FOSSI: Tell us a bit about yourself.
Growing up in Euclid, Ohio, I was an angry kid whose parents always pushed them to move forward in every stage of life. Early on at age five, I began martial arts at the Kang Do Won Martial Arts Institute solely because I wanted to be a Ninja Turtle. Now, I teach students with similar aspirations and others who have totally different and probably more practical reasons to learn martial arts. It is true that martial arts helps someone to defend themselves, but in its entirety, martial arts is a way of living that can evolve a person's mind and spirit.
Teaching and learning are the driving force behind my wish to continue martial arts and that wish is a part of me now and forever as I stand here today. Throughout middle school, I attended the REACH Program at University School (an enrichment program for young African-American men) where I advanced my education, not only in curricular studies, but also in black history and culture. It was there that I fostered a love for my community that I couldn't have ever dreamed of. These experiences carried me through my time in a predominately-white high school where I received a great education.
I will be attending Tuskegee University this fall of 2022 and, though I will be far from home, I am excited to see what the HBCU experience will grant me in my future.
As I pursue a degree in Computer Science, I seek to move into the field of virtual reality in order to create a better future for the communities that stood behind me.
FOSSI: Why are you passionate about pursuing a degree in a STEM-related field?
Computers have fascinated me from the beginning; the moment I first sat in front of a Mac, I wanted to
explore everything that I could like an astronaut looking out into the vast universe. My family never had the resources to let me take apart our computers, but my thirst for all things technological never stopped. My connection to technology grew through games.
Eventually, I stumbled upon virtual reality. I even delved into shows that explored the possible futures of virtual reality. The one I liked the most is a show called Sword Art Online. It is a Japanese anime that explores the concept of full-dive virtual reality, a system where we put our consciousness into a virtual reality rather than just being able to see one with a helmet. That is the concept that I am most interested in and I even feel like I could devote my life to this research.
FOSSI: Share a few fun facts about yourself.
- My favorite food is authentic Japanese Ramen of any kind.
- I am the youngest of my siblings by 10+ years.
- I write sci-fi stories from time to time.
- My favorite sport is MMA, though basketball is a very close second.
- I was a high school counselor in the REACH program (a summer enrichment program for young African-American men in middle school, I also graduated from the said program), where I mentored and helped facilitate activities for the boys.
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