I became interested in mathematics at a very young age. Both of my parents have been teaching mathematics since I was six years old. Watching them during and after their workday helped me see the fun side of math. I began working to be the best in every math class I took. While in high school, I was inducted into the National Honor Society. As a member, I was required to do community service and decided to tutor other high school students in math classes. I had success with all of my students, which gave me a feeling of great accomplishment.  Since that day, I decided I wanted to become a teacher. 

I went on to acquire a full scholarship to Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU), where I major in mathematics education. During my freshman year at MVSU, my academic advisor urged me to join the Mathematics and Computer Information Sciences club (MCIS).  All members of the MCIS club were required to tutor students in math classes.  We were also required to apply for an internship. I was accepted into the Research Experience for Undergraduates in Ocean, Marine, and Polar Science program at Elizabeth City State University. During the program, we worked with professors from the University of New Hampshire to study the local environment through a program called Watershed Watch. The research included coring trees, making pixels, and determining canopy cover. Near the middle of that program I conducted some research on the effects of campus development on forestry using canopy cover. It was concluded that campus development negatively affected the growth of the trees around the campus. 

While at ECSU, I also learned how to use operating systems such as Linux; make webpages using Dreamweaver, use GPS, and I became familiar with Ubuntu. Under the leadership of my mentor, Dr. Darrell Johnson, I looked to apply the Common Core State Standards at the 7th and 8th grade academic level using NXT LEGO robotics. This research was designed to apply mathematics processes of the Common Core State Standards in a lesson plan on the 7th and 8th grade levels. The team planned to used LEGO robotics to teach various scientific, mathematical, and design concepts through designing, building, and programming the robots at each level. The students received hands on experience with physics, mathematics, motion, environmental factors, and problem solving in a collaborative group setting. The software that was used was an object oriented programming software that made programming the robots much easier. The students were very attentive and easily grasped the concept.

After leaving ECSU I worked with my home mentor, Dr. Latonya Garner, on a research project titled Applications of Integration Using Mathematica which was funded by the National Science Foundation. In this research I tested the effectiveness of Mathematica by completing real-world applications of integration that I previously had completed by hand. In my research I found that Mathematica was very helpful and effective and although the programming for it was confusing at times, it made solving problems much more efficient.

The following summer I had the honor of being accepted into the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Educational Partnership Program. While in the program I worked under the Climate Program Office under the leadership of Dr. Nancy Beller-Simms. She gave me the opportunity to pick my own research topic in which I chose The Effects of Seasonal Flooding on the Mississippi Delta and Future Adaptations. I chose this topic because I am from the MIssissippi Delta and I know how badly it is effected by flooding each year. This research proved to be very successful as I won second place at the ADMI 2015 conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

In the summer of 2015 I returned to ECSU to stregnthen my skills in programming. The program game students the opportunity to learn programming languages such as Python and C++ as well as how to use the Linux operating system. I felt that these skills would increase my chances of being selected for both graduate school and job opportunities. Also in 2015, I worked under Mr. Jeff Woods on the Water Quality Research team. Although this research was out of my comfort zone I had high expectations and a very positive outlook for this new experience.

After completing my undergraduate degree, I would like to pursue a master’s degree inAapplied Mathematics.  In order to better market myself, after obtaining my master's degree I will pursue another master's in administration. Once I have finished with that degree I would like to teach secondary mathematics and eventually become a professor at a small university.