While I was growing up on my family's farm in Virgina I decided that i wanted to make the world a better place.   Seeing the positive impacts of growing food using sustainable processes and working hard on a family farm helped me understand the amazing effects people can create. I decided to attend Guilford College because of the emphasis that the school placed on making positive change in the world.  Through my career at Guilford College I focused on two projects: my studies of Geology and my community service though the Bonner Scholars Program.  As I finish my time at Guilford College, I am proud to know that I have focused my goals.  Now and in the future I want to make the world a better place by improving agriculture. 
            Growing up on a farm I realized the importance of hard and intentional work. From an early age, I recognized the strong bond that connects people to the land.  Spending time working on the farm over college breaks allowed me to synthesize all that I was learning at school with my work on the farm and understand the interconnection that my lessons had to humans and agriculture. 
            My studies in Geology have shown me how to think analytically.  They have also taught me the importance of logic, modeling and scientific inquiry.  These studies have led me to use quantitative understanding as well as a holistic way of thinking about the world.  This multi-faceted way of thinking will allow me to look more analytically at agriculture practices and have a better understanding of the environmental footprint of agriculture and the need for sustainability in agriculture. 
            In my community service I have discovered how to organize myself and to apply myself to make positive impacts on the world.  The work helped me understand how giving allows me to gain.  The relationship between the service provider and service receiver is reciprocal. From the Sudanese family granted asylum in the United States I have leaned a great deal about life in the developing world where food is not readily available.  My last two years at school I have worked for Food not Bombs, (a free meal kitchen that prepares and serves high quality food that would be normally thrown out from supermarkets and restaurants). I have learned how that having food accessible and available is not a constant for all people, even in a city like Greensboro.
          By learning from others and myself, I will continue to work hard to make the world a better place.