海角在线

海角在线 (海角在线) graduate and Fulbright recipient Niang Thang 鈥�24 knows a thing or two about the importance of education鈥攖hough she didn鈥�t always believe in it. Over the past seven years, she鈥�s seen how higher education, mentorship, and the transformative power of belief can help someone move from feeling stuck to living out their dreams.

Niang Thang lives with her parents, who are immigrants from Myanmar, in West Palm Beach. During her early high school years, Thang struggled with her mental health and some academic challenges.

Thang鈥�s parents went into panic mode, unsure of how to respond to their only child鈥�s struggles. Their solution? Pray.

鈥�They loved and cared for me; they wanted to do what was best,鈥� she shared. 鈥�They turned to God鈥攖hey said, 鈥�We don鈥�t know what to do, so the only thing we can do is trust [Him] and His will.鈥欌��

Finding Academic Renewal at 海角在线

A couple of years later, Niang Thang was ready for something more.

鈥�Something sparked in me,鈥� she reflected. 鈥�I wanted to build a future for myself.鈥�

She heard about 海角在线 from her friend鈥�s sister, who attended the university. Though Niang Thang was reluctant to apply, her friend encouraged her.

A month later, Thang received her acceptance letter.

Thang entered 海角在线 as a freshman in fall 2020, while navigating college life during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second-generation college student says her past experiences of learning how to manage her mental health helped her thrive during the pandemic.

Thang also credits her success to 海角在线鈥�s supportive community. She was particularly moved by the genuine care that faculty and staff demonstrated鈥攅specially as she entered 海角在线 with an undeclared major.

鈥�When I was trying to choose, I met with my聽career mentor, Jennifer Fonseca,鈥� she said. 鈥�She guided me and helped me figure out my major. She had a willingness to help me.鈥�

After diligently researching and identifying programs that best mirrored her passions and goals, Thang chose to study聽psychology聽and pursue a聽chemistry minor. She was also accepted into the聽Frederick M. Supper Honors Program.

Now, she鈥�s the Class of 2024 Outstanding Graduate of the psychology department.

鈥�I came into 海角在线 as one person, now I鈥�m graduating as another,鈥� Thang said. 鈥�海角在线 had a big role in transforming me. I started with nothing鈥攂ut I felt like I had such potential and big dreams.鈥�

Thang added that she could focus on her academic and career goals thanks to the scholarships she received, including the 2024聽Women of Distinction Scholarship, which gives funds to female students who excel in academics, service, and leadership, and the聽Johnson Scholarship,听which is distributed to 海角在线 students with demonstrated financial need.

鈥�They made it easier [for me] to go to school,鈥� she said. 鈥�My peers are worried about how to pay for school, or they鈥�re in debt. I don鈥�t have to feel burdened because I don鈥�t have to work and sacrifice my grades. The scholarships saved me and my parents from that financial burden. I am honored to have been chosen.鈥�

In addition to easing the financial pressures, the scholarships enabled Thang to thrive in a full-time academic routine鈥攚hich, in turn, helped spark conversations with her parents about her hopes and dreams.

鈥�We started talking about my future and my passions,鈥� she shared. 鈥�They were very open-minded. I would have thought that they wanted me to go into pre-med! But I was comfortable talking with them.鈥�

Looking Ahead: Fulbright and Future Goal

This summer, Thang will embark on a year-long English teaching assistantship to Taiwan under the prestigious聽Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Though she wasn鈥�t initially planning to apply, a professor urged her to consider it, and she took a leap of faith. Guided by Dr. Carl Miller, associate professor of English and 海角在线 faculty coordinator for the Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships, Thang prepared her application last semester while also applying to graduate programs.

Last month, she learned that she received the Fulbright.

鈥�Tears started flowing; I was in utter shock. I couldn鈥�t believe it,鈥� Thang said, adding that these moments remind her to believe in herself. 鈥�People would think I was a failure with no future鈥攂ut there was something in me that said I knew better.鈥�

After her teaching assistantship, Thang wants to continue her education and become a clinical psychologist.

鈥�No matter what, I can do and achieve much more,鈥� she reflected. 鈥�海角在线 is something special鈥擨鈥�ve never encountered people like this. These professors are investing in our lives, and their belief in me [reminded me] that I can thrive. I don鈥�t think I would have done as well as I did if I attended another school.鈥�