Washington and Lee University
My interest in the Shepherd Program was sparked when I went to Harlan, KY, for my Volunteer Venture trip my freshman year. I had just gotten back from India, and I realized that the poverty in the United States was nowhere near the poverty I witnessed in India - I was inspired to learn more about ending that poverty. Through the program, I have learned that too many people ignore poverty or blame the impoverished for their situation. Poverty is much more complex than the haves and have-nots, and it requires much more attention from policy makers and from voters than it currently receives.
While aiming to help reduce the achievement gap in the United States and help reduce the inequality of opportunities, the Shepherd Program has streamlined my interests and goals, thus allowing me to strive for personal and financial success. My experience with the Shepherd Alliance internship and capstone research project inspired me to go into the Teach For America corps, and I am also looking to continue studies in urban planning and public policy. Washington and Lee is a very privileged school that produces incredibly successful and ambitious graduates. The Shepherd Program equips these graduates with an understanding of poverty that they otherwise would not have. It also helps them realize that they can do their part to fight poverty while becoming a successful doctor, lawyer, accountant or CEO.
Community Service:
• Basketball and lacrosse coach for elementary and middle school Lexington leagues
• Natural Bridge Juvenile Correctional Center
• Nabors Service League
• Volunteer Venture
Capstone Paper Title: City on the Brink: Economic and Community Development in Camden, NJ