1. My name is Althea McDonald, and I have been with Ashford since 2011. I was born in Jamaica and my family migrated to the United States in 1970. I attended Catholic School in my native country and then was enrolled in public school at the 6 th grade level. The Catholic school that I attended in Jamaica was very strict in areas of academics and behavior. My parents retired in 1992, and in 1996 the family relocated to Florida. The devastating attack on America that took place on 9/11/2001 prompted me to further my education at which time I earned my Associate Degree in Paralegal.

2. Immediately after graduation, I was employed by a law firm that specializes in various injury cases. At that time, my intentions were to become a criminal lawyer. My role at the law firm was simply a paper/legal document generator leaving me literally drowning in paper. That role was a definite clash with my personality that ultimately led me to disliking that job. I started researching my options and learned that non- traditional jobs especially for women can pay as much as three to four times what I was making as a Paralegal.

3. I attended a vocational school for commercial trucks, and after two months I earned a CDL Class A truck license and became a commercial truck driver that ran all 48 states. The compensation was excellent; the position gelled perfectly with my personality because I am very adventurous, I love to travel, and most importantly, the peace of mind was priceless. My intentions were to incorporate my job as a truck driver with my long term educational career of becoming a lawyer. Three years into my truck driving career, my mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness and I chose to immediately self-terminate in order to care for her.

4. My mother died two years later at which time I became caregiver to my father who is now 95 years old and who has recently lost his vision to Glaucoma. The opportunity to re-start my academic pursuit became available again and in 2011, and I began my online classes towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Social and Criminal Justice, still with the intentions of attending law school.

5. My studies as a Criminal Justice student began to reveal the transparency of the severe racial disparities within the Criminal Justice System making it so profound, hence, inspiring me to rethink my career goals. I began focusing on how and where will I be able to make the biggest impact towards helping a potential juvenile delinquent from escaping the inevitable domino effect of choosing the wrong path. I began asking myself questions like would I be a great lawyer in defending a juvenile after they have committed a crime, or would I be more effective as an educator, counselor and mentor? My “aha” moment hit me and I decided to pursue my Masters of Art in Education where I can utilize my skills in teaching at-risk children and incorporate the community and the family in the process.

6. With my Masters of Art in Education degree, part of my future goal is to work in the public school sector, teaching culturally relevant pedagogy that will infuse 21 st century curriculum that is infused with innovation and technology. I was greatly influenced by my math teacher Mr. Andrew Levine in the 8 th grade. He taught his classes in a manner that was project-based which kept the students enthusiastic about learning. Although I loved science, my 8 th grade science class was the worst which was due to the teacher’s inability to teach and keep the students engaged in the learning.

7. There is one dish that I could every day for the rest of my life and that is curry shrimp over a bed of white rice.