole world! They have made everything possible for me and I will never be able to thank them enough for the love and support they have given me. Of course it is not the typical way most kids are raised, but I am extremely blessed to call them my parents and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. So shout out to my grandparents and father for being the best and loving me the way they do!
In what ways have you grown as a person because of the way you were raised.
Again, my grandparents have given me the best life I could ever ask for, so if it wasn't for them, I honestly do not know where I would be right now. Not having a strong relationship with my mom has been a struggle for me at times. I do feel that it has made me stronger as a person. My grandmother, who I am able to call my mom now, has made me the person I am today. She is my best friend and the love I have for her doesn't compare to anyone else. Her favorite saying to me is, "you are kind, you are smart, and you are important", which is a quote from the movie, The Help. That is just one example of how she makes me feel so special and I could write a whole book about how great of a woman she is. My grandparents, along with my father, have taught me so many lessons growing up and have shaped me into the individual I was made to be. They have taught me how to forgive, how to love, and how to always be the best version of myself I can possibly be. I believe that everyone has their own personal struggles growing up and room for growth always. My family is my rock and they constantly give me a reason to keep striving to be the best person I can be. My upbringing may not be the most common, but it has taught me so many life lessons that I am extremely grateful for.
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