After applying to various colleges and universities, Girah Lundy-Joseph awaited anxiously for acceptance letters to start coming in, like most seniors across the country. One day while sitting in class, she checked her email to find an acceptance letter from one of her top choices, New York University (NYU). Immediately, she felt a rush of emotions – excited but also worried about being able to afford to attend the university of her choice. To her surprise, she received a second email stating she had been awarded a financial aid scholarship in the amount of $74,000, which will completely cover her tuition at NYU.
“It was such a surreal experience,” said Lundy-Joseph. “I’m glad we don’t have to worry about paying for college or taking out loans.”
Lundy-Joseph has been an Irving ISD student since kindergarten, starting at Farine Elementary School, Travis Middle School and now MacArthur High School. While at MacArthur, she has participated in a plethora of extracurricular activities, including being student council and National Honor Society president – all while maintaining a part time job at Pappasitos in the DFW airport.
“I’m really going to miss being student council president,” she said. “I love that role and being able to help others.”
Lundy-Joseph said helping her peers as student council president makes her feel fulfilled and has helped her develop relationships with many of the students on campus.
“Having this experience as a leader has taught me that you can be very influential if you treat people with kindness,” she added.
She also says she will miss the people and unity at MacArthur High School.
“It’s such an accepting community and the teachers are so supportive,” says Lundy-Joseph.
While Lundy-Joseph will miss her high school community and events, she’s excited to go to college and embark on a new journey in a major city that’s so diverse.
She plans to major in computer science and has aspirations to become either a lawyer for a tech company or an immigration lawyer.
“I can do amazing things if I put my mind to it,” adds Lundy-Joseph. “My teachers have helped me realize that.”
