Seeing where I am now…
I am in a place where I never thought I’d be. No matter where you are in life, who you know, or what resources you lack, never doubt yourself. Intelligence and status are all constructs that keep us confined to a small box, and hold us captive from freely expressing ourselves and living up to our full potential.
Can you tell us about your role as Student Trustee?
My role as student trustee has been centered around being the voice for NEIU’s student body. I am proud to say that I was apart of the decision to bring 15 afghan refugees to NEIU, granted them free tuition and board so that they could pursue their education at our institution. I have just as equally been a strong advocate for Black students on this campus. I understand that our Black students are severely underrepresented and that they need more resources to succeed. Given what African American students face just outside of school alone, we have to understand that conversations around anti-Blackness and racism are growing old. Black students don’t want focus groups and monthly surveys, they want to be heard and they want their experiences to be taken seriously.
What has helped you make the most of your own potential?
I have been able to recognize my own potential through consistent therapy and strong mentorship. I have done a lot of self work, and a large part of that is recognizing that the work that I do is great work, it’s impactful, and it’s meaningful.
As a Communication, Media and Theatre (CMT) major, how did the faculty make you feel ready to be a part of the current media landscape?
The staff in the CMT department are some of the most loving and accommodating people I have ever met. There has never been a time in my whole life of attending school that I have felt so supported by a group of individuals. The CMT department is really like a huge family and supportive community.
