The center has been much more than a campus job and an academic resource; it’s also been my go-to place for emotional support.
Amida Koroma
Class of ’22, psychology
For as long as I can remember, almost every conversation I had with my father revolved around education. My parents emigrated from Sierra Leone and worked physically demanding jobs. They wanted something better for my siblings and me—they believed education was the way to make that possible and pushed us to take advantage of every opportunity.
The Center for Minorities in Science and Engineering (CMSE) has been much more than a campus job and an academic resource; it’s also been my go-to place for emotional support. Towards the end of my freshman year, my father started to get sick and was later diagnosed with cancer. As a commuter student, I had always struggled to balance school, a social life, and family obligations. There were times when I considered giving up, but the kind staff of CMSE were so invested in my success, they fueled my drive to keep going.
My father passed away in the fall of 2019 and, as always, the CMSE staff went the extra mile, helping me reach out to instructors and find campus resources. But most of all, they just listened to make sure I was okay, personally and academically.
Engineering is a tough field. While I remember that horrible exam or how I suffered through this or that, mostly I remember the kindness and caring I always get from the center.
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