Tell us why you chose Ball State University.

During my freshman year of high school, I took an Introduction to Journalism course with a teacher who is a Ball State alum. Throughout the course, she would talk about the extracurricular activities and opportunities she had when she was a student here. I took it as my sign to look into Ball State. Today, I can say I’m glad I looked into it; I was able to find my calling in public relations.

What made you the most nervous about coming to Ball State? How did you navigate those concerns?

I have social anxiety. I knew how to be a student. But I wondered what it would be like for me to be someone outside of the classroom in the college setting. That was my biggest challenge: figuring out who I am outside of the classroom.

I didn’t force myself out of my comfort zone all at once. I took it one step at a time. For example, if there was someone in class who didn’t understand the assignment, I would invite the person to lunch and discuss the assignment. Or, if I didn’t understand the assignment, I talked to my professors. For me, it has been about the little ways to make personal connections.

What are the qualities and experiences you brought with you to Ball State that have helped you succeed in college?

My perseverance and optimism. I’ve been through a lot in life. But I know you have to see the good in things. That’s something I do at Ball State, whether I’m having a hard time in class, I’m struggling through final exams, or dealing with life itself. I stay positive and I keep going.

What has been the most difficult part of the college experience for you?

It was the fact that I am balancing being a first-generation college student. It’s kind of a lot of pressure on me to succeed—not just for myself, but to make my family proud of me.

I had two siblings who went through college, but they dropped out before they could walk the stage. Now it’s just me in college. I also have two younger brothers who look up to me for inspiration. Pair all of this with my father who migrated to the United States in 1999. His main goal has always been providing a better education for his children.

I want to make my family proud. But I know no matter what I choose to do with my life in terms of college, I need to do it for me, too. I have to balance their aspirations with my determination.

Tell us about your proudest moment(s) at Ball State University.

My time at Ball State has been a powerful journey of networking with like-minded peers dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within and beyond the classroom. This experience has become my calling, a purpose-driven path, as I passionately commit to serving the greater good and fostering positive change in our educational community and society as a whole.

Looking back, what is something you know now that you wish you had known during your first few weeks at Ball State as an incoming student?

Your college experience is what you make of it and what you take from it. It’s a constant continuation of how you’re evolving as a person.

What is one piece of advice you would share with first-generation students preparing to attend Ball State, or who are in their first year at Ball State?

My biggest advice for incoming or first-year students at Ball State would be finding niche ways to exhibit your personality that make you more welcoming. If you’re anxious about interacting with people, how do you know the person next to you isn’t also anxious to have a conversation? If you’re the one who initiates the conversation, it can eliminate that fear factor. Make people feel welcomed, just like you would want to feel. Also, breathe—and never let fear determine your fate.