Beginings

My mother and some teachers believed that I was gifted. My proudest moment in school was when I earned the honor of Female Student of the Quarter and was also #1 out of 800 studnets the Autumn of my freshman year at Morton East High School in Cicero, Illinois.

This early gift, however, was squandered when in February 1994 I was placed under the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. This experience was the first lesson in unfairness and being held back that I recieved. Part of this unfairness was when I was informed that "You can't be adopted because you are a teenager." This is devastaitng for a young person who only craves love and understanding.

I fell behind and was kept there in high school. For example, I was placed in remedial history courses wnen even the teacher thought that I should have been in Honors or Advanced Placement courses. However, if I was given the chance the state would lose special education funding. The only comment I got to my protests were, "You can't handle that." To which I said, "Give me a chance and I will show you that I can." I never got the cahnce and suffered mightily because I was held back in school.

Today, I am fighting my way through college. I am a junior political science major at DePaul Univeristy in Chicago. I am planning to enter law school and earn a Masters degree in Public Administration after graduation. My top choices are the University of South Carolina, Unniversity of Tennessee, Univesity of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Univeristy of Virginia and Regent University.

University of South Carolina: School of Law, Political Science Department

University of Tennessee--Knoxville: School of Law, Department of Political Science

University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill: School of Law, School of Government

University of Virginia: School of Law, Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics

Regent Univeristy: School of Law, Robertson School of Government

I have been criticized lacking direction and being unsure. I am very ambitious: wanting to go into the Air Force Reserve and be a lawyer. The only thing I am unsure about at this time is weather I will ever run for office, though I have thought about it. Though not sure of these things I know I am a conservative. My desires are to serve my country and share my ideals with people.

I am a former Catholic who was confirmed on Pentacost Sunday 2001. I am converting, first because of conflicts I have with the fundamental beliefs of the church and, second their handling of the sex abuse scandal. After much reserach I decided to convert and be a Southern Baptist. I attend Sunday Worship Service at Immanuel Baptist Church in Chicago.

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Troublemaker at Maryville

As a youth at Maryville Academy I developed a strong independent streak and started telling them how I felt about things that were happening. This trait did not endear me to the staff of "Family Educators" who were charged with teaching me discipline and values.

I remeber being a small, underweight, and unhelathy young lady. I got beaten up by the other girls in the group home and assaulted by one of the staff. They kept telling me "They are a bad influence on you," referring to the military people I was talking to at school. I had developed a friendship with the Marine recruiter that came to the school.

Needless to say, I never joined the Corps because I saw better opportunities. I was almost admitted to the United States Naval Academy twice. However, I decided to enter the Air Force.

I had converattions with a recruiter and joined ROTC. I walked into the Unit and impressed the Commandant of Cadets with how much I already knew and my enthusiasm for serving that he wrote a reccommendation to the Recruititng board to clear my record so I could finish the enlistment process.

This was not the problem at Maryville. Their problem was that they wanted me to do things only their way. One day, upon returning from training in my Class B blues they wanted me to complete my chore, doing dishes. I asked them to let me change out of my uniform because I was not supposed to do house work in my uniform. "I do not care what the rules are," they said, "just do the dishes." I protested, "I can't, I must change out of my uniform." I was changing at this time. They proceeded under their rules to give me two instructions and I eventually earned a negative consequence for apparently refusing to do a chore that I did after I changed. I protested again, "This is not fair. I did the chore." They did not care they said, "Your commanding will not know if you do your chores in your uniform." They did not understand that I knew and that is what mattered. Integrity is "doing what is right even when noone else is looking."

I rasied questions about their systems and rules because they inssted on trying to stop me from talking to people. I cited the first amendment verbatim and they had no answer.

Another "troubling" act was that I tried to care for my younger brother and they did not want to allow me the chance to have conact because they did not want me influencing him.

Struggling Student

It has been an uphill battle since I started college because I was not ready for the challenge. I was ill prepared and had no one who was willing to help me get a leg up. I transferred five times and changed degree intentions three times.

I have settled on finishing my BA in Political Science at DePaul University and have had an uphill battle since starting there, but I will succeed despite having to appeal a dismissal. I will graduate in 2007. I am researching the law school options mentioned earlier and will begin the application process in Autumn 2006.

Military Ambitions

My first exposure to the military was whn I spoke to a Marine recruiter in high school. I thought I wanted to be a marine, but after researching it more thoroughly I discovered that this would be difficult at best and impossible at worst. I also spoke with Navy recruiters and actually took a physical, which I failed because of an eye condition.

I also applied for the Naval Academy twice and earned a candidacy both times. I however did not make it to the next stage because my academics were not strong enough. During this time I was also asking questions about the Army, though not seriously thinking of joining.

Finally, after researching the Air Force for two years I spoke with a recruiter with serious intent to join. while I was in the application process for enlistment in to Basic Military Training (BMT) at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.

I joined Air Force Researve Officer Training Corps Detachment 195 as a cadet. This step was taken in furtherance of the goal. After initial examination of my medical records, however, I was denied the first time because of being on psychotropic drugs in the past. I also thought that the eye condition was a reaction to stress and having not slept the night before the first exam. I was granted another chance when the Commandant of Cadets at the ROTC unit wrote a reccommendation. The record was also cleared of any mention of the prior medical treatment. However, when I took the second exam the eye condition was confirmed and I was denied enlistment. If I had been allowed to enlist I would have wanted to be a personnel specialist. I finished up the year as a cadet and then began life as a civilian.

While I was a cadet I held three corps positions: publications representative, supply representative, and military ball representative. I also joined Arnold Air Society and Mach 4, two student organizations. In Arnold Air Society I attained the rank of Cadet First Lieutenant and was the Public Affairs Officer for the Scobee Squadron. As a civilian I plan to start a local chapter of Silver Wings.

I joined several military related organizations: Air Force Association, Association of Air Force Missileers, and the Reserve Officer Association. My membership in the Reserve Officer Association expired because I am no longer a cadet.

I was a special student in the ROTC unit through Spring 2003 and still do a great deal for the Air Force. I assist the ROTC unit during orientation and the recruiters during the air show. As a reward for this I earned a Certificate of Appreciation from Air Force Recruiting Service. I have taken care of the eye condition and might qualify to enter the Air Force.

Political Player

My first experience came as an intern in the Chicago office of U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin. In this capacity I sorted mail, worked with constituent case files, and assisted the staff. I worked closely with the Press secretary, chiefly organizing press clips, and the veterans affairs staffer.

Next step was to work for a campaign. I volunteered for Paul Vallas for Governor in 2000. I maintained the fundraising database. I did not volunteer at all in 2002, however, I volunterred for two campaigns in 2004. First, I volunteerd for John Edwards for President and Dan Hynes for U.S. Senate. I traveled to Davenport, IA and Milwaukee, WI to volunteer for Edwards. I volunteered for John Kerry for a short time but stopped because I did not believe in Mr. Kerry. I also attempted to work for the Democratic National Committee as a fundraiser, but did not beilieve in the candidate or the platform so I had to leave this position.

Despite volunteering for all these Democrats in the past I am a conservative. My plan in 2008 is to be attending school in South Carolina and volunteering for the reelection campaign of U.S. Sen. Lindsey O. Graham.

Currently I am an intern for the Cook County Republican Party as well as volunteering in the 43rd/32nd ward Republican office. I am volunteering for Bill Brady for Governor and Dan Rutherford for Secretary of State.

I have contributed to the National Republican Congressional Committee, the Democratic Leadership Council, John Edwards for President, Lindsey Graham for U.S. Senate. I also recently donated to the Heritage Foundation.

I am a member of the DePaul College Republicans and an intern for the Cook County Republican Party. Before I was a member of the College Republicans I was a member of the DePaul College Democrats. Through my former membership in the College Democrats I was able to travel to Boston for the Convention in 2004.

I am a moderate conservative with a strong independent streak. This leads me to believe that every life is sacred, the family is the foundation of society, homeland and national security are paramount, and that common sense gun control measures can be taken with out infringing on the rights of law abiding citizens.

My personal and political role model is Sen. Lindsey Graham.