Personal Statement

I am the result of four generations of Appalachians who have contributed to the Mid-Ohio Valley culture. Mostly uneducated, hardworking, and fiercely loyal to family and nation, my heritage is rooted in the coal mines and industrial plants along the Ohio River. My great-grandfather and grandfather were such men of character who influenced my life. As a daughter of these men, I've seen what it takes to work without an education. As a young woman who has been given an opportunity to pursue an education, I have gained a perspective of what life can be when one's focus is not just on profits, but on the calculus of sustainability which promotes human flourishing. I have developed a growing desire to make a difference in the lives of my fellow Appalachians and our American society. Because of the support of my grandmother (a single mom) and my dad (first generation college graduate), I have the opportunity to pursue my passion of promoting sustainability. I am pursuing a life of collaborating with like-minded millennials who will lead this planet, with its diverse individuals, in pursuit of a prosperous society where all humans flourish with clean air, clean water, and clean energy.