Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriel Morency.
Hi Gabriel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I am a Haitian American, the oldest of three, and a triplet. My birth was miraculous, by the grace of God my siblings and I were all born healthy despite the doctors saying that we would have major disabilities. We were born in Boston but moved to Maryland at a young age. During COVID-19, I started my first Podcast called black at Square One, and used it as a platform to inspire young, Christian minorities such as myself. I graduated high school as a salutatorian and had my sights set on going to the Naval Academy or West Point.
I was accepted into both institutions, receiving a Letter of Assurance from both schools. After much prayer, I decided to attend Oakwood University on a full scholarship. While at Oakwood University, I participated in the honors program, becoming an honors student, joined the Oakwood Aeolians, a world-famous collegiate Choir, earned my scuba license, and much much more. I am currently praying and working on earning my pilot’s license, and am currently a fellow in the National HBCU Builders program. Oakwood University is the first HBCU to partner with this fellowship in a pilot program.
Students in this program will partner with inner-city high school students as well as students in Bienventura, Columbia to design a sustainable solution to a problem within the country. I am among the first HBCU students to participate in this program and am paving the way for future HBCU students. This year, I am also running for religious vice president at Oakwood University.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This road has not been easy. I’ve experienced many struggles. After graduating high school, I had my sights set on attending a service academy. I have a passion for leadership and a desire to serve at the highest level. Of my many goals, I also aspire to be an astronaut and I believed that the service academies would give me the best shot at reaching those goals. My parents, however, wanted me to attend an HBCU and weren’t quite fond of the idea of me attending a service academy. After much prayer and consideration, I decided not to attend the service academies.
Another struggle of mine was finding balance. At Oakwood, I am involved with quite a bit. I am an HBCU USAID nation founders fellow (as mentioned before), I am an Aeolian, I lead two different campus ministries, I am an RA (residents assistant), I am a senator in my NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers) club, I am an applied math with an emphasis in engineering major with plans to add a double major in journalism with an emphasis in politics and a minor in theology, and I am planning on starting another podcast. Finding balance and having the discipline to finish what I started has been a challenge of mine.
A third struggle for me was embracing the things I could not change. Oakwood is not a service academy. It’s a small private University in HSV, Alabama. It was easy for me to get caught up in what Oakwood did not have. For my first year there, I spent a lot of time comparing Oakwood to other schools. Eventually, however, I learned that the benefit of being at Oakwood is that I could be the change I wanted to see. at any other school, it would be difficult to start the initiatives that I’ve started, to participate in the things that I’m participating in, and to balance it all.
But being at Oakwood has given me the platform to pursue my goals while feeling supported and seen. My dad has a quote that always keep close to my heart. “Take the good, and leave the bad.” And that’s what I try to do every day.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I do quite a few things. I am an aspiring engineer and pilot. I am an adventurer and an explorer. And I love ministry. One thing that I am known for is my ability to speak.
Ever since I was a young boy, I’ve been able to get on a stage, and without a paper or a script, communicate thoughts and ideas that inspire change. I am also known for being somewhat of a risk-taker or an adventurer. If you were to ask my friends, they’d say that I am likely to try and fly across the world in an airplane or climb Mt. Everest. In my senior of high school, on a whim, my brother and I decided to run a half marathon. And we did it. We ran the entire race.
Last year, I decided to pursue my scuba license. I am currently seeking to pursue my pilot’s license and work towards other goals. What I am most proud of and what I believe sets me apart, is the work ethic that I’ve developed while at Oakwood. While here, I’ve managed to connect with an Astronaut, and have meaningful conversations with people in different branches of leadership, both church and American government leadership, to inspire change.
Any big plans?
Looking forward, I plan to graduate from college as an honors student and go where God takes me. I am considering graduate school, but I am also considering doing government work or even pursuing the test pilot route.
I have many goals in life, so my main goal right now is to open as many doors as I can and do as much as I can. College is an incredible opportunity and I want to truly take advantage of every opportunity that I can.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Gabemorency
