Our Work

Every Student Has a Story: Looking Back at the Voices That Inspired Our Galas

Every year at the Annual Building Minds Scholarship Fund Gala, a student shares their story.

But in 2020, when the world shut down, the stage looked different.

There was no ballroom.
No crowded tables.
No applause filling the room.

There was a camera. A green screen. And a young woman stepping forward anyway.

This year’s theme — “Every Student Has a Story” — reminds us that every story deserves to be heard. Aisha’s story is one of resilience, courage, and the power of a single opportunity to change everything.

Aisha’s story is one of resilience, quiet determination, and the lasting power of someone choosing to extend a helping hand.

Aisha grew up in Boston, attending Dr. Catherine Ellison/Rosa Parks Early Education School and later Mother Caroline Academy before receiving a CSF scholarship to attend Saint Joseph Preparatory High School. She understood what that opportunity meant. While public school was an option, she knew the schools in her immediate area would not provide the same academic rigor, mentorship, and exposure that Saint Joseph could offer.

“Being from the city, it was either Saint Joseph or public school,” she reflects. “And I knew the schools near me wouldn’t offer the same opportunities or experiences.”

The scholarship changed her environment. At Saint Joseph Prep, Aisha joined National Honor Society, enrolled in AP courses, and earned college credit through AP Spanish. She was immersed in a service-oriented Catholic school culture that emphasized leadership, community, and responsibility to others. Even though she does not describe herself as deeply religious, the values embedded in that education, community, selflessness, and standing up for others, shaped how she began to see the world and her place in it.

Those values would become especially meaningful in 2020.

During one of the most uncertain periods in recent history, Aisha was invited to serve as a CSF 2020 Gala speaker. Because of COVID, the Gala was not held in person. Instead of stepping onto a stage in a crowded ballroom, she walked into a recording studio with cameras, lighting, and a green screen. She spoke into a lens rather than to a room filled with faces.

“When I was asked, I was surprised,” she says. “I didn’t think my story was anything out of the ordinary.”

Yet CSF believed her story needed to be heard. Seeing the professional setup, the preparation, and the care taken to record her message left a lasting impression.

“Seeing that much time and commitment put into hearing my story made me realize—they care. My voice matters. My story matters.”

In a year marked by isolation and uncertainty, Aisha found affirmation. Although she could not hear applause in real time, the feedback and messages that followed were powerful.

The encouragement gave her something she had not fully recognized she needed: confidence.

“It gave me a boost going into college. It reminded me that I can do this.”

That belief carried her forward.

Aisha went on to graduate from Loyola University Maryland in 2024 with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Forensics. Her academic focus deepened her interest in systems, inequality, and social structures, while her Catholic education’s emphasis on service reinforced her desire to advocate for others. Throughout college, she pursued internships centered on immigration and social justice. She worked as an ESOL instructor, volunteered with organizations serving immigrant families, and participated in a service immersion trip to the southern border to better understand the realities facing asylum seekers.

Today, she works as a paralegal at an immigration law firm in downtown Boston, assisting with asylum cases, citizenship petitions, and humanitarian applications. The work is complex and often emotional. Many of the individuals she helps are navigating unfamiliar legal systems while carrying uncertainty about their futures.

It is here that Aisha’s words about “a helping hand” take on a deeper meaning.

“When you give someone that helping hand, they usually pay it forward,” she says.

There was a time when she was the one hoping someone would say yes to her potential. Growing up in Dorchester, she understood that not every student has the same financial stability or access to opportunity. The CSF scholarship was not simply financial assistance. It was affirmation. It communicated that she was worthy of investment and capable of more.

That message stayed with her.

Now, when families sit across from her desk seeking guidance, she recognizes what it feels like to need someone on your side. She helps prepare documents, explains complicated procedures, and supports individuals through life-changing processes. She sees, firsthand, how one opportunity can alter the course of a family’s future.

“I’m paying it forward every day,” she says.

The scholarship that once helped her step into a new educational environment set off a ripple effect. The education strengthened her discipline and broadened her perspective. The confidence gained from being seen and heard at the Gala reinforced her sense of purpose. That purpose led her to advocacy work that now impacts others.

What began as tuition assistance has become a career dedicated to service.

When asked what she would say to donors, Aisha does not hesitate.

“Thank you. Truly.”

She explains that for many students, especially those from inner-city, low-income, or first-generation backgrounds, a single helping hand can make all the difference in getting them through the door. “Sometimes,” she notes, “all we need is one helping hand to get in. Once inside, we start running.”

Once that door opens, students often seize the opportunity and run with it.

“It’s bigger than just paying tuition,” she says. “It’s the chance to step through the door.”

And once through that door, the impact continues outward in ways that cannot always be measured.

Looking ahead, Aisha is currently applying to law school, with the hope of continuing her work in advocacy and immigration law. She always envisioned a future centered on helping others; now she is building the credentials to do so at an even greater scale.

To the student who will take the stage at this year’s Gala, she offers thoughtful advice:

“Take every opportunity — even if it feels scary. If it’s presented to you, it’s because someone believes you’re capable.”

And perhaps most importantly:

“Never be afraid to ask for help.” Asking for support is not a weakness; it is part of growth.

As we prepare for this year’s CSF Gala, Aisha’s story reminds us that resilience is not always loud. Sometimes it is the quiet decision to say yes in uncertain times. Sometimes it is the confidence to speak into a camera during a pandemic. Sometimes it is the steady commitment to pay forward the opportunity once received.

Every student has a story.

Aisha’s is one of resilience, gratitude, and the multiplying power of generosity.

Join us at this year’s CSF Gala to hear the next story unfold and to continue opening doors for students whose journeys are just beginning.