At ten, my favorite hobby was reading. Favorite book? The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. The gothic tale about a boy raised by ghosts, after his family is murdered by a mysterious assassin, may have seemed like a strange tale for someone scarcely into the double digits, but it captivated me. Thinking back, the stories that fascinated me always had something under the surface, something that made me think. As I grew up, reading became less of an escape into a new world and more of a way to explore the one I lived in. These days, I devour articles about news and social issues – primarily online. There’s nothing I love more than discovering what is happening in the world today and dissecting how I can positively change it. It’s often a rabbit hole, and it sucks me in almost against my will. However, I believe there is value in engaging with the broader conversation in a way that changes your view of the world and empowers you to take action. This explains my drive to learn and act. As I begin my education at UT, I hope to refine my innate ambition as I pursue my degree as part of the Canfield Business Honors Program in the McCombs School of Business and Plan II. I also want to discover the new opportunities and perspectives these Forty Acres have to offer. I want to play a role in the great Longhorn tradition that celebrates diversity and intelligence above all else. Engaging in this thriving community excites me to no end, and I can’t wait to both uphold UT’s incredible legacy and create one of my own.

Majors 
Business; Plan II Honors

Honors Program 
Canfield Business Honors; Plan II Honors

What drew you to the Forty Acres Scholars Program (FASP)? 
When I began my applications for college, UT set itself apart almost from the start. Never before had I seen an institution, especially one as large as UT, work so hard to engage its prospective students and make them feel valued. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, I learned of the Forty Acres Scholars Program. As I went through the process of interviews and essay writing, I was once again struck by the level of care each applicant received and the genuine love each scholar or alum had for the program. In my final interview, I remember asking the panel what inspired them to take time out of their surely busy schedule to meet us, finalists whom they had no real connection to yet. Their answer was that we as students inspired them, and that in us they saw themselves and the future, not just of the program but of the world. The faith that the Forty Acres Scholars Program has in us draws me in and makes me so excited for the future. It is my greatest hope as a member of this incredible program to live up to those dreams!