Scholarship sends first-generation student to Heredia
Being able to travel and explore exciting places overseas was out of reach for Shyisha Hodges’s family. There were many, many years of hardship weighing them down. But, the circumstances didn’t cripple her dreams. Shyisah kept making plans to build a better life for herself — and her loved ones. She knew she would have to put in a lot of extra effort to make it happen, especially if she was going to be the first person in her family to get her degree.
It wasn’t just about making it to college, though. The sociology major from the University of Iowa always dreamed of studying abroad — somewhere that she could improve her Spanish-speaking skills for her minor. Getting the financial support to do so was a significant roadblock.
That’s where scholarships come in.
“Apply! Seriously, it would not have been the slightest bit possible for me to study abroad without the opportunity for financial help,” Shyisah said. “Likewise, I now am a big advocate for not being discouraged by big opportunities that seem out of reach.”
In spring 2023, she received an Ann Morse Scholarship through her home university. She used it to study abroad in Costa Rica through the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) Heredia program.
Her time in Latin America was a life-changing experience. Read the full story on the University of Iowa’s website.
