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I am a senior at Longwood University. I am a Liberal Studies major with a minor in Children’s literature.  I am a very active member of Longwood’s chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed national service fraternity.  Through APO I have had the opportunity to volunteer with many different organizations such as the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Richmond, FACES, Camp Easter Seals, and the Piedmont Appalachian Trail Hikers.  I love to volunteer and work with children! I have spent the last four summers working as a camp counselor working with kids of all ages and abilities, and even some adults!  I plan on going to seminary and getting my Master of Divinity in the fall of 2018.

A key principal of  Alpha Phi Omega is leadership;  this is an organization has allowed me to grow exponentially as a leader. A requirement for brothers is to chair a service project every semester; as the chair it is my job to contact people who need the service, organize the brothers who will be attending, and coordinate and communicate the schedules of all involved for the event. I am currently the InterChapter Chair for our chapter. In this leadership position I have planned various events that have other chapters in Virginia come and join Longwood for fellowship and service.  APO has helped shape my leadership and work ethic.

In high school I worked as an intern for Network Lobby, a Catholic lobbyist group that works to raise awareness for social issues. It was a very enlightening experience that made me realize I wanted to help be an advocate for people. In the 2013-2014 school year, I worked as a teacher’s aide for Brighter Day Care. I learned invaluable skills in the classroom to work with students but also how to navigate difficult conversations with adults. I have also worked as a camp counselor from the summers of 2014 to 2017 at a Lutheran camp, Lutheridge.  I have learned that in a professional setting it is always important to be polite, calm, and patient, especially when working with others.  It is also important to look for opportunities where you can take the lead in a project but know your limits and defer to others when you are unsure or beyond your capabilities.  It can be difficult to find a happy medium of being polite and being assertive but my job experiences have provided me many learning opportunities to find this balance.