During my time in primary school, I was the overachiever. For as long as I can remember I was enrolled in the gifted/accelerated classes, AP, and Dual Enrollment. Going to college, I expected my academic journey to be the same and I planned for it to be as such. One of my favorite sayings is "When you make plans, God laughs". Halfway through my freshman year of college, COVID-19 hit and it completely changed my academic trajectory to the point where I considered dropping out of college. After taking a semester off following my sophomore year, I was able to rebuild my GPA and resilience but I also saw how it impacted others.
While I was able to rebuild my academic resilience, everyone wasn’t as lucky. My niece and my nephew also fell behind during the 3 years of the COVID-19 pandemic when virtual learning became the norm. I watched as my then 5-year-old nephew lost his excitement to learn and my 14-year-old niece lost her passion for a fruitful academic career. The world lost its focus as we struggled to adjust to the new normal of life. Seeing how it impacted everyone, especially those I love, I’m committed to doing my part in changing how we approach education.
Since 2021, I have been working to develop educational enrichment for children whether it be as an independent tutor, volunteering with programs like Discovery and Agape, becoming a Registered Behavioral Therapist to utilize Applied Behavior Analysis with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, or being a nanny and developing enrichment activities for families. Being a School Captain with Usher Collier is more than just an accolade on my resume. It’s a commitment to be present and engaged with the future of our nation. I believe that in order for our community to be successful, we must be involved in making sure the children are well-rounded, responsible and uplifted. It takes a village to raise a child and I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without the support of my community.
The Discovery program helps to develop children’s interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM), their awareness of healthy social-emotional skills, and maintain physical fitness. Through the Civic Leadership Program, Hands On Atlanta trains volunteer leaders to support the needs of schools like Usher Collier. Last year, the 2023 Cohort of Civic Fellows raised $18,000 and engaged more than 2,000 volunteers during their time with the program. With your donation, Hands On Atlanta can continue to train volunteers to host programs like Discovery at APS, Cobb County and Fulton County schools for years to come.
