A Young Spirit with a Passion for the Sky and the Classroom

Trinity Dennis from Virginia Beach is a JMU junior enrolled in the Air Force ROTC program at JMU and is majoring in English with a secondary education minor.

She wants to join the Air Force for a few years and then go into education when she retires. The Air Force provided her with a full scholarship to pilot school. She was overjoyed when she received the scholarship saying, "It's expensive, and I did not know how I was going to pay for it."

Trinity is currently enrolled in Blue Ridge Aviation School, where she learns how to fly planes. In January, she received her student pilot's license. She talks about her experience earning her license, "That experience has been awesome being in the sky. Just being in that environment has opened my eyes. I can do anything that I aim for."

She enjoys teaching, but she enjoys flying more. When she leaves the Air Force, she intends to pursue her passion for teaching, "I will be able to do what I love to do."

Her father, who is in the Navy, is one of the people who inspire her. "My dad is so amazing - I love him so much. He has a street named for him."

Trinity loves being at JMU and says she has grown so much. She fondly remembers Professor Higdon, reminding her to connect with students; to reflect on her own high school and middle school experiences. I will remember most from my own experience as a student that I will have empathy and compassion when needed.

Trinity aspires to be a pilot for the United States Air Force. In the future, she hopes to travel internationally and gain new experiences, "I want to see what's out there in the world," she says. In terms of her education, she aims to work in administration and teach 11th grade, "I can help schools. I want to teach in a low-income area."

When asked about Black History Month, pausing for a moment, she responded with a single word: "everything". "Black History Month means everything to me, and I'm just really big on it, especially here. I want to have my face seen and known for what I'm doing." Trinity mentions why she wants to join the Air Force for yet another reason, "I want to show that little black girls who look like me can do it too."

Trinity is a young woman with big dreams, and we are thrilled she is a part of the College of Education. We need more people like Trinity, who have huge goals and want to make a difference in the classrooms and the world.