The School of Communications has a legacy of excellence demonstrated by its track record 

of graduating the most African-American communications professionals and a growing reputation 

as the place for the best students who wish to study communications. Describe what has influenced 

your decision to make communications your academic focus and why Howard’s School of 

Communications will be the right environment to fulfill your academic goals?

When I was seven years old, I was a Brownie Girl Scout and I was determined to sell as

many boxes of Girl Scout cookies as I possibly could. I would stand outside our local grocery

store at our troop’s cookie booth for hours, giving my pitch to anyone who would listen. At the

end of the cookie-selling season our troop attended the annual Girl Scout jamboree where prizes

were awarded based on the total number of boxes sold. I was excited because I had sold 375

boxes of cookies and the prize was a small digital camera. I could have never imagined that

winning a digital camera at seven years old would lead to a profound interest in media.

I took hundreds of photos and videos with that small digital camera, filling up a dozen or

more SD cards. Everywhere I went, so did the camera. I quickly learned that I would need what

seemed like an endless supply of AA batteries and SD cards to capture the world around me. I

have very vivid memories of recording my family’s trip to New Orleans one summer. I filled up

three SD cards with pictures and video footage from around the city.

My little digital camera became my escape. It allowed me to keep a photographic diary or

journal of sorts. I took photos and videos that still allow me to replay the joy and excitement of

vacations, birthdays, school events, and even run of the mill evenings with my family. Looking

back, I never imagined my love for photography could lead to a career because I always had so

much fun chronicling and capturing things as they happened around me. It wasn’t until my

freshman year of high school that I realized that there was an entire industry that would allow me

to continue to do what I love while making a living for myself. I have since “traded in” my small
digital camera with an endless hunger for AA batteries for two cameras and accessories that

allow me to make entries into my digital diary with more clarity.

During middle school and high school, at times, I grew insecure about my works. I felt

like my photography skills and story ideas were not up to par with what I saw others doing. That

insecurity stayed with me until one of my mentors told me that any creative thing that you do is

part of a process; you have to make a rough draft before you can move onto the final draft. Since

then, my interest in photography, filmmaking, and the broader communications field has only

grown. My excitement for the craft has grown from simply taking pictures and capturing videos

to actually creating something with the moments that I have recorded. I continue to hone my

craft by taking courses and participating in extracurricular activities that help me to understand

the field of communications..

For as long as I can remember, Howard University has been a part of my life. Both my

mother and aunt earned their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Hilltop. The rich history

of Howard University has always been present in my life and I am grateful that my mother and

aunt allowed my love for Howard to grow organically.

I fell in love with Howard University for myself when I visited the campus in April of

2019. Throughout the visit I was on cloud nine, it felt so amazing to see so many different black

and brown students thriving and striving toward excellence. On my visit, I was given a tour of

the School of Communications by a Public Relations Major. At the end of my tour, she took me

to the academic advisors' office and I was able to meet with the School of Communications,

Senior Academic Advisor, Ms. Bernadette Williams. We talked about my future plans and why I

was interested in Howard University’s School of Communications. I was both excited and

impressed with the information shared with me. I learned Howard University communications

students are able to begin their careers in their respective fields soon after they graduate because

they are so well prepared. On that day, I realized that Howard University was unlike any other
school. I left confident that Howard will be an amazing part of the journey toward achieving my

goals. Everyone looked out for one another. I know the sense of community that I felt during my

visit will allow me to be truly me.

Capturing the ravages of Hurricane Katrina years later was jaw-dropping. What should

have been photos of vibrant communities became a record of city block after city block in the

ninth ward of concrete driveways and walkways leading to empty lots where homes once stood.

Listening to family members and their friends share memories of their experiences has long

piqued my interest.