As Jaden Angella prepares to graduate from Cornell University, her journey reflects both the challenges and triumphs of navigating higher education as an international, first-generation college student.
Growing up in Kenya, Jaden’s path to Cornell was far from traditional. She initially considered studying in Canada, but then took a gap year to better understand the typical United States college application process.
“I just started looking up ‘how to apply abroad’ and ‘how to apply in the United States,’” she said. “I saw there was a need to do the S.A.T., and I didn’t know what that was.”
Without family in the United States to guide her, Jaden independently navigated standardized testing, applications, and the complexities of securing a visa. Each step required persistence and self-direction, laying the foundation for her college journey.
“My mom tried to help by connecting me with people from her high school who lived in the United States and could help me move here,” she said.
Arriving on campus at Cornell brought a wave of new challenges. With a delayed visa process, Jaden missed out on orientation, making the transition more abrupt and the cultural differences between Kenya and the U.S. immediately noticeable. Coming from a more communal culture, she found that making friends in the U.S. was difficult.
“Friendships and social norms are very different between the two countries,” she said. “The emotional distance in making friendships was a bit of an uphill climb.”
Fortunately, she was able to lean into her new Kessler Scholars community. What began as an opportunity for financial support quickly became a central part of her college experience.
“From the Coin Ceremony to the most recent community kickoff event, the Kessler staff have been intentional about curating activities that reminded me and my peers about our potential and the particular ways we can enrich our college experiences with our strengths.”
One of the most impactful aspects of the program was the opportunity to travel and connect with fellow Scholars. In particular, her spring break trip to Ghana allowed her to explore a new culture and form deeper relationships within her cohort.
“We went to different historical sites that I’d never been to,” she said. “This was in Africa. I’m from Africa! But, I’d never been to other parts before.”
Through her time at Cornell, Jaden has developed a stronger sense of identity as both a student and an individual. The Kessler Scholars Program encouraged her to try new things, even when failure felt like a possibility.
“Being a Kessler meant having a community to share my fears with and having them encourage me to do it anyway,” she said.
One of the biggest highlights of the Kessler Scholars Program for Jaden was through her participation on the Kessler Scholars Collaborative Student Leadership Board. She traveled with her fellow Scholars from other campuses to attend the First Gen Summit—a conference where first-generation students and their allies come together to identify problems and discuss grassroots solutions.
She learned to take pride in celebrating these experiences and accomplishments, as a Kessler Scholar and as a first-generation college student navigating a new environment far from home.
“My freshman year, we had to fill out this paper with things we wanted to achieve in college,” she said. “And a lot of those things I’ve been really grateful and lucky to have achieved.”
As graduation approaches, Jaden is preparing for her next chapter. While she once planned to go directly to graduate school to pursue math research, she has decided to first gain professional experience. She will be joining Google in a role centered around software engineering, with plans to revisit graduate school in the future.
Reflecting on her journey, Jaden encourages others to seek support and remain persistent. Challenges are inevitable, but they don’t have to be barriers.
“Don’t let the walls stop you from where you want to go,” she said. “Someone will help you overcome the wall, so reach out to them.”