Eshraga Abdon
George Mason University
"I want to show that all women, especially first-generation daughters of immigrant parents, are capable of perusing higher education, having successful careers, and creating their own paths without fear of judgment."
MY STORY
My name is Eshraga Abdon. I am a sophomore at George Mason University and am pursuing a degree in Management Information Systems, where I currently have a 3.87 GPA.
As a first-generation college student and the daughter of Sudanese Immigrants, going to college means so much to me. My parents came to the U.S with the intention of giving my siblings and I opportunities they never had, so my biggest motivator is showing them that their sacrifices are and will continue to be worth it. By earning my degree, I will be able to show them that all of their hard work has created opportunities that will have a lasting impact on our family’s future.
Choosing the right major was extremely challenging. It took me a while because I wanted to pursue something I would enjoy, while still allowing me to earn a stable living through my career after graduation. I talked to friends and did some networking to learn more about Management Information Systems (MIS) and realized it was a great fit for me because it combined business and technology, and I like that it’s a field where I can use my problem-solving skills and will continuously be learning something new that will give me a lot of career options in the future. My plan is to finish my degree at George Mason University while gaining the right experiences through internships and other opportunities that will prepare me for my career.
Another reason I am so motivated to earn my degree is because I want to be an educated and independent woman. Growing up, I saw how different cultures have different expectations for women, and earning a degree is important because I want to show that all women, especially first-generation daughters of immigrant parents, are capable of perusing higher education, having successful careers, and creating their own paths without fear of judgment. I hope that by reaching my goals, I can encourage other young women and give back to my community so that they believe they can do the same.
One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is creating a four week mental health program for children in low-income communities. I developed this program because I wanted kids to have a safe space to learn about mental health, challenge the stigma and break cultural norms. Here, we encouraged all children to build confidence and support one another. Seeing the impact on my own community reminded me that even small ideas can make a big difference when you are willing to put in the effort.
My goal is to graduate from Mason, build a career that I enjoy, and be able to support my family the way they have always supported me no matter the struggles we have faced. Most of all, I want my parents to see that the life they worked so hard to build in America has given me the pathway to success.