I’ve always preferred math and science to English and history. I enjoy things that are tangible and black and white, like engineering. The design and application sides of engineering have always fascinated me, and with mechanical engineering technology, I can pursue all the things I enjoy.
I grew up in Stillwater, Okla. By Oklahoma standards, it’s considered more urban, but nationally I would consider Stillwater a rural town. We have two and a half Walmarts, and we just got a Raising Cane’s, so I’d say we’re on the rise. I’ve lived in this town my whole life and I’ve seen it grow. My graduating class was around 380, big enough to not know everyone but at least recognize almost everyone.
My parents have been supportive of whatever I’ve pursued, including my decision to stay in Stillwater to attend Oklahoma State University. They will sometimes tell me I should change my major and become a doctor instead, but I know they are joking. They also encourage me to never settle and always try my best. My sister, Lexy, attends Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo. She’s always given me great advice, whether it was about girls or about life — whether I wanted to hear it or not. My grandmother has been a big supporter of me too and always encourages me, offering wisdom any way she can. My youth group leader in church is also an engineer, and after lots of talks about it, I decided engineering is the best fit.
I’ve learned to not look at the people around me, whether they are performing better or worse than I am. My family has instilled in me a work ethic that has helped me get to where I am today. They’ve also raised me as a man of God and have taught me to love others and not get too wrapped up in worldly things, to not let them get the best of me.
Time management has been my biggest challenge in college so far. I joined a fraternity, and though I have no regrets, it was a huge time commitment. The first few months were challenging: balancing school, the fraternity, extracurriculars, and a social life. I learned to work ahead on what I could and plan ahead to do what I had left. It sounds simple, and it is, but putting those goals into action can be difficult when every week holds different challenges.
Students who hope to go to college should know that high school is not a joke, and the better you do there, the more opportunities you will have down the road. Apply for a lot of scholarships tailored to what you want to do. Also, learn some good study habits before you get to college. Stillwater High School helped me realize I enjoy math and science. It prepared me well for a college workload and for balancing my time among extracurricular activities, friends, and school.
Last year, as a freshman, I was awarded the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) scholarship, which helped me and my family out incredibly. AISES is a wonderful organization that helps Native American students pursuing careers in STEM fields.
Oklahoma State is very supportive of its Native students. In particular, the students and faculty are respectful of all cultures. Along with respect, there are also great clubs and organizations you can join and that help you meet other Native students. In high school, I didn’t know any other student who was Creek, but here I’ve found a good friend who is also Creek.
Ultimately, my goal is to have a job that I can sustain a family with and enjoy what I do. I don’t want to limit myself to something specific when in reality I can be happy in a variety of positions, and I have no idea where life will take me. Ultimately God has his plan for me, and I just have to do my best to figure out what that is.
I think the three most important qualities for success in college are a good work ethic, motivation, and a positive attitude. In college, it’s all up to you how well you do and whether or not you succeed. You must be motivated to do the work — and the work will undoubtedly be hard. All this will get to you at times, but you have to have a positive attitude and remember that college is a privilege.
