Tell us something about who you are (250 words Minimum)

An MBA is as much about personal growth as it is about professional development. In addition to sharing your experience and goals in terms of career, we’d like to learn more about you outside of the office. Use this opportunity to tell us something about who you are (250 words Minimum

I have surprisingly strong memories from when I was four years old, and our family moved from Atlanta, Georgia to Jackson, Mississippi, leaving behind my grandparents, cousins, and friends. During the move, I remember hiding behind doorways trying to scare the movers as they carried our belongings out of the house. The four-hour drive to Jackson felt like an eternity, and when I walked into our new, empty home, I started to cry. I quickly found new friends and discovered that Mississippi wasn’t so scary, but experiencing such a strong shift early in my life forced me to learn how to adapt to new situations.

A year after moving, my parents enrolled me in Karate. The lead instructor, Denzel Smith, was terrifyingly intimidating, and not just to a five-year-old. His serious demeanor and imposing stature gave him a commanding presence in any room. Over the next seven years, Mr. Smith played an influential role in my development as a person: he challenged me to be better and consistently reminded me that no meaningful achievement comes easily. In high school, when I was thinking about quitting Karate due to the time commitment that the black belt would entail, Mr. Smith called me into his office and sternly talked me into continuing. The following year Mr. Smith, looking frail after a struggle with colon cancer, presented me with my Black Belt at the belt ceremony. A couple of months later, he passed away. Nearly 15 years after his passing, I still think about him whenever life brings a new challenge.

I was 18 when my parents sat me down and said, “We have bad news.” The way they expressed it, I thought someone in the family had died. When they finally got to the point – my mom had lost her job – I was almost relieved that it wasn’t worse. My dad had been out of work for a year already, so now our family now had zero income. The timing was bad: I was preparing to move to Mississippi State for my freshman year. My tuition was covered by student loans, but I started working more shifts at the movie theatre to cover other expenses. All told, my family and I spent around a year making ends meet until both of my parents found new jobs.

After four densely-packed years of classes, studying, and sports, I started my career at Amazon in Atlanta. Suddenly, I found myself with more free time than I knew what to do with. One day, a friend suggested going rock climbing at a local climbing gym. I was instantly hooked. I had never experienced anything that required as much focus and strength as it took to hold myself to that wall. I immediately became obsessed with rock climbing, and it has brought new friends into my life and allowed me to push my limits while taking in the breathtaking beauty of nationally renowned climbing destinations, such as West Virginia’s New River Gorge. With Booth’s Outdoors Club, I hope to continue this passion.

After Amazon, life brought me full circle: I found my next job in Jackson, the city that was my first home. Leaving my life in Atlanta felt as hard, in a way, it had when I was four, but this time was also different because I was making this move 100% on my own. Jackson combines a city experience with the close-knit feeling of a small town. I missed the passion, though occasionally over the top, of Atlanta residents, but I love Jackson’s hospitality. I look forward to the next change in my life – an urban American metropolis – and I hope my next move will be to Chicago Booth.