Photo by Chris Potter/Flickr
A former Wendy’s shift manager who immigrated to the United States after fleeing gun violence in Brazil is preparing to attend Yale University on a full scholarship after two franchise owners helped pay for his college education, The New York Post reports.
El-Sehrawey told TODAY.com that when DeSouza shared plans to leave Wendy’s to save money for college, he urged him to stay and promised to help make college possible. The franchise owners began setting aside money based on the hours DeSouza worked, eventually covering three years of tuition at Cape Cod Community College.
“At the time, I had no idea how much that opportunity would change my life,” DeSouza wrote in a Facebook post published July 28.
While attending Cape Cod Community College, DeSouza earned straight A’s, founded a campus religious club, and served as student body president for two years. He later transferred to Bunker Hill Community College before applying to Yale. According to the Yale Daily News, the university admits roughly 2% of transfer applicants.
El-Sehrawey told the outlet that he wanted to recognize DeSouza’s determination and work ethic despite the challenges he faced after immigrating to the United States.
Reflecting on his journey, DeSouza credited the franchise owners for believing in his potential.
“Sometimes all it takes is one person who believes in you,” he wrote. “I’m living proof of that.”
Source: Black Enterprise
