NICHOLAS BARROS Hometown: Brockton, MA, and Cape Verde College: Engineering Major: Computer Engineering What aspirations do you have for your Lehigh career and beyond? How has Lehigh impacted and/or reinforced those aspirations? It’s not clear yet what path I’m going to take when I finish my degree. One of my biggest aspirations is to be able to go back to my country and contribute with the education that I received here in Lehigh. By majoring in computer engineering, I have some ideas of developing software services that provide basic and convenient services that already exist in developed countries such as food delivery, online markets, and car rides. Alternatively, I would love to work in an automobile company or in the robotics field here in the United States. I also plan to take advantage of opportunities such as study abroad, research, and internships while I’m here at Lehigh. A message from Nicholas: Studying in the United States was a career goal that I set for myself. Coming from the third-world country of Cape Verde, my biggest barrier was being able to pay for it. After graduating, I spent two years applying to multiple American universities with the hopes of getting a decent financial aid package. After lots of disappointing offers and negotiations, Lehigh University was my best option financially and academically, even though it was still a stretch for my family. For this year, my Pell Grant got reduced, so my parents told me they would no longer be able to afford my tuition for the upcoming years. I started to consider other options, but with hopes of reducing my costs and staying in Lehigh, I applied for the Gryphon position. Getting the job and receiving your scholarship and other grants has greatly reduced my costs for this year. I no longer have to worry about the cost of my education, and it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It is happily and deeply that I express my gratitude for your generosity. Thank you. Honors and Involvement: Dean’s List, Gryphon One thing on my Lehigh bucket list: Drive the Lehigh Formula SAE car in Michigan.
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