I came to the United States in 2012 through the MAST program. I spent my first six months working on my host family’s farm, an experience that grounded me in hard work and introduced me to American life in a very real way. After that, I moved to the University of Minnesota, where I studied for one semester and then worked for a year in a soybean research lab.
This period was truly transformative. I arrived with very limited English skills, but within a year and a half, I improved enough to gain admission into several MBA programs in the U.S.—something that once felt far out of reach.
After completing the MAST program in 2013, I continued my education at Hamline University, where I earned my MBA in 2015. Following graduation, I began my professional career working with Target and Cargill, supporting their commodities business lines.
Since 2017, I have been working at U.S. Bank’s headquarters in downtown Minneapolis, where I currently serve as a Vice President in Market Risk Management, supporting the bank’s trading and capital markets businesses.
Looking back, the MAST program opened doors I never could have imagined. It gave me the foundation, confidence, and opportunities to build the life I have today, and I will always be grateful for that experience.
