Page 45 - 2022 May Report

Resilience
University of Florida Machen Scholars report (2)
The two students talked about how hard their parents worked and how much they value and encouraged education for them their siblings. Their parents wanted college education for them, but they had no idea how they’ll be able to pay for it. They talked about how the experiences of their bumps in their first semester shaped their experience as college students. They talked about the challenges of being the first to experience college—navigating a terrain no one before you had the tools to navigate, explaining what you are doing to family members who have no idea what you are doing or talking about, the imposter syndrome, thoughts of being a failure, the challenges of transition as many others. Despite the challenges they experienced, they both talked about the success they now realize. Brittany has been admitted into Dental school at the University of Pennsylvania and Yasmine will continue with her Ph.D. at UF.
Finally, each student was encouraged to wear their MFOS pin proudly. President Bernie Machen and his wife, Chris, both pinned Brittany and Yasmine. They were invited to take pictures with the Presidents in a place set for that.
It was a worthwhile event to attend. President Machen acknowledged us as we arrived and introduced us as members of the “fine” Johnson Scholarship Foundation, one of the first foundations to invest with UF and the MFOS.
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