Reflecting on her experiences as a first-generation college student, Xiao Lin Zheng, a 2025 graduate of Syracuse University, points to the support and community she found as part of the Kessler Scholars Program as helping her realize the importance of asking questions and pursuing new opportunities.

“I learned that I’m not alone in this journey,” said Xiao Lin, who plans to pursue a graduate degree in data science after studying computer science at Syracuse. “The Kessler Scholars Program taught me not to be afraid to ask questions, because that does not mean that you are not smart or that it makes you less of something. It just means that you’re learning. That’s why you have questions. And that is the biggest lesson that I learned through this program.”

“The Kessler Scholars Program taught me not to be afraid to ask questions, because that does not mean that you are not smart or that it makes you less of something. It just means that you’re learning. That’s why you have questions. And that is the biggest lesson that I learned through this program.”

– Xiao Lin Zheng

Thanks to the Kessler Scholars Program, Xiao Lin, originally from Brooklyn, New York, formed meaningful connections with university staff and discovered a sense of belonging as part of a close-knit community of first-generation college students when she arrived at Syracuse. The program’s structure empowered Xiao Lin to gain new skills and experiences through participation in research, study abroad, and a professional internship. 

In 2023, Xiao Lin participated in the Summer Research Opportunity Program at the University of Michigan as part of a partnership between the Kessler Scholars Collaborative and the U-M Rackham Graduate School. This experience sparked her interest in data science and clarified her academic path, and, in turn, she has encouraged other Kessler Scholars to pursue this unique immersive research experience. 

Xiao Lin Zheng and fellow participants from the Summer Research Opportunity Program at the University of Michigan.

Xiao Lin also had the opportunity to study abroad and complete an internship while in London, thanks to both financial and emotional support from the Kessler Scholars Program. She even had the opportunity to connect with a fellow Kessler Scholar from Syracuse, Danny Vu, who was studying abroad in Dublin, Ireland, at the same time. The two scholars enjoyed meeting up to explore each other’s study abroad sites and surrounding areas together.

“I never thought that during my college career I would get to study abroad, go to a brand new country, and spend an entire semester there, where I could get to experience a different culture, be exposed to different people, and see so many interesting places,” Xiao Lin said, “It would not be possible for me to have these unique experiences without the Kessler Scholars Program’s support.”