In high school, I enjoyed the Library Media Club and the Upward Bound program, and I earned some money as a cashier at Wal-Mart and as a baby-sitter. But I wanted to attend college because I wanted more than just a job but also to be a teacher and help inspire and educate tomorrow’s youth.

21st Century Scholars not only helped me to attend college with the tuition help, but it also helped expose me to different opportunities while in school: attending workshops in Indianapolis, meeting people from across the city at different activities, and the importance of maintaining behavior and who I represent when I would participate in those activities.

I graduated from Indiana University Northwest in 2006 with a bachelor’s in Secondary Education and English and am now an educator at Charles N. Scott Middle School back in Lake County. I made a great decision for myself and my academic future by keeping up with being a 21st Century Scholar, and I would tell you to do the same. Get involved and keep up the good work!