A New Frontier

Regrettably, on August 23rd, 2005, everything took a drastic turn. Hurricane Katrina unleashed its fury on the Deep South, causing widespread devastation. Thankfully, the impact in Jackson experienced was not as detrimental compared to the severe consequences faced by New Orleans, just an hour and 30 minutes away from my home. Nevertheless, the aftermath brought about significant challenges such as debris, physical damage, and a scarcity of resources. Once we were able to return, the interstate bridges that separated my part of town (South Jackson) from where my school was located had been damaged for quite some time. I was able to witness members of my community come together in an attempt to rebuild our community. 

Katrina marked the beginning of a series of unfortunate events. While many were grappling with rebuilding their lives post-storm, my family faced an even deeper crisis. My mother's employer, MCI Worldcom, found itself entangled in a fraud and embezzlement scandal, along with others like Enron, in 2006. This left many hard-working middle-class Mississippians, like my mother in a severe financial crisis.

Simultaneously, my father's job with Northwest Airlines pulled out of Mississippi as the company, facing bankruptcy in 2005, ultimately merged with Delta Airlines in 2008. The merger, driven by increasing competition and economic challenges, resulted in significant changes. Unfortunately, with our livelihoods upended, we decided to seek new opportunities, leading us back to my birthplace, Memphis, Tennessee.

My Educational Journey

As a Junior, I found myself feeling that every opportunity I had painstakingly built was now in ruins. The familiar surroundings of my previous life were replaced by a new place and a new school. It felt like everything I once knew had crumbled away. Despite the initial setback, I managed to regain some stability at Ridgeway High School. Later, I transferred to Hollis F. Price Middle College High School, situated on the campus of Lemoyne-Owen College in Memphis, TN.

Upon graduating from high school in 2009, I embarked on my academic journey at Tennessee State University with an initial focus on Physics. However, my aspirations in that field were short-lived as the university lost funding for the program during my sophomore year. Consequently, I made a shift, changing my major to Speech Communication with a certification in teaching Theatre Arts.

In my senior year, just six months before graduation, the university lost the ability to license teachers under my chosen major. It meant that the degree I had worked so hard for was no longer attainable, and I found myself without a safety net. With a sense of urgency and facing financial constraints, I had to expedite my graduation. It soon became apparent that my true talents lay in the Humanities.

In August 2014, I proudly earned my Bachelor of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with emphases in Speech Communication, Theatre Arts, and Humanities, embracing the culmination of my academic journey.