Growing up in rural South Arkansas and graduating with a class of just 29 students, stepping onto the University of Arkansas campus felt like entering a completely different world. I was suddenly surrounded by thousands of students, bustling sidewalks, and opportunities I didn’t yet know how to reach. I knew everyone back at home, but here, I was just one face in a sea of strangers. I remember the first day of moving in and getting ready for my first week of classes so vividly, feeling small but determined. I didn’t want to blend in—I wanted to make my mark, and I wanted the people back home to be proud.

The University of Arkansas was a huge adjustment, and for a while, I wasn’t sure where I fit. Where would I meet the right friends? How would I find opportunities that mattered to me? I was nervous, yes, but I also knew that community wasn’t something you found, it was something you built. So, I jumped in. I joined Phi Mu and immediately pursued leadership roles. I ran for a senator position in student government, started volunteering at UATV, and took a job at University Recreation. Each experience came with its challenges: navigating new systems, learning to communicate in larger spaces, and finding my voice among confident peers. But with every long day and late-night, every campaign, and every time I put on a microphone in the news studio, I discovered that what made me different was exactly what made me valuable.

There were moments that truly defined my growth. I’ll never forget my first night fill-in anchoring at UATV, sitting behind the camera under the glow of the studio lights, feeling like I was making such a key part in my career journey. The first time I spoke in a student government meeting, realizing that my ideas and voice did matter. Slowly, the campus that once felt overwhelming began to feel like home. I learned that stepping into discomfort was the key to discovering my potential, and that connection and perseverance could turn fear into opportunity.

My small-town background gave me a perspective I now carry into my major of broadcast journalism: every story matters, even the quiet ones. I want to tell stories that bridge the gap between small communities and large audiences, reminding people that voices from every corner of Arkansas and beyond deserve to be heard.

Through every challenge, every new role, and every story I’ve embraced, I’ve learned that growth is built on perseverance—and that resilience is what allows small beginnings to create big impact.

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