Personal Statement

Civic engagement is a value that was instilled in me as a young child. Growing up in poverty, I was driven to work towards bettering both my own life and the lives of others. Since I've been in college, I have done this through volunteer efforts and involvement both on my campus and in my community. In my work as an intern for the City of Tahlequah, I brought those worlds together through my work on the city's Comprehensive Plan. I worked to build community in Tahlequah by leading a concentrated effort to include the voices of students in the planning for the city's future.

Following graduation, I worked on various political campaigns to ensure that our representatives are accurately representing their constituents. Since returning to graduate school, I have begun work as a Graduate Assistant, where I facilitate leadership courses designed to empower students to develop leadership skills based on self-awareness and social responsibility. I also continue to work with local campaigns to ensure that my community is making progressive steps forward while including the voices of college students, who are valuable members of the community. I am passionate about creating positive change through collaboration and community building.