Abdul Sharif began his 9th grade year at Washburn High School, going to college didn’t seem like an option. No one in his family had attended a post-secondary institution, and his financial situation made furthering his education feel impossible. Nevertheless, today Abdul is in his sophomore year at Augsburg College majoring in Political Science, with minors in History and Peace/Global Studies.
According to Abdul, attending workshops and college visits with TRIO ETS helped him realize that college was something that he could do. “ETS was really my support system in high school. Youa, Jevita and Ian (ETS advisors) made me feel welcome and answered all my questions regarding college and scholarships,” he says.
During his senior year of high school, Abdul applied for the Augsburg Promise Grant and the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program at Augsburg. Later that spring, Abdul learned that he was awarded the grant and was accepted into the SSS program. As a part of SSS, Abdul completed the Summer Bridge Program which he says helped him prepare for college and make lifelong friends.
In addition to SSS, Abdul is a sophomore senator for Augsburg University Student Government, the vice president of Augsburg Law and Politics in Society student organization, an active member of the Pan-African Student Union, and an RA for the Department of Residence.
Looking forward, Abdul plans to go to law school and pursue a Juris Doctor degree in International Human Rights Law with a focus on Refugee and Immigration Law.
Abdul’s advice for high school students is to know that college is possible. “There are many programs and scholarships available to help you succeed in college. I would encourage you all to take advantage of the resources offered by TRIO ETS,” he says.
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