P4S Scholar Spotlight: Aramatoulaye D.

Aramatoulaye is a freshman at Fordham University in the Bronx, NY. Her family is from Mali. Once she graduates, her dream job would be to work at the Embassy of The Republic of Mali in NYC. 

Aramatoulaye’s pursuit of a college degree is deeply motivated by a desire to make her father proud. He has encouraged her to stay in school, do her best, and be a role model for her younger brother. Now, she says her brother tells her that when “I graduate from high school, I’m going to go to Fordham University also.” 

Aramatoulaye says that being in the P4S Scholars program has also motivated her. She laughed a little when telling how her mom would ask “why are you walking so much?” I explain that it is for PIPs and it is good for my health. “I didn’t really walk a lot, but now I do. I look at my app to see how many steps I take every day. If I see I have like 4,000 today, I just say, ‘Oh I have to get 8,000.’ The PIPs app encourages me to walk a lot.”

Aramatoulaye likes being recognized for the good she does. She tracks her volunteer activity using the app. She doesn’t have money but she has learned she can help others by giving her time, including to feed the hungry. She has learned she likes doing this.

Aramatoulaye is part of the P4S Scholar program offered through Goddard Riverside’s Options Center. The Options Center supports low-income and first-generation students in NYC with getting into, paying for, and graduating from college or skill-specific certificate programs.

We are delighted that Aramatoulaye is part of the 23-24 P4S Scholars Class at Options Center, and wish her much luck in the future.