As the School of Aviation continues to grow, I hope that I have helped contribute to laying the foundation for the future of the school and its students. I also hope to be a testament to the product that the University of Oklahoma can turn students into—members of society who strive to make the world a better place through their careers.
My parents are veterans of the United States Air Force and were stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. They decided to settle down and start a family in Choctaw, and had my older sister and me. My parents are from out of state and never had the opportunity to attend a university. They both worked tirelessly to provide for us and wanted to give us the opportunities they never had. I grew up watching OU football, which I fell in love with. From there, it had become my dream to attend the University of Oklahoma, and now I will be a Sooner for life.
My time here has been nothing short of amazing. From late-night study sessions to early-morning lectures, every moment has been a learning experience. I've had the opportunity to explore aviation in a way I had never thought possible, and forged relationships that will last forever. Four years seems like an entire lifetime at 18, but looking back, those four years went by in a heartbeat. I may be leaving campus, but the lessons I've learned and the memories I've made will stay with me forever.
At first, being a first-generation student is pretty daunting. I had no family members who had been through the college experience to prepare me for all the ups and downs you will encounter. The biggest tribulation I faced was a phenomenon called “imposter syndrome," where I felt that I was not adequate or smart enough to be in spaces I deserved to be in. I felt as if everybody else was doing bigger and better things than I was. I still get this feeling from time to time, but it is important to remind yourself that there is a reason why you have gotten to where you are now.
To some, a college degree might just be a piece of paper that you get at the end of your academic career, or it may just be a means to an end. But to me, my OU degree is so much more. It represents not only the academic achievements I have made but also the last four years of my life. It represents all the moments I shared with friends and family. It represents the gateway to a new chapter of my life outside of school. Ultimately, it represents me, and the person I have become.
The people. There is certain, special feeling you get when walking into a lecture hall on the very first day of class. You know no one, but by the end of the semester, you end up growing with the people you sit next to every day. Some of these people will become lifelong friends you would not have met otherwise.
And of course, I'll miss the football games, too.
After I graduate, the first thing I'm going to do is take a huge sigh of relief and relax for a weekend. After that, I will continue my career search as I have multiple interviews for the Federal Aviation Administration in Oklahoma City.
