It was at a young age that I began dreaming of my future. It just happened to be the same dream that many other young kids have… to be a professional athlete. Throughout my childhood, the sports that I dreamed of changed. It changed from baseball to football to golf, but one thing remained the same: to be a professional athlete. Things were going great, and then they weren’t… reality finally hit me. So, then it was time to rethink my aspirations.

Throughout my childhood years of schooling, playing sports, and hearing stories of my parents, who also worked in high school education with hundreds of other kids, I learned something very important in life; everyone is different, unique, and special. All people come from different backgrounds and experiences that shape who they are as a person. These same stories, along with others from my peers, are the ones that taught me about the world; how it is extremely complex, not always fair, and that there are many cruel injustices that many of us may never have to face or even think about facing. This is what helped me to figure out that my new goal in life was not to be a professional athlete, but instead to help others who need help and make the world a better place in whatever ways I may be fortunate enough to.

It was not until my high school years that I truly found out what I wanted to do as a career. As a kid who has played and been around sports my entire life, I loved playing football in high school. However, after my sophomore year, I was no longer able to play and decided to become a student coach for my school's football team. Through this, I was introduced not only to the coaching and business side of sports but also to one of the most beautiful parts of sports in my opinion; the way that sports can bring together and help people no matter their backgrounds. It was then that I decided what I wanted to do with my life… work within the business side of the sports industry as it would merge my interests in sports with the ability to help others.

Now we are here in the present, a student at my lifelong dream school… The University of Texas at Austin. What starts here truly does change the world, and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of it. From world-class education to social experiences and everything in between, The University of Texas is truly a special place, and I cannot wait to use what I gain here to change the world and make an impact on others.

Major:
Physical Culture & Sports

Other Academic Interests:
Business and Communications

What drew you to the Forty Acres Scholars Program?
The Forty Acres Scholarship program is unlike any other scholarship program. From the financial support to the alumni connections to the provided opportunities, the program is truly a blessing. At first glance, the scholarship is a full-ride scholarship to The University of Texas, which is an incredible incentive. However, the opportunity to be surrounded by such a close and tight-knit community of bright and like-minded scholars who support and challenge each other daily is truly amazing. Additionally, the support and guidance received from everyone within the Texas Exes organization is more than anyone could ever ask for as an incoming college student. In all, the support, connections, and opportunity that the program offers surround scholars with a tremendous community of support. Ultimately, when I discovered this remarkable community, I knew I had found my home.