As a sophomore in high school, Angello, a first-generation American, had to have brain surgery. He had an aneurysm that needed to be removed. His mother and step-father didn’t speak English, so when his diagnosis and options were announced, they were announced to him – a sixteen-year-old boy, who already had too many responsibilities.

Fast-forward three years, when Angello met Cyndi Freeman at a workshop. A freshman at Ohio State University, Angello went through what many students experience: disengagement, and wondering, “Why am I here?” When he was re-introduced to Freeman the following year, at a workshop that she herself was running, she decided to step in.

As a mentor in the sciences at Ohio State, Freeman recognized the potential in Angello. She challenged him to enhance his own experiences outside of the classroom, and to take some responsibility. With Freeman’s influence, Angello applied for and was accepted into the Summer Research Opportunities Program at the University of Iowa. Uncertain and afraid to leave his comfort zone, Angello was reluctant to attend. But Freeman insisted, and Angello decided to attend the summer program – and continued to live outside of his comfort zone from then on.