As a young kid growing up, volunteering was the one thing that I always saw my family doing. My dad, a veteran of 15 years and mom who remained an educator for as long as I can remember, always taught me to be kind to others because we never knew what someone was going through. For about 7-8 years my dad has battled with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Bi-Polar Depression. He had been dealing with his mental diagnosis throughout my entire childhood. While some may look at mental illness as something negative, I can say that dealing with this obstacle has challenged me to become the best version of myself.
“Education is the one thing that no one can take away from you.” – Elin Nordegren My most significant aspirations are built on the knowledge I have acquired through the years, while it led me to personal growth. Education has taught me the importance of giving back.
Through philanthropy opportunities, I was able to use my knowledge to grant organizations thousands of dollars within my hometown (the Quad Cities). Furthermore, I was able to go on to plan a Black Excellence Night and Voter Registration Drive with the knowledge I acquired through philanthropy.