The Professional Statement
Of:

Alicia Renee’ Kirk

I, Alicia Renee’ Kirk, am an Honor student attending Fayetteville State University. My major is Mathematics with a minor in Chemistry. Mathematics is a field that rarely African Americans, let alone African American women, pursue. I always loved math but never thought of pursuing it as a major. It wasn't until one of my advisor, Mr. Perry Gillespie, talk to me about all Mathematics has to offer that I decided to make it my major. Mathematics is a great field and it will bring me many opportunities and experiences to go and shape my career and future.

It is important to have impressive characteristics when inspiring to do great thing for yourself and others who surround you. I believe that I am a hard-working, intelligent person who tries her best and does not quit until she finds the best possible solution to any problem that arises. Being a decision-maker who is compassionate and understanding makes me willing to take criticism constructively and listen to other opinion on decisions. Passion is an important aspect for anything I do because if you are not passionate about what you do, then it is not worth doing.

I am in college and hope to complete obtaining my B.S. degree in Mathematics with a minor in Chemistry within four year or less. I want to go on to Graduate School to obtain my master’s degree in Mathematics and then go on to also get my doctorate degree. While getting my masters and doctorate, I want to teach at a high school or local college. While in college, I have worked as a Supplemental Instructor, helping others to better understand subjects or objects that they normally may not be able to comprehend themselves easily. Doing this job has helped to learn my love and appreciation of teaching and the great joy of knowing that I helped someone to learn a new concept. Applied Mathematics is another possibly, being able to research subjects in reference to mathematics and how it can help in other fields of expertise, such as medicine or psychology.

In the Summer of 2007, I particpated in the Undergraduate Research Experience for Ocean and Marine Science and Grid Programming (URE OMS/Grid). I first heard of this program through one of my Calulus professors, Dr. Raphael Okojie. He explained all about the URE program and all it had to offer a student like me who wanted to pursue a career in the field of mathematics or science. I completed all the neccesary forms I had to fill out and I got accepted into the program. During that summer, my peers and I got the chance to work on research dealing with Oceanography, Marine Science, ice sheets, or computer programs such as Linux or C++. My partners, Greg McGee from Mississippi Valley State University and Travis Smith from Elizabeth City State University, and I worked on the emissivity of ice sheets and recorded the data given from a radar in Antartica in Microsoft Excel. We then created a graph for the data and figured out a formula for each day based on the data given. The program also taught us all bout how to create webpages through Macromedia Dreamweaver and Fireworks, how to write research papers in IEEE format, and how to create and present presentations through Microsoft Powerpoint. This program was a great learing experience and has been a great influence on my undergraduate career as a Mathematics major.

I have many goals and aspirations for my life that will be achieved with hard work, determination and dedication. The support of my family and friends has and will encourage me to pursue on with my dreams even when it seems like all hope is gone. I will be a great teacher and researcher who will touch the lives and souls of millions of people, young and old alike.