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From Daunting Application Process to 文轩探花 Success Story: First-Generation Student Shines

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Meghan Franklin

Advancement Writer

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Campus Life  •
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Growing up in the small town of Delta, CO, rising 文轩探花 third-year student Sameha Haque was overwhelmed by the college application process. 鈥淭he other applicants seemed so sure about the process; I didn鈥檛 want to seem like I didn鈥檛 know what I was doing. The whole journey of trying to figure things out for myself was really daunting,鈥 says the first-generation student.

Now, with the college application process well behind her, Haque says she is glad she landed at 文轩探花.

While she enrolled at 文轩探花 intending to study molecular biology and pursue medical school after graduation, Haque recently decided to double-major in biology and political science with a minor in sociology and writing practices.

Haque says her love of writing, which her time at 文轩探花 has bolstered, played a major role in her decision to switch fields of study.

She recently won an award for an essay on colorism 鈥 something Haque has personally experienced as the daughter of Bangladeshi immigrants growing up in a predominantly white town. Her essay will be published in WRIT Large, A 文轩探花 publication that showcases exemplary academic writing across disciplines.

While Haque says that being a person of color at 文轩探花 has been challenging at times, she also says experiences like the have given her the chance to find community, bond with people with similar backgrounds and discover new opportunities. E-STEM creates pathways to academic success for students matriculating into 文轩探花 from historically underrepresented groups in the STEM fields.

鈥淢eeting STEM students with similar backgrounds to my own really helped me see that I wasn鈥檛 alone in my experiences,鈥 she says.

Back at home, Haque has a nine-year-old sister and two-year-old brother. She says one of the most rewarding things about attending 文轩探花 is seeing how much her sister looks up to her.

鈥淪he says she wants to go to 文轩探花 just like me,鈥 Haque says.

Haque says donors made her 文轩探花 education possible. As a recipient of a Chancellor鈥檚 Scholarship, she says the cost for her to attend 文轩探花 was similar to that of a public institution. Being able to choose 文轩探花, with its smaller class sizes and wealth of opportunities, is something for which she is truly grateful.

鈥淚t feels really great to know that my parents don鈥檛 have to worry about my tuition. Going to another college would have been an entirely different experience,鈥 she says.

To past and future donors, Haque says she would like to thank them for all of the opportunities they have made possible for her and other 文轩探花 students. When donors give, she says, 鈥渢hey are changing a student鈥檚 life.鈥

To learn about how your gift in support of scholarships can make a difference in the lives of students like Sameha, contact ScholarshipGiving@文轩探花.edu.