Last month, we had the honor of celebrating our students, honorees, and community at our eleventh annual Dream Big Dinner. One of the most powerful moments of the evening came from our student speaker and UW-Milwaukee Class of 2025 graduate, Nadia, who shared her personal journey to earning a college degree.
A Letter from Nadia
Dear College Possible Wisconsin Community,
My name is Nadia, and standing on stage as the student speaker at this year’s Dream Big Dinner in May feels incredibly full circle.
Just last year, I attended this very event as a guest, grateful to be in the room and even more thankful for the shout-out from Executive Director Marco I received. To return as the speaker was surreal, humbling, and a reminder that when you stay open and keep doing the work, you’ll always find your way.
Today, I’m just a few weeks away from earning my bachelor’s degree in marketing. By the end of this year, I’ll also have my master’s in management.
Along the way, I’ve had opportunities that once felt unimaginable: studying abroad in Paris, completing externships with Beats by Dre and Snap Inc., and interning this spring with the Recording Academy (a.k.a the GRAMMYs!). I even attended the award show in person. Next month, I’m heading to Santa Monica for a digital marketing internship with Universal Music Group—the world’s top music company.
But none of this would’ve happened without the foundation that came first.
I attended Milwaukee High School of the Arts, where I majored in theatre. Creativity was always my outlet. During my freshman year, I landed a role in a short film that earned me a spot on IMDb. At the time, I thought acting would be my forever path.
That same year, my older sister, who was part of College Possible, encouraged me to join. I thought I was signing up for college prep, but it became so much more. College Possible gave me structure, a safe place to decompress, and a community that made me feel seen and supported.
Graduation came, but not the way I imagined. As a member of the Class of 2020, I missed out on prom, walking the stage, and the kind of closure every high school student deserves.
I started college fully online, attending virtual classes from my bedroom. For two years, I felt disconnected: from my campus, from myself, from the experience I had hoped for. I wasn’t involved. I wasn’t using resources. And deep down, I knew I was missing out.
All of this was layered on top of a reality I had carried for years: I’m a first-generation college student. I didn’t have a roadmap or family connections to rely on. But I had drive and people who continued to show up for me.
One night, I made the decision to go to a campus event alone for the first time. I got lost, parked in the wrong place, and got a ticket. But that night changed everything.
From that moment forward, things started to shift. I took my first in-person class. I studied abroad. I joined student orgs. I started building a network– and I started telling my story.
Last October, I joined a mentorship program I found on LinkedIn. That experience opened my eyes to new possibilities. I realized I was more passionate about the creative direction happening behind the camera than being in front of it. That realization lit a fire in me. I restructured my resume, leaned into entertainment and creative marketing roles, and began stepping into my purpose.
It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve learned this: the path isn’t always linear. If you stay consistent, use your resources, and keep showing up, things will start to fall into place.
Most importantly, I’ve learned that you are not your circumstances. I am not mine. I didn’t grow up with access. I didn’t grow up with privilege. But I used what I did have– and I built what I didn’t.
If you don’t have the network you want? Build it.
If you don’t know where to start? Ask.
If you feel alone, know that you don’t have to do it alone. I didn’t.
College Possible, my mentors, my advisors, and my peers– they were all part of helping me get here.
I want my younger family members, especially my little sister, to grow up knowing she doesn’t need to look far to see someone like her doing incredible things. She can look at me and know what’s possible. And for those who don’t know me, I hope they hear my story and realize: success has room for them, too.
To College Possible: thank you. For seeing something in me early on and staying with me all the way through. And to everyone who joined us at the Dream Big Dinner: thank you for being part of the reason students like me get to dream beyond survival and step into purpose.
With gratitude,
Nadia
College Possible Student
UW-Milwaukee Class of 2025
