Mateso Ngoja came to the U.S. in 2015, knowing more than anything that he wanted an education – something he could put hard work toward and be proud of, even if it meant he would have to overcome steep obstacles along the way, like learning a new language.
“The language barrier was one thing that I promised myself not to be limited over,” said Ngoja, who is now a student at Boise State in the TRIO Rising Scholars program, studying business entrepreneurship and the first in his family to attend college. Ngoja credits the TRIO program as being like a “father and mother” to him, helping to advise him both as a student with big dreams and as someone who found himself in a new place that seemed, at times, like a different planet.
“I fell in love with TRIO back in high school,” said Ngoja. “When I found out that there was a program to help prepare you for college I immediately knew this is what I need to succeed.”
Like many aspiring entrepreneurs, Ngoja believes in working hard and taking nothing for granted, especially when it comes to education, which he views as his and his generations’ future. As someone who didn’t have an easy path to college, that future also comes with helping others.
“As a refugee, my dream was to have a respected education and to feed myself with the knowledge necessary to be able to live my ideal lifestyle,” said Ngoja. “And this comes with helping to lift the people around me.”
Meet Mateso Ngoja
A strong desire to enrich his life with knowledge and an eye toward college led Mateso Ngoja to the TRIO Rising Scholars program in high school so he could access mentorship and support he would need to succeed as a refugee and first-generation student. Determined not to be limited while learning a new language, Ngoja embraced education as a path to reaching his goals and helping others reach theirs. Now at Boise State studying business, Ngoja works at the Student Equity Center, helping to organize and volunteer for events and trainings that foster dialogue and cultural understanding like the International Food, Song and Dance Festival and Cesar Chavez Memorial Week.
Ngoja plans to open his own business someday and employ refugees like himself. In the meantime, he has been working in the Student Equity Center at Boise State volunteering for awareness trainings and supporting cultural outreach programming like the International Food, Song and Dance Festival, Cesar Chavez Memorial week and events during Black History Month.
“Although I am a businessman, I can’t condone injustice and mistreating other human souls,” Ngoja said. “The future is unpredictable, but I have plans that might change my life and the people who have remained marginalized for far too long.”
November 9th – 13th is First-Generation College Celebration week. The Center for Multicultural Educational Opportunities, housed in the College of Education, includes a variety of programs that support first-generation college students.