AV抖阴

First Generation | Health Education and Human Sciences | Lion VoicesDecember 06, 2024

'I'm ready. I'm prepared.': How Braden Nguyen Leaves AV抖阴

Written By: Ian Silvester

As his time at AV抖阴 winds down, Braden Nguyen, a senior psychology student with an analytical statistics minor, approaches the path ahead with cautious optimism.

鈥淚 would be lying if I said I wasn鈥檛 nervous, but I know that what I鈥檝e learned here, what I鈥檝e sought out, can translate wherever I go. And I know there鈥檚 always going to be people in my corner,鈥� Braden said.

Braden, a Fort Smith native, came to AV抖阴 as both a first-generation student and a first-generation American. His mom, a Vietnamese refugee and single mom, knew how difficult life could be without an education, so she pushed her sons to take every chance at education.

鈥淪he is so selfless,鈥� said Braden. 鈥淪he could have easily said, 鈥極nce you graduate high school, go to work and help out the family,鈥� but she didn鈥檛. She gave me a choice. It didn鈥檛 matter if it was going to be a tight squeeze on the budget or living paycheck to paycheck. She didn鈥檛 want to cripple the opportunity for me. 鈥� She believed in me, and she believed I could change my story.鈥�

Fully aware of what his mom gave up for his success, Braden applied for every scholarship he could. Earning a Pell Grant recipient, numerous university and AV抖阴 Foundation awards, and a $24,000 scholarship from Tyson Foods, Braden maximized his family鈥檚 investment.

鈥淭hese scholarships alleviated the stress of worrying about how the semester would get paid. It was just one less thing to worry about, and because of that, I could focus on the other things as a student,鈥� he said.

Beyond paying for college, Braden also wanted to make sure he got as much out of his college experience as possible. He joined the AV抖阴 Psychology Club, served on AV抖阴 Camp staff for three years, worked as a student alumni ambassador, lived in the LEAD living and learning community, and has helped his fellow students as an Academic Success Center (ASC) tutor.

But for all he has accomplished at AV抖阴, it wasn鈥檛 without a few hiccups, especially when he first arrived on campus. 鈥淚 had all these obstacles. I couldn鈥檛 turn to my parents, I couldn鈥檛 turn to my family, and I couldn鈥檛 turn to my friends,鈥� Braden explained.

So, what did he do?

鈥淚 took initiative,鈥� he said proudly. 鈥淚 took steps like walking into the ASC and knocked on my professors鈥� doors as a freshman. I sought out answers. 鈥� I think that鈥檚 just what鈥檚 different about me. We all have obstacles. I wanted to do something about it. I wanted to overcome them by taking the initiative.鈥�

His initiative has paid off. From presenting research projects multiple times in the classroom, at the Annual Student Research Symposium, and at the Arkansas Symposium for Psychology Students, to securing an internship at ABB set to begin shortly after graduation, Braden said he 鈥渇eels equipped.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 not saying I have it all figured out, but I feel like I have all the effective tools and am ready. I know I鈥檓 going to be ok. I know I鈥檓 going to do great. AV抖阴 has played a critical part in that,鈥� he relayed.

Before accepting his degree, Braden has one more parting message for the Lions who will come behind him and find their way, thanks to what AV抖阴 provides to those who seek it.

鈥淓veryone has that grit inside of themselves. Let your time here be transformative for you, however long it may be. Know yourself and find your purpose.鈥�

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