Student Stories
The Opportunity Scholars program highlights the transformative power of each student’s personal story. Each of our scholars embodies the spirit of determination, resilience, and unwavering focus. Their stories are not just tales of overcoming challenges but powerful narratives of transformation and triumph. As first-generation students, they have blazed a trail, setting a remarkable example for others. Their unique backgrounds and experiences have shaped who they are, and their dedication to education drives them toward a future filled with promise and potential.
We believe in the transformative power of education, and these stories are a testament to that belief. By sharing their journeys, we aim to inspire others and showcase the profound impact that education can have on individuals, families, and communities.
Join us in celebrating these extraordinary scholars. Their stories are a beacon of hope and a powerful reminder that with determination and support, anything is possible. The future is bright, and we are honored to be a part of their journey.
Mia Tadesse
Mia Tadesse likes to describe the Opportunity Scholars program as an umbrella – it covers everything.
“Based on your situation, whatever you need to succeed, the program will provide those resources to you,” Tadesse said.
One of 10 siblings born to immigrant parents from Ethiopia, Tadesse said Opportunity Scholars now feels like part of her family, too – a family committed to helping each other, their community, and anyone else who might need it.
“The program has given me so many opportunities,” she said. “Whatever I learn from my past years, I recommend it to students coming up behind me. They can connect with me, and I can provide the resources to them. I really love seeing people like me or people who have a similar experience succeed.”
~Excerpt from Eccles Experience Magazine, Spring 2024
“You don’t just earn your degree. It is the degree of my donors because they invested in me and trusted me to finish my education. It is the degree of my family members who supported me throughout my education. It is the degree of my peers who helped me along the way.” ~Andy Tran
Andy Tran
Coming into college as a first-generation student, Andy Tran was searching for the same connectivity on campus that he had with his close-knit Vietnamese family, and he found it in the Opportunity Scholars program.
“The more I’m in it, the more grateful I feel, the more I want to give back to younger students, leadership, the whole program,” Tran said.
The Opportunity Scholars program has been integral to helping him complete his degree, Tran said, and he believes his success also belongs to everyone standing behind him and cheering him on.
“You don’t just earn your degree,” Tran said. “It is the degree of my donors because they invested in me and trusted me to finish my education. It is the degree of my family members who supported me throughout my education. It is the degree of my peers who helped me along the way.”
~Excerpt from Eccles Experience Magazine, Spring 2024
Julina Tusieseina
As the youngest of six kids, Julina Tusieseina grew up following her older siblings’ examples. Now, she is the one setting the example as a first-generation college student. Through the Opportunity Scholars program she has found a community that is not only invested in her academic success, but in her as a whole person as well.
“I remember our first orientation for Opportunity Scholars, being so in awe,” Tusieseina said. “I was expecting a focus on academics, but it was a genuine experience. Our leaders care so much for us as people and ensure we have the right resources to navigate school. Opportunity Scholars gave me the means to get my degree and the community and support that kept me going.”
That hands-on connection really makes a difference for students coming from underserved communities where attending college is far from guaranteed.
“Coming from a low-income family, I have never taken for granted being in college,” Tusieseina said. “With my full-ride scholarship, my being here has always depended on my academic performance. The fact that I was able to grow and find opportunities to make something of myself is huge for me.”
~Excerpt from Eccles Experience Magazine, Spring 2024
“They hear the students out. Leadership knows my struggles. There is nothing taboo about it. Opportunity Scholars is an organization where students can express hardship freely and know they will not be judged.” ~ Ruth Khan
Ruth Khan
Ruth Khan is no stranger to struggle, but she also believes no one should have to struggle alone. Searching for community and support on her own educational journey, she joined Opportunity Scholars during her sophomore year.
“They hear the students out,” Khan said of the Opportunity Scholars team. “Leadership knows my struggles. There is nothing taboo about it. Opportunity Scholars is an organization where students can express hardship freely and know they will not be judged.”
~Excerpt from Eccles Experience Magazine, Spring 2024
Javier Medina
Born and raised in Ecuador, Javier Medina and his wife came to Utah five years ago so Medina could pursue his dream of higher education. After earning an associate’s degree, Medina enrolled at the David Eccles School of Business to study accounting.
Joining the Opportunity Scholars program in his first semester, Medina said he was able to avoid the imposter syndrome that first-generation
students often experience.
“It’s something as an immigrant, you must deal with,” Medina said of feelings of inadequacy or not belonging. “The thing I like most about Opportunity Scholars is the development programs. They don’t just stop at financial support; they provide mentorship and leadership. Belonging means allowing everyone to show who they are and what they can contribute to the world.”
~Excerpt from Eccles Experience Magazine, Spring 2024