For DonorsFor Applicants
user profile avatar

Ana Jesus

2,665

Bold Points

1x

Finalist

Bio

I am a black journalist from Brazil. I live in a neighborhood surrounded by one of the biggest groups of favelas in Rio de Janeiro. Given that I have lived and studied there most of my life, it was impossible to not get involved with community issues. I believe education is a privilege that must be shared. Hence, my ultimate objective is to use what I learn to give back to my community, the Black people in Brazil. More specifically, all my academic efforts are directed to assist single mothers like myself, who did not, nevertheless, have the same opportunities I had, and the black children that (like me), hear intense daily shootings happening outside their doors. Coming to the US was life-changing for me. I am so grateful and thankful for the opportunities I had. I came with my little daughter and we grew so much. In one year I learned a lot not only academically, but about myself. I am more confident to keep working and studying hard to have a better future and support people who are in need.

Education

The University of Texas at Austin

Master's degree program
2019 - 2022
  • Majors:
    • Latin American Studies
    • African-American/Black Studies

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • African-American/Black Studies
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Civic & Social Organization

    • Dream career goals:

      Leader

    • Marketing Assistant

      Rossi Residencial
      2009 – 20123 years
    • Owner Partner

      RTI Assessoria
      2012 – 20186 years

    Sports

    Volleyball

    Junior Varsity
    Present

    Research

    • Mass Communication/Media Studies

      Independent — Graduate Researcher
      2018 – 2019

    Arts

    • Independent

      Painting
      Grafitti Project - In a Latin American school located in a poor area.
      2018 – Present

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Mulheres Diasporicas - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — Producer
      2018 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Independent — Producer
      2017 – 2019

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Politics

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    Justricia Scholarship for Education
    I believe that education is the key to change the world. I am an education passionate and enthusiast. I came from a poor neighborhood in Brazil, but I had the scholarship to study in a good school. Unfortunately, it is not the case for many friends and neighbors. Education helped me to live in the country for the first time and be in contact with other cultures and amplify my view. This is why part of my social work is building towards helping people like me, coming from poor places, to have good educational opportunities. I produced action in an Elementary school, that consisted of having artists paint the patio, so the kids could have a better environment to study, and we are currently working to build a playground and a sports court. I am also part of an organization that helps people to apply for graduate schools around the world. The way education changed my life - it helped me to understand better who I am and my role in this world, I want people to have the same (or better) opportunity. It is not only about jobs and positions (necessary tools for living, I will not deny) but it is to take a veil from the eyes and see how and why disparities and inequalities happen in the world. It is to have tools to emancipate yourself.
    Black Friday Prep Scholarship
    I like Tiffany Aliche, The Budgetnista, Rakuten, and SaverLife.
    Cyber Monday Prep Scholarship
    My favorite place to buy online is Amazon. But I also buy at Target and Walmart.
    Low-Income Student Scholarship
    My greatest achievement was to get approved at the University of Texas in Austin. I came from a poor neighborhood in Brazil, and there were not many opportunities for Black girls like me. I was lucky and privileged for having parents that believed in education as emancipatory and a way for a better life. For my high school, I had to do several tests and I got a scholarship for a good private school. Unfortunately, I had self-esteem problems and I was not accepted into a good college. Although I was not studying where I wanted, I studied hard towards having good grades. I worked for a while as a journalist but accepted a better job offer in a construction company. I had to leave work when my daughter was born. She was a severe premature and needed special care during her first years. Years later I was unhappy because I did not have a job or any professional perspectives. My older sister got accepted to a great university in Brazil to get her Master's degree. It was the first time I realized that an academic career was possible for us. I started going to workshops and summer courses, and every time I was in a university, I had more certain about what I really wanted to do in life. I applied and got accepted to a summer course offered by UT Austin and an organization in Brazil. This course was life-changing. I met amazing people, Brazilians, and Americans, and I not only learned a lot, as I could do good projects with them. With another Brazilian Journalist we created a blog and a space to talk about Women around the world, and with an American friend, we created a project to improved schools in risk areas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I am so proud of what we did together, and I could work with those projects forever in my life. In the following year, they were the ones that encouraged me to apply to UT Austin. Deep inside I still believed that it was not for me. Imagine, a Black woman, a single mother, from a poor neighborhood in Latin American? But even so, I tried, I had worked so hard in the last years that I deserved a chance. I cannot describe how happy I was when I received UT's letter. I did not know if I cried or laugh. To be honest, I did not have much time to process everything because I had to prepare for my move into the US. It was a long process, I needed my friends and family help towards raising funds to pay for the applications and my expenses to travel. In August of 2019, I arrived in Texas with my daughter. It was our first time leaving the country and to live! People used to say I was brave and had the courage, but I believed it was the right and natural thing to do. I say it was our big adventure. Just us two, in a different country, speaking a different language and making new friends. Today I can still say it was the right thing to do. I learned so much about myself, and especially, it helped me to improve my self-esteem. It is not easy, graduate school is tough, but I can do it, I can go through the process and succeed. And most of all, inspire other women and girls to do the same. Even if it is not to come to a US University, but to believe that we also deserve great things and we can do great things. I still want to be a researcher and intellectual, I want to spread the word and teach. And I want to keep doing my projects in poor communities. My main goal is to be a bridge for people like me to reach their dreams. Most of all, I want my daughter to believe that she can do whatever she wants to. We need that. We deserve a better world.