Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana
Activities you’re involved in at F&M: I am involved in the Black Student Union, I.M.P.A.C.T. (Intelligent Men Purposefully Accomplishing College Together), F&M Worker Advocacy Group, Club Council, the Sophomore Class Cabinet, and Diplomatic Congress
Major: I intend to declare in Public Policy and Government
What’s your favorite part of being class president?
My favorite part about being class president is simply serving—I have had the opportunity of serving as class president two years in a row and I think one of the most exciting times of the year is when the class cabinet is being constructed. Through my experience in student government I have learned over and over again that it matters who’s in the room because whoever is in the room ultimately gets to shape the agenda and decide what issues are important. I love bringing people into the room because ultimately I want people to be at the table and not on the menu. So I suppose my favorite part about being class president is in getting people to realize their influence and their power as well because realistically—being class president means nothing if people are not motivated to realize their own power and see the difference they can make too.
What’s your least favorite?
My least favorite part about being class president is that sometimes I care so much about our class, I sometimes neglect my responsibilities and relationships in my life—I spend a lot of time thinking about how we can build class unity and about how can we ensure that each person’s gift in our community are acknowledged and valued—in short I spend a lot of time thinking about how we can sure that each individual knows that they are not here by coincidence or accident but they are here because they belong here.
What are some things you’ve accomplished as class president that you’re proud of?
It’s not about what I’ve accomplished but what we have accomplished together. We’ve accomplished making sure that people know that they belong here, whether that is through class shoutouts, class cabinet meetings, or class social/ academic events, we’ve done a great job at being fair and inclusive—that is something that I am definitely proud of about this year’s class cabinet.
Do you have any advice to give to the new first year class president?
My only piece of advice is to make sure that everybody in the Class of 2018 has a seat at the table—everybody deserves to be in the room.