Success Stories

Aminata Kaba, born and raised in Ypsilanti, Michigan, understood from a young age the enormous sacrifices her parents made when they immigrated to the United States from Guinea, West Africa, 26 years ago. "My parents came to the U.S. to give my siblings and me the best possible educational opportunities," says Kaba, a first-generation student. "With that in mind, I've always felt that the least I could do was to honor their sacrifices by working hard in school so their efforts wouldn't be wasted. My goal has always been to succeed not just for myself, but so that one day I can give my parents the life they truly deserve."

Kaba says that her father always emphasized the importance of education. "He strongly believed that his children needed to take school seriously because once they entered the workforce, their education would be invaluable," she says. "He didn't want us to struggle later in life or miss out on opportunities simply because we hadn't taken our education seriously when we had the chance."

Kaba took that wisdom to heart and studied hard. "I enjoyed learning and excelling. I was placed in honors classes early on and set a standard for myself to try my best to achieve," says Kaba. " Throughout the elementary, middle, and high school years, I continued building my curriculum and knowledge. In my senior year I was named valedictorian at Ypsilanti Community High School alongside my best friend from elementary school, Destiny Hall, who is also a student and recipient of the Go Blue Guarantee here at UM-Dearborn."

A Plan of Action

Kaba says she always imagined herself attending the University of Michigan-Dearborn. And that's exactly the plan she put into place. Kaba applied in her senior year of high school and was accepted. At the same time, she qualified for the Go Blue Guarantee. "It was such an exciting moment. Knowing I could attend UM-Dearborn, my dream college, without the weight of financial stress and without placing that burden on my parents, was a huge relief," she says. "Thanks to the Go Blue Guarantee, that pressure was lifted. Overall, it has been a life-changing opportunity. My family and I are truly thankful."

Building a Career

Majoring in Health and Human Services at UM-Dearborn, Kaba says she initially majored in biology. But after her first semester and some conversations with her advisor, Kaba knew she wanted to work in a medical field in which she could work with children and families. "Until then, I hadn't really thought about the Health and Human Services major, but I began to understand how versatile it is. You can go into a lot of different careers," she says.

Within that major, Kaba has decided to pursue a career as a child life specialist. "Last semester, I had a class where we were assigned a student inside a school. I was at Bird Elementary School in Plymouth, Michigan," she says. "The child I was assigned was exceptional, and, along with the assistance of the teacher, provided me with many lessons. I couldn't have asked for more."

After graduation, Kaba hopes to become a child life specialist, get certified, and work at Michigan Medicine, possibly at the University of Michigan Hospitals. "Ever since I was a kid, the University of Michigan has always stood out to me," says Kaba. "I actually had surgery at the U-M hospital earlier this school year. The care I received was amazing and was beyond the call of duty. I let the nurses know I wanted to be a child life specialist, and they went out of their way to send two child life specialists to my room to talk with me about the career."

Helping Other Immigrant Families

Growing up, Kaba saw firsthand the challenges many immigrant families face in the U.S., especially navigating language barriers when English is not the first language. As a child, she often acted as the translator — almost like a third parent — because her family struggled to understand certain things. "It was tough trying to process everything myself while also relaying it to them in a way they could understand. That experience has really shaped my perspective," she says. "I know I can make things a little more comfortable, not just for immigrant parents, but also for their children who may be in the same position I have been in. I come from a family of eight — my older brother, myself, and four younger siblings — so I understand the responsibility that can fall on the older kids in situations like this."

Finding Strength

Kaba has learned a great deal about perseverance along the way. "I've learned that, despite how much stress may come at me or when it seems like the end of the world, I am able to focus on the big picture and work through things," she says. "After my first year, I worked very hard to raise my GPA, and ever since I've been achieving a 4.0 semester and carrying a 3.71, hoping to achieve more."

Kaba continues to listen to the wisdom imparted by her parents. "My father always told us that we may go through difficult things in life, and God may throw us certain hardships, but everything happens for a reason. It's really how you look at it all and try to make things better."