In Focus: 

Reflections on My Personal and Professional Narrative

My journey from a small family farm near Holland, Texas, to pursuing higher education at Texas A&M University has been intricately woven with my passion for agriculture, education, and public policy. These interests have driven my professional and academic pursuits throughout my life. Outside of these, my interest in photography has defined my personal and creative pursuits since I first picked up my mom’s camera in elementary school. The lessons I learned as a photographer, including finding focus, framing composition, and capturing moments, have helped guide my professional and academic pursuits.

Finding Focus

Just as creating a crisp, sharp focal point in an image is crucial to its impact, developing a focus in my efforts allows me to create impactful contributions. Being the oldest child of two Aggies, my parents' careers in agriculture and our experiences on the farm shaped my passion for this field. My family has a history in agriculture spanning no less than six generations deep, and this history will not end with me. This early exposure ignited a fire within me to pursue a career where I could contribute meaningfully to the agricultural community. As a result, I graduated summa cum laude with dual degrees in Agricultural Leadership & Development and Agricultural Science from Texas A&M University. After completing my undergraduate degrees, I began my coursework to earn a Master of Public Service and Administration focusing on agricultural and environmental public policy analysis. My focus on agriculture will continue after graduation through my career as an agricultural statistician with the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Framing Composition

Photography has taught me the importance of framing and composing an image to convey a specific message. Similarly, I compose my involvement and experiences to develop and convey my skills. Throughout my time at Texas A&M, I've been actively involved in various student organizations and leadership roles. Serving as Vice President of Programs and Vice President of Service for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council, along with being a Dr. Joe Townsend '67 Leadership Fellow and a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Ambassador, provided me with invaluable leadership experiences and opportunities to contribute to the university community. My internships and graduate assistantships further developed and framed my qualifications. My internships with USDA NASS and role as a graduate assistant of research deepened my understanding of agricultural policies and statistical analysis. These experiences, combined with my leadership roles and academic achievements, compose a comprehensive narrative of my skills, dedication, and readiness to make a meaningful impact in the agricultural and public policy domains.

Capturing Moments

As a photographer, I focus my work on capturing raw moments that evoke emotions, tell stories, and inspire action. This lesson extends into my professional experiences as I have learned to embrace living in the moment by taking on opportunities and challenges. This mindset has led me to take on opportunities with a sense of mindfulness and readiness to learn. As a result, I have taken on experiences, such as serving as an Instructor for the Hullaballoo U First-Year Experience Course or as a Bush Board Fellow with the Friends of B/CS Libraries nonprofit, that challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone. Through these experiences, my understanding of diverse perspectives and experiences has been expanded which has inspired me to take action through mentorship and volunteer opportunities.

Conclusion

My personal and professional narrative are interconnected. The fusion of my professional interests and creative outlets allows the lessons I learn through one to impact the other. The lessons I have learned as a photographer are integrated into my approach to professional and academic pursuits through finding a focus, framing my composition, and capturing natural moments. As I continue into my career, these lessons will continue to guide my endeavors in order to create a lasting impact in my personal and professional lives.