What college/university will you be graduating from?
Texas Christian University
Majoring in…
Geography
What was your motivation for deciding your major(s)?
I started as a computer science major because that is the direction my family pushed me towards, but I soon found out that it wasn’t something I was passionate about. I began pursuing geography in the second semester of my freshman year because it felt like such an open field. The way one of my mentors, Dr. Jeff Roett, described it was “geography is a field that lets you study the spatial aspect of whatever you want.” While I am now on the path to study the urban geography and mobility of disabled populations, I wasn’t sure where I would go when I chose that major. But I felt like I needed to pick something, and there was a certain allure to geography. I have never once regretted my decision.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
In five years, I see myself finishing my Ph.D. and continuing my research into blind urban mobility, as well as working closely with the blind community and aiding them in whatever ways are appropriate.
What advice would you give the Freshman year version of yourself?
I would tell the freshman version of myself to be herself, but not stress out about coming out as transgender. It has been an amazing decision that I feel was made at just the right time in my life.
If you had a talk show, who would your first three guests be?
My first three guests would be my best friends Jordan, Trevor, and Souli. The three of them have never met and I want to have a conversation with all of them. I think they’d have good chemistry.
How has your vision of the future been enhanced by your time in the Leadership Fellows Program?
The Leadership Fellows Program has provided me the confidence to do things I never thought possible. If you had told me my freshman year of college that by senior year, I would be leading a devotional and sharing some of my deepest thoughts with my HELM community, I wouldn’t have believed you. But HELM has taught me that if I want to do something, I can and should do it.