Densia Wray Personal Goals

Puerto Rico, the city where I was born on a February 28. The land that saw me grow up and became the person that I am today. My parents decide to name myself Shakyra Lee, pretty right? I’m 21 years old now, and this is my third year here in the US. Everything that I love my family, friends and even my boyfriend are back there, but I came here for a reason, college. When I was in high school, I always said that my dream was to attend college here in NYC. My mother made everything to make that dream come true, and here we are, all three of us my mom, my little sis and me living in the famous city of New York. Since day one I’ve been trying to accomplish that goal, to have my bachelors degree.

During my high school career I have made a consistent effort to stay involved in both my school and community. Through clubs such as Key Club, National Art Honor Society, and National Honor Society I’ve been able to help out locally and globally in an abundance of ways. In Key club and NHS I am able to volunteer in traditional ways, but National Arts Honors Society allows me to contribute to my community and school in a creative way that stimulates people 's minds through art.

Depict me; a full-time CSR, Mother, and wife. I have always wanted to go back to college, even after I dropped out, in 2010. I have always aspired to be a Network and Technology Manager. My dreams has been put on the back burner because of my priorities. Now, my priorities have changed, so now I can finish what I have started.

Every dime I earn working at Reynolds Community College and every grant and scholarship I receive will go towards my passion of studying human behavior and applying everything I learn to bringing every community I can reach, a giant leap forward. After receiving my associates degree in Social a Science I decided to take a year off to work towards finding what it is that I really want to pursue. I have searched for that 'something ' that will keep me intrigued and awake all hours of the night without realizing it. I have eliminated the idea of simply working to make ends meet or finding a good job to support my family and "living" outside the 40+ hours of a weekday job. I am pursuing much more and I am confident that I have found a path leading me to wake up before my alarm clock sounds instead of praying for more time.

Just as with many of my previous academic moments it continued the drive I had already had. While my education continued to teach me valuable lessons and give me hands on experience I began to gain a stronger sense rooted in development and the protection of others by hopefully continuing my education at Loyola University Chicago in the Masters of Social Work/Masters of Arts in Social Justice Program which would give me the opportunity to not only eventually become a social worker with the Department of Social Services (DSS), with a school, or a guardian ad litem but to do that work effectively with the chance that would be afforded to me of an academic background steeped in social work as well as social justice teachings. This program in particular continues the undergraduate work and furthers my education on my path to my

What do I have to gain from the Capital Semester Internship? That question can be answered by displaying what I can contribute as a participant in the Capital Semester Internship. As a senior and a Psychology and African American Studies major at Virginia Commonwealth University, a student worker, and an avid volunteer, I make a strong candidate for the Capital Semester Internship. My research interests which are a combination of psychology and social justice, my career goals that will utilize psychology to influence public policy, and my willingness to learn more about government on a local, state, and national level will help to enrich my experience in Virginia’s legislative branch of government this upcoming semester.

Select a recent, local, national, or international problem and explain why it is meaningful to you. How do you anticipate your college experience and your pursuit of your intended major/academic interest will help you develop a greater understanding of this issue?

Becoming the Vice President of Public Relations for the Rho Beta Chapter is a Phi Theta Kappa activity that has had a profound impact on my life, both socially and academically.

The purpose of the article,“What Colleges Want to See on Your Application” by Emily Driscoll, is to discuss what would differentiate future college applicants in a pool of indistinguishable applications and to aid them in their quest for higher education.

This letter is written in support of Quineshia Peterson, an applicant of the American University Strategic Communication Graduate Program. As the Director of Admissions at Valdosta State University, I have had the honor of working with and mentoring Quineshia during the matriculation of her bachelor’s degree, beginning in 2011.

How has knowledge or awareness of your own culture and other cultures affected your understanding of yourself?

Being an active member within my school community is something that has always been of importance to me. During my time at the University of Rhode Island (URI), I have been heavily involved in many organizations and have held different leadership roles all while excelling in my academics. Since my time at URI I have been a consecutive member of the Dean’s List with a GPA of 3.83. Although I am very passionate about my academics, it is my involvements and leadership roles that make my time so enjoyable. I am s second year Resident Advisor as well as a second year URI 101 Mentor. I also serve as the president of URI’s National Association of Black Accountant’s. As well as being an active member within my fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Although I have enjoyed my time thus far, I am ready for a new experience, an international experience!

Marching band not only accepts all eccentricities, but also nurtures them to achieve its collective goal of creating a perfect, emotional show. Every member has a different background. Some love chemistry, others love cooking, but the hard earned fruition of every individual in the band is the same: passion honed into skill. Marching band is a tight knit community, accepting of outsiders, driven by a purpose. Each member has their own responsibilities and duties, but the cohesive force of music is a driving and unifying feature. Similarly, the goal of educated change unites Penn’s students. When I visited the Penn campus and strolled down Locust Walk, communities and clubs emersed me. At their tables, I made sandwiches for the homeless of Philadelphia and learned about raising awareness of women’s rights in the Middle East. Each group had their own distinct goals and wanted to change a specific aspect of society. I could easily start conversations, and the activities of the other students captivated me, teaching me about new and distinct topics. Come spring I envision myself in the midst of Locust Walk, taking the upperclassmen’s place, running my own table on STEM education or disease awareness.

I was raised in a city of two realities; I grew up in Baltimore. My parents immigrated from the Netherlands a year before I was born to pursue opportunity in the United States. My sister and I attended a private Quaker school because my parents could afford it. On one hand, there is a Baltimore presented by the TV show “The Wire,” on the other you have my reality. As a white, upper-class, male I haven't had to overcome any significant obstacles to follow my dreams. The most important question from my perspective is how do I leverage my privileged position and help people outside of my own community? How can I, as a computer science graduate from the Ph.D. program at UC Berkeley, use my analytical skills to impact the other reality in Baltimore?

I am a young woman currently on the brink of adulthood, intrigued and motivated by the potential of the world around me. I am an independent, creative thinker, and am dedicated to my school and home community. Over the past two years, I have completed more than 400 hours of community service working to engage youth in global issues, sustainability, and health. I have coached youth soccer, providing a role model for young soccer players, while tutoring refugee students in her school.