As a graduate of Umass Boston in African American and Africana History Studies, Ummil needed to find a way to pursue her degree. While searching for scholarships, she stumbled upon the Alray Scholars Program and applied just before the deadline. Through the program, she found opportunities that were vital to her success.
Having Robin as her mentor through the Alray program has been invaluable. Robin frequently checked in on Ummil. Her encouraging messages helped Ummil through tough homework moments and celebrated her successes. They also met up at cafes.
During her time with Alray, Ummil attended Alray career panels comprised of experts in various fields. She said, “I received invaluable advice from the career panel. Each person was as an expert in their field and knowledgeable about transitioning into their career field.” Through their guidance, she learned how to market her skills that propelled her forward in her job search. Ummil received assistance with resume writing and valuable advice that led to an internship at Barefoot Books, a children’s book publishing Company.
After completing the internship, mentor Robin continued to support her, assisting in job searches and providing reference letters. Her unwavering support has been instrumental in Ummil’s journey.
All of Ummil’s hard work and the support of her Alray mentor and the Career Advisory Board paid off: Ummil has landed a coveted support in the Boston Teacher Residency program. Ummil will spend the next year training to be a classroom teacher and working toward a master’s degree in education.
Ummil believes that financial assistance is crucial, but guidance in obtaining a bachelor’s degree is equally important. Thanks to Alray, she has has enjoyed meeting Alray community members at events and broadened her network.
