From 2011 to 2020, I have been involved in Concert, Jazz, Stage, and Marching Band. My first year in the band was the 5th grade. I started off playing the snare drum and xylophone in a band class. By 6th grade, I joined the marching band and I began playing the Alto Saxophone. These years were some of the best moments of my life as I learned lessons that would mold me into the Student Leader I am today. Being the youngest member of the band at that time. I absorbed all of the knowledge I could from the upperclassmen. They showed me the ropes so I could one day take their place, which I did. After all the upperclassmen above me graduated, I was by myself. Alone, however, I carried a strong, heavy responsibility to keep the band going. I became the "wisest" member because of the traditions and band knowledge I knew. By 9th grade, I became my school's First Freshman Drum Major. With a new band director, we would go on the learn a greater love for music. I was introduced to "show-style" marching, real jazz, and about the HBCU experience. Through the years, times were tough, and new band directors came and went. However, my determination and love for the band program helped us get through. Graduating and leaving my band family was hard, however, the times we had with each other and the work we put in, helped me feel at ease.

As the Class President for three years in a row, I had a lot of responsibilities. I wanted to be more than the president but to make a change and give my class something to look forward to when coming to school. Millwood High School is an independent school district with grades PreK-12th. The council and I helped plan various events on campus, ran the student store, helped out on other parts of the campus, and more. However, one of our biggest projects had to be our Annual Toy Drive. My junior year as class president. The council had the opportunity to start the first-ever toy drive for the elementary kids at our school. We sent out flyers and messages to alumni and people in the company so they could donate to the toy drive. Both years we got a wonderful turnout. Most students were able to get two or more toys. During both years we had the opportunity to give back to 400+ elementary students for Christmas. The second year, in particular, we as seniors decided to incorporate the juniors to "pass the torch" so that we can keep the tradition going! It was a good way to give back to the younger students who look up to high school students.

Youth Leadership Exchange is a non-profit organization in the state of Oklahoma where selected students in high school get to experience what it is like to be in Oklahoma Legislator, get to know the state, develop leadership skills, learn how to raise money for a cause, and figure out what careers and new things are happening in the state. There are three different classes for the youth: Leadership Skills, Youth in Action, and Youth Council. I was selected out of 200+ applicants to be in the class of 45 for the leadership skills class. We met every month from 8-5 and we had an adventure every time. Each meeting had a different type. One month we learned about the different aspects of healthcare, another time we learned about downtown and what new ways Oklahoma is trying to urbanize the community, but one of the most interesting days of all was Public Safety day. The Police Chief, Lieutenant, a Judge, and even youth inmates talked to use about public safety and told us their stories. We also go to go outside and train like firefighters. YLX is a great program and I was glad to be apart of it. It opened up lots of doors for me.

Metro Technology Centers is a vocational school that partners with my alma mater, Millwood High School. They provide advanced placement courses and career tech programs for high schoolers and adults who want experience in certain fields. In my sophomore year of high school, I was accepted into the Biomedical Science Program. It is a two to three-year program and it is very rigorous. During my tenure in Biomed, I took various science classes such as Anatomy/Physiology, Human Body Systems, Chemistry, and Principles of Biomedical Sciences through Project Lead the Way (PLTW). I also dissected a fetal pig, sheep brain, and cow eye. Both years, I was involved in Future Health Occupation Leaders of America (HOSA) and attended conferences. Being in Biomedical Science, I learned a lot about the human body systems and about different careers in the medical field. After my second year in BioMed, I decided to get an internship at Oklahoma City Indian Clinic where I could get hands-on experience with patients and with medical professionals. The Biomed Program helped me prepare for college.

My 7th-grade year, my class was automatically put into a program called Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) by a grant through the University of Central Oklahoma. GEAR UP follows us to our first year in college. The program is meant to show students options after high school, whether that be the workforce, college, or trade school. We took college tours, had Saturday Academy's, went to events, college camps, career fairs, out-of-state summer college tours, and other informative experiences useful for high school students. I have been afforded various opportunities because of GEAR UP. I was even hired by the University of Central Oklahoma as a tutor/mentor for their new GEAR UP grant program that would serve the 7th graders at my school. Two summers ago, I was selected as GEAR UP Oklahoma State Student of the Year and was allowed to go on an all-expense-paid trip to San Francisco, CA to the National GEAR UP Conference. At the conference, I participated in the Youth Leadership Summit. Students across the world were in YLS and it was so fun meeting new people. We also performed in front of 2,500 people on stage in the middle of the conference. GEAR UP helped me get into college, allowed me to give back to the community, and find my career path.