In this month’s Scholars Spotlight, we caught up with Class 8’s Carl. With dreams of becoming a real estate developer, Carl is currently majoring in civil engineering with a minor in finance at Duke University.
Scholars: How has being an Elevation Scholar impacted your life so far?
Carl: Being an Elevation Scholar has impacted my life the most by proving that “I can do hard things,” as the staff always say. Thanks to the program and the amount of resources they provide, I’ve had the privilege of enrolling at a remarkable institution, one that my younger self never even dared dream of attending.
Scholars: What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned about yourself through your Elevation Scholars journey?
Carl: The biggest lesson I’ve learned about myself is that I can’t let difficulty scare me. Anything worthwhile will be difficult; getting to college is hard, making it through college is even harder. Despite that fact, I’ve learned that I can persevere regardless of how hard things become.
Scholars: What impact do you hope to make on your family and/or community through your involvement with Elevation Scholars?
Carl: I hope to give back to the community that helped me so much by ensuring future generations of underrepresented students have the same opportunities that I was able to take advantage of in my youth.
Scholars: What or who keeps you motivated during life’s most difficult times?
Carl: My family, including my Elevation family, keeps me motivated. Whether it’s the stress of the midterm season, finals week, career uncertainties, or anything of that nature, I can count on my family to be there to give me the motivation and drive I need and remind me that I can succeed.
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