DC!!!

I spent time in Washington DC this past weekend to meet future graduate students who are traveling internationally this summer. I had a blast, met some crazy people, which turned out to be very good because I fit in with them. This has been a true blessing and I am thanking God for it moment by moment. I was able to get out of my comfort zone and do something that I would not do: enjoy myself. I was sitting in a room talking about non-academic related subjects, toured the Washington Mall at 1 am, and of course followed the program outline. These are the times I am going remember for the rest of my life. I am grateful for the support that the University of Florida has given me. Also, I am really looking forward to this trip because I know that I am going with people who are going to encourage me as I encourage them. I see a great opportunity that I am about to seize. Moreover, I recieved a snippet of Brazilian culture through students who hail from Campinas and Sao Paulo. I am impressed because they were highly energetic, fun, and amicable. This trip would give me more than an academic and social experience, it would help me grow spiritually because it would test me based on my previous and present trials and tribulations. As well, it would help me to build character. I hope to go to Brazil and "knock-it-out" through research, partying and community service.



Not only was I impressed by the collegiate students, I had the opportunity to see high school students present their research and I was blown away. I feel that the first student I met was the best in the competition but my friend Justin (homeboy from TAMU) would not agree; aside from that I was impressed to see high schoolers presenting at a collegiate level and showing the dedication to research due to the interest of making a discovery and helping to save lives.



Finally, I visited the Brazilian consulate office and that was a trip from hell. I had to redo my passport application, our passports were not ready, and the room was hot and I was sweating with my luggage and the group of students beside me. For others who are going to this trip and viewing this site, best of luck, hope to keep in contact and Ate logo!!! For the general audience, please let my experience inspire you to know that if you reach for the stars with no avail, you are better off than not reaching at all. When things goes wrong as they sometimes will and the road you are trudging seems all uphill, when the funds are low and the debts are high, when you want to smile but you must sigh, when care presses you down a bit, rest if you must but DO NOT QUIT!!!! (An excerpt of Don't Quit by Anonymous)



Take this as a tool to inspire our young ones and lets build a new future. I really want to thank The Ohio State University for opening up doors for me. The Bill Gates Millennium Scholarship for paying my college fees. I thank The University of Florida the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), and the National Science Foundation for making this all possible where I gotten to enjoy a great group of people that I am proud to call my friends. Importantly, I want to thank the Brazilian Embassy for at least giving us the opportunity to visit the wonderful country of Brazil. Thanks!!! For more pictures of the trip and other perspective please visit

http://gs103.photobucket.com/groups/m139/F0MYNRM2CH/.