By AFRO Staff
Angela Leal on accomplishing her goals…
“I’m so happy to have made it to this finish line. You know, it’s definitely been a journey, but I’m super excited to be finished. I’m originally from Rhode Island and I really wanted to step out of my comfort zone and put myself in a new position and get to know more people, get to know the area, and I just knew that being at Howard, I’d be able to put myself in spaces that are unimaginable.”
On pledging Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the oldest sorority for Black women, founded on the campus of Howard in 1908…
“I came out in Spring 2022 and our line is 75 R.E.N.O.W.N. I feel amazing about that. Honestly, it’s a truly wonderful experience. I almost don’t even have words, and know that I’m following in my prophytes footsteps. I know that I want to create an amazing legacy and give back as much as possible.”
Ms. Leal’s next steps…
“I’ll be working in investment banking at Goldman Sachs. I’ll be working in structured finance, very excited for that. Definitely a new journey, new experience. I’m looking forward to going to New York.”
“I think it’s very important for women to go into the business world, the corporate space [and] the finance world….we can pass that [knowledge] along and make sure that those financial literacy skills are within the Black community.”
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Gregory Riley, M.D. on becoming a Black doctor…
“It has been amazing. It’s great to finally get the M.D. degree. I’m hoping to really give back to the community– give back to our people. That’s something I’ve always been trying to do. To finally see all those years come together is awesome.”
Dr. Riley has a plan…
“I’m going to do internal medicine. Internal medicine is kind of a jack of all trades type of doctor. But after that, I want to specialize in gastro.”
On the importance of Black representation in the medical field…
“Growing up, I didn’t know any Black doctors. I never saw a Black doctor where I was from, I’m originally from New Haven, Conn. – which is a pretty diverse area– but I never saw a Black doctor.”
On choosing an HBCU for his doctorate in medicine…
“When I interviewed here at Howard, that’s one thing that really stuck out to me compared to other places– I wanted that mentorship. I felt like being around doctors that looked like me and came from the same area and background as me [is] what helped me kind of get to where I wanted to be.”