Hometown: Refuge, Trelawny, Jamaica
Major: Biology-Human Biology
Graduation: 2019
Thank you: “I want to let you know how thankful I am toward your kindness. Receiving this scholarship means the world to me. This award has given me more confidence in myself to realize, yes, I can make my dreams come true. I will do great things with your investment.”
Ricardo, currently majoring in Human Biology at College of Western Idaho (CWI), would ultimately like to become a forensic scientist. Ricardo came to the United States from Jamaica with his mother in 2016. Despite being the first in his family to attend college, he said he was taught from a young age education is the key to success.
“Leaving Jamaica was hard. I was happy, scared, and nervous all at once,” he said. “I wanted to come here because of the opportunities – more opportunities than I would have had back home.”
As the recipient of various scholarships during his time at CWI, Ricardo says not only have the scholarships relieved the burden of paying for college expenses, but have increased his confidence and pushed him to work harder.
“I’ve always wanted to be a part of the medical field. At first, I wanted to become a medical doctor, but as I was introduced to forensics, it blew my mind,” he said. “I want to make a difference, and the very thought of knowing I can make a difference while solving crimes and other situations is a blessing to me.”
Planning to continue his education at a four-year university, Ricardo says he has overcome many challenges during his academic journey and credits his success at CWI to the people he has met and his amazing instructors.
“Because of CWI, things seem possible. I am thankful to CWI for the opportunity I have been given.”
