Winning Futures Class of 2017
Dipita’s family immigrated to the U.S. in 2000. As the only fluent English-speaking person at home, Dipita’s responsibilities included helping her siblings with homework, translating for her parents, and making sure bills got paid. She struggled to balance the pressures at home with high school academics and making plans to go to college. Her Winning Futures mentor, Sharon vanSpronsen, marketing coordinator at Phillips Service Industries, took immediate action helping Dipita with her college applications, coaching her to stay focused, and even making her an occasional home-cooked meal. Today, Dipita is a proud first-generation immigrant undergraduate student at the University of Michigan where she plans to study immigration law. This summer she’s participating in a study abroad program in Spain and Cuba.
“Being a first-generation college student and leaving my family for school was scary,” said Dipita. “But Winning Futures was there for me and has supported me every step of the way. I am confident I can succeed and achieve my goals.”