My parents never said it directly, and it wasn’t taught in a class I took, but giving is one of the most powerful things we can do. As the daughter of a minister and an educator, giving was demonstrated to me on a daily basis. If my parents had it to give they gave. One thing that I learned very quickly is that giving does not have to be financial. This is why I try my best to find ways to give voice to the voiceless and promote equality for the marginalized. I believe that we all have the right to live our own lives and be ourselves. I believe that we have a responsibility to be fair and just. I believe that a quality education in America should provide each student with the same opportunities to learn. I believe that everyone has a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I believe that when the system fails our citizens, we have a responsibility to rectify that situation and provide them with the necessary resources until they are able to provide for themselves. I don’t believe in the idea of “pulling yourself up by the bootstraps.” I believe that there are errors and ills in our country that we can fix, but we all have to be willing to acknowledge the flaws and shortcomings of our society.

I believe that in order to make tomorrow better, we need to start working today. One step at a time. That is how we make a difference. That is how we work for freedom.