Souleymane is a freshman at ASU studying business and is one of 69 students in the AFFCF scholarship program this semester. In his own words, he shares what drives him to earn a college degree and the impact it can have on his younger siblings:
Since I was young, we lived in a bad neighborhood and did not have much. There was a lot of negative influence all around me. I saw lots of friends fall into the wrong lifestyle and make poor decisions. Knowing that I didn’t want to be part of that lifestyle and wanting more for my life, I put everything to the side and focused on what really mattered.
A Role Model
I want to pursue my goals not only for myself, but for my family. I am the oldest sibling and have two younger sisters. I want to be their role model and show them that they can be whatever they want with some hard work. I always knew that I wanted to go college, but never knew how I was going to pay for it.
It is a blessing to be the first in my family to attend a university and my family is very proud. I believe college will help me achieve my goals by giving the resources I need to succeed. A bachelor’s degree in my field will give me a good job to help support myself and family. We never had much…I want to be the one to change that.
“I believe college will help me achieve my goals…a bachelor’s degree in my field will give me a good job to help support myself and my family.
Souleymane
A Different Point of View
I am from the Ivory Coast where the primary language is French. My family brought me to America at the age of three. Being born outside the United States has taught me core values that contribute to the person I am today. Most people that I know do not have the same opportunities I have, which teaches me to always be grateful and work hard toward my future goals. I would describe myself as humble, hard-working, ambitious. When I find something that I am passionate about, I always try to improve and get better at it.
Winning Skills for the Future
The achievements that I am most proud of are my athletic awards. These awards include 2nd Team All-District, Honorable Mention, All-Region and Most Valuable Player. It means so much to me because of the commitment I put into the game.
I started playing basketball at a young age and built a love for it. This game has taught me important core values that I take with me in the future. This sport has also kept me sane and focused with everything going on in my life. With all the negative distraction in my area, basketball has been an outlet for me to stay on track. It is very rewarding when I see all my hard work translating into something special.
Make a Winning Investment
When you make a foster care tax credit donation to the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, you are telling young adults like Souleymane that they can overcome a difficult beginning to accomplish great things. Your donation is also eligible for a dollar-for-dollar credit on your 2020 Arizona state taxes if you donate by April 15, 2020.