"Why follow, when you can lead", a quote that I have chosen to live by since my freshmen year in high school, which ultimately led me to be the student body president for over 2,000 students at South View High School in 2006. Born May 4, 1988 in Fayetteville, North Carolina to Gerald and Broxie Pone.

I can attribute the person I am today, due to my involvement during my high school years. Throughout my four years at South View High I played volleyball, became a member of the drill team and cheerleading team, was named class president each year and, was named student body president my senior year. Last but not least, voted homecoming queen by my peers. Having done all this, it taught me that a leader must lead by example and not by words.

I attended college at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I started out as Biology major and quickly realized that the Lord had other things in store for me. I prayed and prayed until I came across something that I truly fell into love with: Hospitality Tourism Management, I fell in love with it because, it was something that gave me the chance to plan events and give back to my community. These are two things that I cannot deny are a major part of me. But then I wanted something else, something that would give me an edge in a downward spiraling economy. So I chose to pick up another degree in Communication Studies.

Hospitality introduced me to an array of career options and landed me a yearlong internship with a non- profit that focused on event planning and fundraising. It was there, Shannon Newman, Internship Advisor, introduced me to the thought of getting a Master's in Public Administration. After much prayer and research once again, I knew that God had this step in his plan for me. Which brings me to my current place in life. A graduate student, at North Carolina Central University, pursuing a Master's in Public Administration. I have thus far enjoyed my first year at North Carolina Central. Joining the Graduate Students Association Executive Board as the Director of Travel, and recently named the president of the Graduate Association for Public Administration, I plan to make the best out of my accomplishments and achieve all that I can with them.

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12, King James Version)."