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On Saturday, October 28th, 2023, I had the privilege and honor of being crowned University of Louisville’s Homecoming Queen. This is an honor I dreamed of since my freshman year at UofL, and I am ecstatic to follow in the footsteps of so many women that have come before me. The University of Louisville has given me so much. I have met so many amazing people, found my dreams and future career aspirations, and developed into adulthood. To serve as an ambassador for the University, means so much to me, and represents a culmination of my hard work and dedication to my academics, leadership development, pushing myself to be better each day.
This win means a lot to me for a myriad of reasons but one that has particularly impacted by undergraduate is experience is triumphing as a young black woman at a predominantly white institution (PWI). My time at UofL has not been with without it challenges. From hate speech and threats on an anonymous social media site when running for student government, to underrepresentation in my classes, extracurriculars, and on campus, the experiences of being a Black woman at PWI can be isolating and disappointing. Many times, I wanted to give up and felt so discouraged by the circumstances, but I also felt strongly that if I let these experiences break me down then I was doing a disservice to myself and people that may come after me. With each setback I was emboldened to keeping pushing for the next thing and take every opportunity presented to me.
When my sisters and I were younger every day before school my mom would pray that my sisters and I would be lights and leaders wherever we go. Despite the challenges I have faced navigating being black at a PWI, it never stopped me from pursuing my goals and pushing myself to excel. I have not reached this milestone or any of my other accomplishments without my support system. My friends, family, and mentors push me to be a better person every day and inspire me to keep going. Hearing my name was announced, the main emotion I felt was instant joy. It was a feeling that all my hard work culminating into this special moment. All the setbacks and challenges became worth it in that moment. I was proud of myself to putting myself out there one more time, despite the uncertainty of the outcome. It was reward despite all the losses and made even those times I doubted myself seem more worth it. I had entered the stadium many times to watch our team play but being on the field and getting this moment surrounded by UofL fans, friends, and family, deepened my connection to the place and UofL.
I love my University of Louisville journey with all its ups and down, including the honor of being crown Homecoming Queen. I will hold this honor dear to my heart, and rep it with immense pride.