Discovering what is possible
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For much of her childhood, Ayisha Abdel-Kareem didn't see college as a realistic option. Growing up in Brookings, South Dakota, she feared the cost of attending college would put higher education out of reach.
"I thought college was very unattainable," she says. "It felt like it wasn't even an option. I didn't think I could afford it."
During her final two years of high school, however, Abdel-Kareem began reconsidering what her future could look like with a college degree. In addition, she wanted to leave South Dakota, try new things and pursue a different path.
"I'm a pretty impulsive person, so I was just like, I'm going to do it," she says. "I'll make it work. And I feel like I have zero regrets with that."
Born in Egypt and raised in South Dakota from age 4, Abdel-Kareem chose the University of Minnesota Twin Cities for its urban setting and the opportunities she hoped to find in an environment much different from where she grew up. College introduced her to other Egyptians, students of color and people with experiences different from her own. She discovered new hobbies, developed an interest in politics and social issues, and grew more confident in herself.
"Coming to college, I got to meet so many different people. There was such a diverse community," she says. "I feel like I've really found out who I am as a person."
Her experience also changed how she understood being first-generation. She began to see her opportunities at the University as a chance to pursue opportunities others in her family didn't have, such as her mother.
"Being first-gen is doing what no one else in my family could have done yet," she says, "and just showing that it's possible."
Now a senior studying graphic design, Abdel-Kareem is helping other students navigate the college experience through an internship with the University's First-Generation Student Success Center.
Her advice to students considering college simple: "Believe you can do more and be more," she says.
Explore more stories in the series
First-generation students find community and support at the University of Minnesota
Explore more stories in the series
First-generation students find community and support at the University of Minnesota
