In a convocation speech at 麻豆短视频传媒 on Wednesday, Sept. 24, Rhodes Scholar Rhiana Gunn-Wright said she hasn鈥檛 done anything to change the world yet, but the Rhodes scholarship 鈥渋s an opportunity to do that.鈥�
A native of Chicago, Gunn-Wright was raised by a single mother in Englewood, a neighborhood known for poverty, drugs and violence. Her grandmother and mother taught her the value of an education and placed her in the best schools possible. Gunn-Wright said she once thought of education as simply a way to get a good job.
鈥淚 was raised to think about education as a means to an end,鈥� she said.
But once she arrived at Yale she learned about 鈥渁ctivism through academia.鈥� Gunn-Wright said she learned that education was also a way to learn more about herself and to fight for justice.
Gunn-Wright said she鈥檚 made mistakes in her life and sometimes felt like a failure, but she told KSU students that failure happens.
鈥淵ou will screw up,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he really important thing is how you bounce back.鈥�
Gunn-Wright graduated magna cum laude from Yale University in 2011 with majors in African American studies and women鈥檚, gender and sexuality studies.
She has worked for the Office of the First Lady, Michelle Obama, and is currently studying at Oxford University, England. She is working on a master鈥檚 degree in comparative social policy. Previously, she worked as the Mariam K. Chamberlain Fellow of Women and Public Policy at the Institute for Women鈥檚 Policy Research.
Gunn-Wright will graduate from Oxford University in 2015 and plans to return to her native Chicago to begin consulting work and to attend law school.
She showed photos of Oxford during her presentation at KSU and encouraged students to study abroad if possible.
鈥淵ou get to be in this beautiful place and just think,鈥� Gunn Wright said.
KSU President Raymond M. Burse said he鈥檚 hopeful that KSU can produce a Rhodes Scholar soon.
鈥淚 think each and every one of you is absolutely fantastic, and your future is unlimited,鈥� Burse told students before Gunn-Wright was introduced by KSU鈥檚 General Counsel Lori Davis.
Janessa Graham, a senior from Chicago, was familiar with the neighborhood in which Gunn-Wright grew up. Graham said Gunn-Wright鈥檚 story motivated her to continue striving for success no matter the obstacles.
鈥淪he鈥檚 like a game changer,鈥� Graham said. 鈥淗er story was impactful and inspirational.鈥�