After high school I had no intent on going to college. My plan was to actually go off to the Navy, but after a few meetings with Navy recruiters I learned that it wasn't for me. After five months of just working after graduation I decided to enroll in school and do something more with myself than just working at a gas station. I talked with my mother and my high school advisor and explained to them that I was interested in going to a two-year community college and that I would want to transfer to a four-year university for my Bachelors degree.

I started at Inver Hills Community College in 2012 just taking general classes. At the time I didn't have an idea of what I wanted to study but I just stayed focused and made sure I passed all my classes I needed to pass to transfer. In high school I was involved in a Girl Scout group where we would, of course, sell cookies but also volunteer in the community and go on HBCU college tours. The first college tour we went on was on the east coast, where we visited Howard, Georgetown, Bowie, Morgan State and a lot of other great HBCUs.

I remember stepping on Morgan State's campus and instantly feeling like I belonged. The atmosphere was great and our tourguide was very enthusiastic. So, fast-forward to finishing up my year at Inver Hills Community college. I applied to Morgan State University and was accepted!

I moved on campus in August of 2013 and that's when everything changed for me, for the better of course. The history of my campus and what it stood for changed my whole perception of all HBCUs and their relevance. I've learned so much about my history and the fight it took to even start Black colleges in America and how they're still fighting to stay relevant today.

Before attending Morgan State I would watch a lot of videos or read up on HBCUs, because believe it or not I barely knew anything about Black colleges. The only Black colleges that were familiar to me were Spelman, Howard and Clark Atlanta because I had family members who attended these institutions. Furthermore, being admitted to Morgan State has opened my horizons on all aspects and has taught me things about myself and my heritage I never knew. The people on my campus all seemed different from where I was from and it gave me an opportunity to meet new people from all over the world, join organizations and open doors for me that I would have never imagined taking the steps to do.

Overall, I am so thankful to have gotten the opportunity to be apart of such a wonderful institution and its history.