Yale

My grandparents have the equivalent of an eighth grade education. They spent most of their lives labeled as second class citizens. At a very early the importance of education was indoctrinated into my brain. My first memories are of sitting at the kitchen table with my mom practicing how to write my name; Sunday mornings sitting on my grandfathers’ lap while he helped me learn how to read; the countless hours spent in Orlando’s downtown town library ravishing through a mountain of books and comprising with my mom the number I could take home. As I got older my own curiosity became the fuel that fed my hunger for knowledge.

It wasn’t until high school that I used my passion for learning in a productive way. I was a mentor to elementary kids in an urban neighborhood. I spent three years at Lake Weston Elementary School helping to develop the minds of young children.

I am applying for admission to the Ph.D. program in Sociology because I want a postsecondary teaching career; I believe that attending Laney Graduate School would be invaluable experience. I am interested in focusing my research on the effects that popular music has on African-American culture and exploring if music can be a predictor of social change. Emory’s excellent faculty, facilities, challenging coursework and commitment to preparing students for both academic and research careers is what solidified my decision to apply. In addition, the ability to study and participate in projects across traditional program concentrations was a complete match for my intended area of research; this will help me to excel in the program.

My intellectual curiosity is the main personal characteristic that sets me apart from others for as Albert Einstein stated “the more I learn, the more I realize I don’t know”. I have an enthusiastic passion for gaining knowledge and understanding. I am constantly striving to learn and know more, especially in topics that interest me personally. This quality drives me...