5 Questions with … Shenise Bramley

Sophomore Shenise Bramley is one of the recipients of the full-tuition scholarship, Hometown Scholars. She shares her thoughts about her experience as a student, a local Peorian and a Bradley STAR tour guide.

WHAT MADE YOU INTERESTED IN MAJORING IN SOCIAL WORK?

I've been taking entry level courses in social work, so I've seen what’s not ethical. I want to join the field to at least try to change it. Then others will try to follow me because I'm a local face in Peoria. If they see what a young African American female can do, I'm pretty sure other kids will say, “I want to go to college, I want to try this and I want to change something that I’m passionate about.”

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST INTERESTING BRADLEY EXPERIENCE SO FAR?

I think becoming a tour guide as a freshman. I was really blessed and thankful that I got the opportunity. It was really fun. It was like a giant sorority/fraternity. That's how the STARs family makes you feel; we're like our own little family.

WHAT KIND OF CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED BY NOT GOING AWAY TO COLLEGE?

Oh, sometimes personal space. I told my mom she can call me all the time, but my mom, she literally calls me during lectures sometimes. My dad, I'm his baby girl as I'm the youngest. So he's like, "Oh, are you okay? Do you need anything?" My parents are always available when I need them at the least!

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IN YOUR FUTURE CAREER?

I hope to be a licensed clinical social worker in the next six years, (ideally) in Carmel, Ind. I absolutely love it there and it has everything I need: big schools, lots of athletic children who need counseling, who need social workers to look into how sports parents can be really over the top and abusive in a way without them even realizing it.

WHAT’S THE ONE SECRET ABOUT PEORIA YOU’D MOST LIKE TO SHARE?

(Growing up in Peoria) just helped me with my own talents, so now I can come up with games and stuff on the fly. We even play hide and go seek in the BECC (Business and Engineering Convergence Center) during finals when we get tired of studying.