Share the Dream: My Life, My Focus, My Goal Share the Dream: My Life, My Focus, My Goal: Lafortune, Wilderson

Talent Merit Scholarship Recipient

My name is Wilderson Lafortune. You read about a first-year student at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. You see a background built on discipline and responsibility. Haitian heritage shaped work ethic and expectations. Family support stayed steady during setbacks. Early high school years showed weak focus and low confidence. Those moments forced reflection and change.

You see progress through ownership. Academic habits improved through structure and routine. One major achievement involved earning college admission while continuing football. Football demanded early mornings, lifts, practice, and recovery. Those demands trained time management and discipline. Lessons from athletics now guide academic choices. Campus involvement through academics, athletics, and service keeps growth consistent.

You chose UMass Dartmouth for structure, opportunity, and support. The College Now program prepares you for college-level expectations. Coursework required stronger organization and planning. Advising helped set direction and goals. Structured schedules improved study habits. Confidence grew through preparation and follow-through.

College differs from high school through independence. Responsibility rests with you. Daily choices shape outcomes. Motivation comes from viewing education as a long-term investment. You pursue a degree in Accounting. Your focus includes financial analysis, organization, and ethical decision-making. Tutoring, internships, and advising support steady progress.

Education serves a purpose beyond personal gain. You plan to use financial knowledge to support families and communities. Access to financial education stands as one change you want to see. Many people lack guidance around budgeting, credit, and planning. Career goals include professional certification and stable employment.

Investors should support your education because discipline drives results. Education strengthens your ability to support family and mentor younger students. Community impact grows through service, leadership, and example. Your actions reflect preparation, consistency, and accountability.