As an immigrant, I grew up believing the practical path was to attend a local state school and commute from home. That mindset came from financial reality and years of sacrifice, and I assumed it would be mine too.
Still, I applied to 30 universities simply because the opportunity existed. We didn’t have much guidance in high school about college or what came next, so I figured it out as I went. I hadn’t even heard of Wesleyan until a friend got in early. My grades weren’t perfect, and my test scores didn’t stand out, but I said yes and applied anyway. Somehow, I got in.
Once at Wesleyan, I kept saying yes. I learned about opportunities I never knew existed, including the Dartmouth Exchange Program, which allows students to study at an Ivy League school. Ivy League schools once felt completely out of reach to me. Now, I’m heading to Dartmouth for two terms, ready to make the most of the opportunity.
The lesson is simple: opportunities don’t always look obvious or guaranteed, but saying yes can take you further than you ever expect. There’s always a back door if you’re willing to walk through it.
