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The Southside of Chicago is home to me. It’s the place where I grew up and learned many life lessons. On a breezy autumn evening, I, Kaliyah Jordon House, was brought into this world by my mother, father, and older brother. My parents raised me to care about passion, family, self-worth, knowledge, gratitude, and standards. All of these values sparked my intrinsic motivation in my life. I always hold myself to such high standards, and I strive to be the best at everything that I do. This gives me the confidence and self-worth that allow me to continue to be a good person. By allowing my collective knowledge and standards to guide me, I am able to make superb moral and intellectual decisions.
If senior year Kaliyah could see me at the University of Illinois currently, she would not believe that I chose this institution. Nevertheless, UofI became the best choice for me. I chose this institution because of the rigorous courses that it offers, the competitiveness that comes with attending a highly valued academic university, and the well-rounded diverse community. UofI is ranked in the top 15 for Speech Pathology programs which contributed to my university choice. The vibrant school spirit that comes with attending a big 10 university is what drew me to Illinois as well. UofI also has one of the biggest alumni associations in the nation, which has produced very notable and successful alumni. This type of institution is one that will allow me to make connections that will contribute to my success in my future career path. This university has everything to offer me and more!
In previous jobs, I worked as a gymnastics instructor and a day camp counselor for children of all ages. These positions served as a pathway to finding my passion for working with children. I then researched in depth about careers that would allow me to work in pediatrics and fulfill a lifestyle that I had always envisioned for myself. With speech pathology, there are so many career routes to take. This includes early intervention speech pathology, being a child life specialist, or being a speech pathologist in elementary schools. I truly believe that helping children is my passion and that being able to help any child is a gift. Speech is a right and I want to provide children with the confidence to speak, so that they can carry it with them through their entire lives.
I-Leap consists of a leadership program that provides students with support through their undergrad. My hope is that I-Leap can guide and mentor me in the right direction. Through this program, I can meet other students who are aspiring leaders. It is ideal to network with people who have the same aspirations and goals as me. Creating relationships with the I-leap staff is also crucial to my success and value in this program. My biggest goal is to gain knowledge, wisdom, and advice from the many mentors around me. This will allow me to be the best that I can be in undergrad and in my future career.
Authenticity, compassion, and achievement are three values that I live by daily. This specific order is listed by importance because these values need each other to work as one. Authenticity is not a value that is easy to fulfill; however, it is a crucial foundation to building relationships and growing as a person. With authenticity comes honesty and compassion. My honest and authentic characteristics are what make me who I am and allow me to have compassion for others. These two values always lead to achievement, whether that is achievement in a job, school, or in a sense of self-worth. I thoroughly believe that these values will guide me to success in all aspects of life, including school, career, and even I-Leap!
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