What's been the best opportunity for you at CU? Attending CU has been life changing for me. When I came to CU, my intention was to follow a pre-med track. I switched after taking a Women and Gender Studies course that gave me the tools I needed to examine my privilege, my power and my place within our current political and social climate. It also led me to pursuing Public Health, the course I intend to follow for my graduate degree. Through CU, I have found my community - more than just my group of friends, but an entire culture of people that encourage me to think critically about the world around me, inspire me to own my privilege and power, and determine how and in what ways I can affect change.
How has COVID-19 changed school for you? COVID-19 has made everything uncertain. Especially as a Public Health student, it's difficult to strike a balance between being safe and being able to do all of the things I need to do in order to graduate - work, go to school/class, socially distance, etc. That's why I'm so grateful for the Buffalo Bicycle Classic scholarship, because it's been the difference between being able to afford to go to school this year so that I can graduate on time, and not. It's been a huge relief for me, given how difficult and precarious our current predicament is.
How has the scholarship helped you? I am entirely self-reliant. My parents were not able to assist me financially in any way when I decided to go to college, so the BBC scholarship has made all the difference in the world. If it wasn't for the BCC scholarship and other financial aid, I would not be able to afford a college degree. I'm so grateful that I've been given the opportunity to pursue my academic career, because it's inspired me to push further within academia and attain my masters after I graduate.