What school will you be attending in the Fall?

Illinois State University

What Major will you study?

Elementary Education and Bilingual Elementary Education/Arabic and Chinese

What is the most important thing you learned in high school?

To always ask your teachers for help. “Smart” kid or not, you shouldn’t be afraid to admit you need help.

What is your favorite high school memory?

Making a castle out of popsicle sticks for AP English Language and Composition.

What is your best advice to future first-generation students?

Always look for the bright side. No matter the situation there is one, it’s just sometimes hidden by clouds.

What is a challenge that you have overcome as a first-generation college student?

Learning about what college is like on my own. None of my family has gone very far in school and being the first to go to college means I have to learn about college life on my own one day at a time.

What does it mean to you to receive the Superintendent’s Scholarship?

For me, receiving the Superintendent’s Scholarship is the first step to making sure I get my double major and minor so I can help a wider range of kids in the future, and make the world a better place with each student that passes through my classroom doors.