Washington and Lee University
Hometown: Dry Creek, WV
High School: Liberty High School
Major: Biochemistry (Pre-Med)
Extracurricular Involvement:
What about W&L excites you the most?
Washington and Lee is a combination of past and future. It is steeped in history and tradition, but because of the type of student the school attracts, it fails to be "stuck in the past". The most exciting aspect of the school is the incredible potential to change and improve the school's future.
What is your proudest accomplishment thus far?
I entered Washington and Lee with a somewhat limited math background. Somehow, I tested into Math 221: Mutlivariable Calculus. Before I entered the class, I did not know how to integrate. I studied more than I ever had before. My proudest achievement thus far at W&L is not failing Math 221, and I am prouder still of the A- I received in the class.
How did you hear about W&L and the Johnson Scholarship program?
I heard about W&L from a college counsellor in my area. I heard about the Johnson Scholarship program through e-mail from the school when I was still in high school.
What was your impression of campus when you visited for the competition?
My visit during the scholarship competition convinced me that I wanted to come to Washington and Lee. I loved the campus and thought it was beautiful, even though it was February, which I have since discovered is the ugliest time for the W&L campus. Everyone was so accommodating and the visit offered actual insight into the life of students, an experience that was missing from many of my other college visits.
What will the Johnson Scholarship do for you?
The Johnson Scholarship has given me the opportunity to take advantage of a W&L education, without incurring any debt, an opportunity that I may not have been able to take advantage of without the scholarship.
How are you going to take advantage of your time at W&L?
I hope to take advantage of my experiences at W&L in order to achieve a "total education". I hope to grow academically, intellectually, spiritually, socially, and as a person. W&L is a unique university and I hope to benefit from everything it has to teach me.
What will you contribute to campus as a Johnson Scholar?
I hope to become a contributing member of the W&L campus. I plan to continue my involvement in various extracurricular organizations and hold leadership positions in some of them. I hope to do research at some point in my undergraduate education. I also plan to continue community service in the Rockbridge County area, therefore contributing to the community as a whole.
What's unique about you?
I am not afraid to work hard to accomplish my goals. I enjoy challenges and always use my failures as learning experiences, rather than letting them defeat me.
What inspires you?
My parents, my sister, and God.
Name one thing you love or love doing.
I love skiing and reading.
What's your favorite place?
My home in Dry Creek, WV, is my favorite place. I have lived there for my whole life and cannot imagine myself if I had not grown up there. I love spending time with my family and returning home can be a much needed reminder of who I am. Being home grounds me in my beliefs and reminds me how much the people there care about me. I love the small-town community and the fact that everyone knows everyone. It also reminds me of what is really important in life and helps me to remember not to worry about the things that aren't important.
Which leader do you most admire, and why?
I admire my mother most because she taught me to always be the best I can possibly be. She also taught me many of the most important lessons I have learned in life. She has sacrificed her time and energy to make my life the best it could be and she has always instructed by her example.
Why does leadership matter?
Leadership is important because at some point, everyone looks up to someone. It is important to be a good leader because you never know when someone is looking to you for guidance. There is a difference between good leadership and effective leadership. It is therefore important that we choose to follow effective leaders who use their skills for good so that we will not be lead astray. It is also important that we become good leaders because one day, someone, be it our families, neighbors, children, community, or fellow business men or women, will be looking up to us.
Why does integrity matter?
Integrity is important because we live in a world where it is very rare. It is possible to achieve anything, depending on what you are willing to give up for it. Integrity matters because, if you have it, you will be unwilling to sacrifice it, regardless of the benefit. This unwillingness to betray one's sense of what is right and wrong is the true mark of integrity. Integrity is important because without it, the good people and things in life would quickly become extinct.
What is your intended career?
I intend to become a physician, either an orthopedic surgeon or a pediatric oncologist.
What are some of your goals for your W&L career?
I hope to grow as a person and use my W&L education for the benefit of others-both in the W&L community and beyond it. I hope to use the opportunities offered by a school like W&L to expand my horizons and to learn from my peers. I also hope to study abroad again to further enrich my learning experiences.
Where will you be in 5 years and what will you be doing?
In 5 years, I have no idea where I will be geographically. However, I hope to be in medical school or doing medical research.