Where are you from?
I’m from the Bridgeport neighborhood located on the Southside of Chicago. (Yes, I’m a White Sox fan ☹)
Why did I decide to apply to NPEP?
I promised my family I would do everything I could to become the best version of myself while trying to get home to them as soon as possible. Also, I constantly preach the importance of education to my son. So when I heard about NPEP I had to apply. Thank you Northwestern for accepting me!
What does being a part of NPEP mean to you?
I hope it will mean the cycle of incarceration in my family (Grandfather, Uncle, Father, Me) will end with me. It also means I will have a brighter future. One of my biggest worries was that I would be so far behind when I get out that I would have very limited possibilities. Now I believe I can look forward to a future with endless possibilities. Finally, it means a lot to me to have the opportunity to demonstrate to my son that I practice what I preach. I hope that it will inspire him to go to college so that we can start a new cycle in our family.
What are you most looking forward to as an NPEP student?
I’m looking forward to the experience. I’m looking forward to the challenges (such as taking Professor Jennifer Lackey’s Phil 361 class in my first quarter of college). I’m looking forward to expanding my horizon and being able to look at the world through a new lens. I’m looking forward to being a contributing factor to the expansion and validation of programs like NPEP. As I said in my statement of purpose, I will be a success story! That means we (NPEP) will be a success story!
What is something you would like others to know about you as a student?
I’m very easy to talk to. If you want to know something, just ask.
What is a fact about yourself that others might find surprising?
I value my worth on what I can give to others. This comes from my belief that love is a verb and only through your actions can you provide meaning to the word love.