What have you done since your days in 20/20 Leadership?

Since graduating from the 20/20 Leadership program and Washington High School in

2007, I have been pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Film and Media Arts with a minor

in Journalism. I am attending the University of Missouri- Kansas City (UMK) and will

graduate in the fall. While at UMKC, I helped establish a chapter of the nation’s first

nationally-recognized Greek-lettered Latin Fraternity called Lambda Theta Phi. Also, I

have worked in journalism with UMKC’s student newspaper, University News. I climbed

the editorial board ladder, first as a writer, then as the News Editor, and finally as Editor-

in-Chief, a position I currently hold.

If you could pick one person in history to have lunch with, who would it be?

I would definitely have lunch with Immanuel Kant, a German Philosopher that studied

metaphysics and speculation. He was a very brilliant man who questioned everything

in a very intellectual and philosophical manner. Though his studies are quite difficult

and somewhat hard to understand, they are thought-provoking and reminiscent of

anthropology and poetry.

In addition to Kant, I would have lunch with film director Robert Rodriguez. He started

off small in the early 90’s with the film El Mariachi. This film is now a cult classic,

though it was filmed as a one man crew with a budget of only $7,000. Rodriguez is a man

who takes his trade and does what he wants and has fun while doing it. He makes films

for everyone and that impresses me. He is an inspiration for anyone who has a goal but

very little means to accomplish it. He embodies determination and ambition. Though he

is no George Lucas, he still has his claim to fame and the uncharted path he walked to get

there.

If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would be the first thing you would do?

I would pay off my student loans. After that I am sure there will be some change left

over. I would dedicate a percentage to UMKC to improve many of their overlooked

programs. I would give the rest to my parent as a gesture, not a repayment, for all of the

hard work and sacrifices they made to raise me and keep me healthy.

What has been your favorite travel experience?

I have yet to have a trip that has blown me away. But this past summer I went to Las

Vegas for a week. It was both a vacation and a leadership conference for my fraternity.

Vegas truly is an experience that should be on everyone’s bucket list, especially when

you go with people who are like family and make sure you have a good time.