Hello, I am a 1st year student with a Food Science Major at the University of Georgia. Growing up in New Orleans and Atlanta, the general response I get when I tell people what I'm going to school for is, “What's that?” or something along those lines. And I normally just say that I like agriculture and working in labs, which isn't lying, but that is not the full story.

You’re gonna be going to a new school, it’s in the woods.”, my mom said. At that moment, my six-year-old mind was more concerned about leaving my friends behind, but that moment was a pivotal decision made by my mother. By attending a small nature school, Chattahoochee Hills Charter School, I began to discover my love for agriculture. While attending this school, I was able to learn about the natural world around us and how much of an impact agriculture has on everything. The curriculum was designed so that agriculture and environmental studies were integrated into all core subjects. We learned to plant fruits and vegetables, went on weekly hikes, and explored solutions for global issues. The school also arranged visits with farmers, senators, and other community leaders. Through elementary and middle school, I grew from just learning about agriculture to practicing it. I began to enjoy working in the greenhouse, on the farm, and gardening with the garden club after school. Through the years, I understood the great importance that agriculture plays in society.

During my Senior year, I was selected to be on the teen advisory committee for the 4-H Youth Empowering Agriculture Program, by way of my connection and love for agriculture through Chattahoochee Hills Charter School. This allowed me to participate in a week-long camp in the summer. During that camp, we attended engaging seminars and took a deeper dive into what it would be like working in the field of agriculture. While there, we visited a lab where we explored the field of food science, and this was the moment I discovered my exact passion. The people working in these labs were creating ice-cream sandwiches to cure allergies, creating antibiotics through apple sauce, and so much more. Now I want to get safe and nutritious food around the world. Agriculture and science will lead the way in developing healthier food for the future, and that is why I chose Food Science as my major here at UGA.

So when people ask me what food science is or why I have chosen to study Food Science as my major. I want to say this version, but it seems too long, so I'll probably continue to say I just love agriculture and science.