My goal when I fly on an airplane is to see if I can become good enough friends with the person next to me so that by the end of the flight if I offer that person a piece of gum, my new friend will say yes. One of my favorite plane friendships began on my flight home from Kenya when I was 16. I was on an eight-hour flight after serving for a month in a local orphanage outside of Nairobi, and I was looking to strike up a conversation. Looking back on it, I was traveling completely alone and should probably not have spoken to a complete stranger. Yet, before I knew it, I was laughing with the pastor next to me as we watched videos of his family wishing him safe travels, discussed our craving for sugar after a month of Kenyan cooking that typically avoided sugar, and shared about the anticipated struggles and excitement of adjusting back to “normal” life. And, not to mention, he accepted the gum offer.

That interaction captured a lot—my love for people and building new friendships, as well as a love for adventure, independence, and working with others—especially young children. My high school experience painted a picture of all these things too. Whether it was leading my soccer, basketball, or field hockey teammates in a team-building challenge, nannying for a family of eight in the summer in Spain, teaching a High School 101 class of rowdy freshmen, or launching an Etsy shop to support friends in my Kenyan community, coaching a young U7 soccer team, leading Young Life, or working at a summer camp alongside children with special needs, I sought out adventures, a laugh, and new friends.

This is what drew me to Texas. Coming from North Carolina, I knew I wanted to attend a school with great community, academics, and sports. I wanted to continue what I started in high school—following my heart for children, laughter, and adventure. Over and over throughout my junior and senior years of high school, I would hear about UT Austin in various conversations and contexts. Each interaction pushed me closer and closer to knowing that UT absolutely felt right. From my Youth and Community Studies major that will allow me to learn more fully how to care for and about children and families from different backgrounds and communities to continuous reinforcements that UT would provide thoughtful mentors and opportunities that would challenge me to be the best possible student, person, and friend I can be, I was completely sold, and I cannot wait to be a Longhorn!

Major
College of Education Youth and Community Studies Major, Youth and Social Services Track, Social Work Minor

Extracurricular Activities
YoungLives leader, Day 1 Bags intern, AGAPE of NC Foster Family Intern and Social Worker, Trotter House Pregnancy Clinic intern, Comet House School of Kenya ambassador, Signed Southern Etsy Shop Owner, Bowerbird wedding floral assistant, Greek life, local church ministry volunteer

What drew you to the Forty Acres Scholars Program?
The Forty Acres Scholars Program encouraged me to follow a dream I never knew could truly be a reality. I came to UT from my home state of North Carolina with a simple dream of working in education. I was passionate about providing access to quality education for special populations including foster kids, teen moms, Inner-city and special education students both domestically and internationally. Forty Acres not only believed in this dream, but had the people, programming and resources to make it a reality. In my time as a Forty Acres scholar, I have had the joy of travelling to over 20 countries to explore differing educational systems and populations. I am now excitedly pursuing a future in exploring access to education both domestically and internationally as I move to Nashville to actively work with special populations and remain connected to Comet House School in Kenya developing their educational systems. I am so incredibly grateful for the Forty Acres Society and their investment in me and my future. I look forward to hearing of all of the dreams they will continue to make a reality, and the impact this program will make on our greater world!