As an educator at West Virginia State University, I have learned to uphold and demonstrate professionalism in the educational field setting and outside my community as a leader and role model for my peers and students. I must maintain a professional demeanor as I strive to become a future teacher, for I represent not only myself, my family, my community, and my school but also the affiliated county I work for. For each group I work to define, It is in my best interest to show that I am the very best of my quality work in ethics and professional abilities to strive to not only provide quality outcomes but to be efficient, practical, a fantastic communicator, and someone that collaborates well with anyone and everyone! I have shown these qualities as the Head Custodian at Nitro Elementary School through my devoted and committed service to Kanawha County Schools over the last thirteen years. One thing that sticks out in my professional career is my attention to detail and performance quality to give the company the best possible production I can. I can show this in my video of my performance of my highlighted tasks in my end-of-the-year clean, for which I highlight critical parts of how I scrubbed the filthy, dirty school to clean it over the summer to prepare it for the next school year. This is a difficult task, and I use my professional skills to ensure the building meets the quality standards of the county's expectations and the principal's; my performance is recognized by my last service personnel evaluation and the comments and all outstanding remarks documented for the 2023 - 2024 school year.

 

Another exemplar showcase of my dedication to professionalism in my school and community is my term in service with West Virginia State University as the 2023 - 2024 Student Government Association's Student Representative on the Board of Governors. I chose to serve a year in public service to the college and community as I had a vote in the decision-making in my role with the Board of Governors at WVSU. My position was vital in ensuring not only the allocation of funds at the college but also in determining the plan for the college and the direction that the President would see us through. We would vote on positions of policy and choices that shape the outcomes that the college is moving toward. We had surveys, interviews, and public speaker invitations to welcome advice from the community to determine what everyone wishes to see advance our institution. One of my greatest moments was walking down with my fellow Governors during the Fall 2023 Commencement Ceremony at WVSU as the honored guests sitting on the main stage during the graduation ceremony.

 

In all my years at WVSU, finding a place to fit in has been the most challenging. I am a male educator in an elementary school setting. I am a minority for that reason, not only adding to this that I am a nontraditional student who is nearly twice the age of my classmates. Most days, I feel awkward being in my classes because it is strange. Building friendships that are not professional or educational networks and relationships is difficult. My point is that I treat all my encounters as a professional relationship to keep myself grounded in my morals. This is the respect for myself and others in conversations limited to professional or educational discussions, which are mutual. This is a trust my wife has for me, knowing that I am grounded in these morals. I hold professionalism as one of my highest priorities when I approach my profession, in my classes in college, at work, or in any conversation.

 

For my academic excellence and ability to demonstrate the qualities of being an activity-engaged student at West Virginia State University, I was invited to participate in the WVSU Black & Gold Gala three times as a student representative. This is the institution's most significant fundraiser of the year. It is a suit-and-tie evening dinner event with honored recognitions for special guests. Students are selected to help host and entertain guests and speak about the new developments in the college. As a prosperous student with a very prestigious record, I have had personal contact with the organizers of this event and have helped for three years now not only as a student participating as an outstanding collegiate example of what a Yellow Jacket strives to become but also I work behind the scenes within the inner works of this multitiered organized event that has a committee that begins early in November the following year, the Black & Gold Silent Auction Committee.

 

Being a part of the Black & Gold Silent Auction has built my network from a personal level, from the college to the community businesses around the state! I work as a college student representative in negotiations to secure donations for fundraisers for the B&G Silent Auction. This is a very challenging task, and I am the only student that is on this committee; having spent two years on this committee, I have helped with walking in, emailing, mailing, and calling establishments to secure donations, gift cards, gift baskets, or other items that may be used to auction for our institution's advancement and student scholarships which I have benefited from as well!