“My scholarship to attend the University has provided me with infinite outlets to explore my career interests and what it means to be a leader in the world.”
How did your summer experiences clarify your career or academic interests (for example, a Metcalf internship or research opportunity)?
Through the Odyssey Scholarship I had the chance to take advantage of a Metcalf internship during the summer following my first year. In summer 2017 I worked at the Georgia House Democratic Caucus and that experience clarified my interest in public policy. Furthermore, I was able to dabble a bit into the intersection of finance and public policy while at my internship, which led me to seek out a finance-focused internship for this upcoming summer. Thanks to my Metcalf internship, I will be working at BNY Mellon in New York this summer under their Global Clients Management division.
Please describe how you are choosing your course of study. Have there been clarifying moments in your Core classes or particularly inspiring professors who are helping identify your academic passions?
During my first year I took Self, Culture, and Society and, typical of a UChicago student, I fell in love with Marx. Reading Marx put words to occurrences I already noticed on a daily basis and further opened my eyes, pushing me to think about how I could implement changes that combat systematic oppressions against the worker. Additionally, once I entered the Econ 200 sequence, my decision to major in economics was affirmed. I noticed that I was extensively more engaged in my economics class than my other classes, and loved the fact that I could think about the various tools we learn and apply them to real world scenarios. My love of applying theory to practice naturally led me to double major in public policy. I’m frequently asked why I don’t just major in public policy; I want to use my economics major to learn economic tools and public policy to explore the oppressions of marginalized groups of people, and learn how I can make a difference.
What activities are you involved with outside the classroom?
Since joining the University of Chicago, I have had the opportunity to get involved in several student organizations and programs. This is my second year being on the executive board for the Organization of Black Students this year serving as outreach chair, as well as my second year as a mentor with MoneyThink, an organization that teaches financial literacy to South Side students. I am also a part of the Trott Business Program Cohort 2020, through which I am serving as a Trott-Odyssey mentor to first-year applicants. Other activities I am involved with include Maroon Mentors, the Questbridge Network on campus, and this year I served as a Taking the Next Step finance student coordinator, working alongside advisors in the Career Advancement Center to organize the 2018 TNS Event.
If you could speak directly to the person whose gift supported your scholarship, what would you say?
My scholarship to attend the University has provided me with infinite outlets to explore my career interests and what it means to be a leader in the world. Through the Odyssey Scholarship, I have been able to attend treks across the world, including London and Dubai, expanding my network of professionals and mentors and helping me gain knowledge about the consulting and finance industries. Being awarded this scholarship means that I can pay back my mom for all of the sacrifices she’s made to put me in the position that I’m in today. Being awarded this scholarship means that I have a support system to help me through any and every thing—whether that be letting me know of different opportunities on or off campus that might be of interest to me, or just listening to me rant about how I have no idea what I want to do with my life. Thank you for your selfless act in supporting my scholarship. You have given me the opportunity to come to an amazing school, gain a world-renowned education, and meet individuals that have forever made an impact on my life.
