Why did you want to come to Bates?
I was impressed with the history of the institution. Bates was founded by abolitionists and had a history in the civil rights movement.

Why did you choose your major?
I came in with the intention of majoring in politics, but after taking a few courses in African American studies and philosophy I was convinced that these were the fields I needed to intensely study. I believe my concentration in African American studies will strengthen my comprehension of social issues confronting black people in this country, while my philosophy concentration will deepen my critical thinking skills. Overall, I'll be a better servant to my community and beyond because of these concentrations. I want to be a part of something greater then myself, to be a part of a socially conscious movement that will grapple with issues of  the human condition and  transform our nation's dark yesterdays into a brighter today.

What kind of people have you met at Bates?
I've met many students with distinctive backgrounds and personas, from 50 states and at least 50 countries, with varying degrees of interests and talents. Most Bates students are welcoming and eclectic. Three of my closest friends here — who perhaps at a larger school with a lesser sense of community, I would have never come to know — reflect these qualities. One's a football player who has a keen interest in psychology and a great handle on the Spanish language. Another friend plays on the basketball team and happens to be a political mastermind of social justice issues. And another friend is an English-as-a-second language educator to Somali students in Lewiston, with a love for traveling around the world.

What course have you especially enjoyed at Bates?
In my first semester, I took "Introduction to Ethics: Moral Luck," taught by Susan Stark in the philosophy department. The course examined the question of free will and ethical concerns proposed by philosophers including Aristotle, Emmanuel Kant and Sir Thomas Nagel. I found myself reflecting deeply on the limits of choice people have and those institutions that unjustly limit their options. This course gave me a basis for reasoning on why particular injustices run rampant in my community.

What extracurricular activities have inspired you?
I've been active as a monitor for the Multicultural Center, as a diversity outreach coordinator for the Office of Admissions, and as a member of Amandla! (the college's African American student organization), the Bates Christian Fellowship, the Coalition of Progressive Students, the African American Studies Club, and two standing faculty committees: the college lecture committee and the Martin Luther King Day committee. I’m involved with these not for resume-building but simply because I have a passion for each activity. This year, with the guidance of the Multicultural Center, I organized a trip to the grand opening of the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York City. The monument memorializes the site where thousands of enslaved African men, women and children who helped build the foundation and infrastructure of New York City were put to rest. The experience was life-changing for the 10 Bates students who attended the ceremony with me.

Does your ongoing work as vice president of Youth Action in Philadelphia have any connection to your Bates experience?
Since our beginnings in 2003 at the Tavis Smiley Foundation's "Youth 2 Leaders National Summit" in Washington D.C, Youth Action has been committed to the ideal of social justice for youth. We're young activists, dedicated to enlightening, encouraging and empowering those in our peer group to live humane and productive lifestyles. At Bates I've had the chance to get to know the homeless by volunteering at Trinity Soup Kitchen, an opportunity extended to me by the Bates College Harward Center for Community Partnerships. So even though I was away from Philadelphia, I was able to get involved with the homeless here in Maine.