Growing up, I had many directions that I could have imagined for my life, but if you had told me that I would have achieved the success that I’ve done so far, I would say that you’re joking. My family and I emigrated from Egypt to the United States in 2007 to start a new life here. It came with numerous obstacles, from learning English, adapting to the food, and building relationships with others different from me. However, with the challenges also came great opportunities, such as being able to go to college, being a First Ascent Scholar, and being the recipient of the Obama-Chesky Scholarship,.
I’ve had several people in my corner that has been there to support me through my academic career. First, Ascent allowed me to attend college and be a part of a cohort as I make my way through the collegiate journey. Being a part of First Ascent has been extremely important to me. Being a first-generation college student isn’t the easiest experience to endure, especially at such a large institution like the University of Utah. However, with the guidance of the First Ascent program, it has been a great journey that has continued to lead to various opportunities such as international travels, internships, Business Scholars, and more.
I hope to continue to grow and learn from my college experience so I can one day give back and mentor other students with similar drives and passions to see a change in our society. I am extremely grateful and excited for all the wonderful opportunities that have been given to me. I will forever cherish these life-changing opportunities and make the best of them.
The First Ascent Scholars Program cultivates, encourages, and enables academically focused students with significant financial need to attend the Eccles School and connect with the University of Utah, local, and global community while reaching their full academic potential. For more information, visit Eccles.Link/first-ascent.