Why did you choose Daemen?
I chose Daemen because of the hold it had on me after I left when I visited. I continued to think about Daemen when I returned to the city. Hearing my tour guides story and the opportunities the school had, like peer tutoring, how small it is and the Pre - vet program really spoke to me and it helped made my decision on what school to go to a lot easier.
In what ways are you involved on campus?
Photography club
Pre - Vet club
Employed at student affairs
What advice would you give to a prospective student?
Advice I would give to a prospective student is to just focus on yourself, ask for help, and to make yourself seen. When you focus on yourself it gives you room to not only be the best that you can be but also be the best in your studies. Definitely asking for help when you need it helps a ton and will get you noticed with the teachers. There's no shame in advocating what you need or asking around to answer certain questions. Lastly, make yourself seen. Being respectful and making yourself seen as a Person of color is the best thing you could do because not only do you get to know the professors you get to become your own person, including yourself where people of color aren't really seen can be healing and give you opportunities you didn't know you could've had. Stay respectful, Put yourself out there and stay true to yourself is the best you can do always.
What excites you most about being a tour guide?
What excites me the most about being a tour guide is getting to know people and their stories. Getting to know people and helping them navigate a big part of their lives not only means a lot to me but also interests me because everyone has different paths they want to take and I love to hear their stories but also to help them get to a place in their lives where they could be happy.
What is your most memorable moment at Daemen?
My most memorable moment at Daemen would be getting to go to the fun free events they have like the apple picking in October or getting free Halloween stuffed animals. It helps relived the stress that I was feeling at this school.
How has Daemen changed or shaped your life?
Daemen changed or shaped my life because it showed me how much I've grown. Going to a PWI as a little kid where the only black people in my school were my family did a lot more damage because I would get singled out a lot. So I would end up hiding, not talking and overall seen as "shy". But now going to a PWI as a teenager changed me because it taught me not to be scared or nervous when I'm the only black kid in a room, it taught me to hold my head high and to be proud of who I am and where I came from. It motivates me to be the best I can be, morally and academically.
Who inspires you the most?
My girlfriend inspires me the most because she came to college not knowing if she would have her parents behind her. She left for an education and a chance to actually live her life and be who she wanted to be and that inspires me because that is a very difficult thing to do, to move 8 hours away on your own not knowing if you would have someone in your corner but she never gives up.