Marius’ Story

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Marius' Story: Marius Ibuye is a refugee of war-torn Congo who left Africa and emigrated to the U.S. to pursue a better life for himself and his family. He believes the Future Connect program guided him to where he is today: an Oregon State University student. With assistance from dedicated success coaches who mapped out a plan and stood by ready to help, Marius is reaching his educational goals. 'I really enjoyed all of my classes at PCC, and the instructors were inspiring, encouraging and supportive. It wasn’t only about getting good grades but also finding new ways to learn the class material,' said Marius, who hopes to study in the College of Pharmacy at OHSU once he earns a bachelor’s degree. Once he completes his academic work, Marius hopes to become a pharmacist in Portland near his family. 'Now Future Connect coaches are also part of my family,' he said. 'Not having the support of Future Connect at PCC and going straight to a four-year university would have been crazy. I feel I’m well prepared and now I can fly at OSU.'

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90% of Future Connect students are low- income, and 56% have a household income less than $20K. 70% are students of color. 83% will be the first in their families to complete college. 70% of Future Connect students continue on to their second year of college. Students who continue have an average GPA of 2.8. Future Connect produces results that are more than 3 times the 20% success rate of college students from similar backgrounds who don't receive these services

90% of Future Connect students are…

Daisy's Story: Daisy Toledo considered a full-time job in food service as her best opportunity for life after high school graduation. Then she heard about Future Connect and saw another path open before her. 'I never expected to have enough money to go to college,' said Daisy. She also worried about juggling school, studying and a job, but Future Connect coaches helped her create a time management plan. With a 4.0 GPA during her first term in college, she’s already researching four-year universities and careers in the medical field. Now Daisy is sharing her talents with others. As a member of the Oregon Leadership Institute at PCC’s Rock Creek Campus, she’s working with students on volunteerism and fundraising. She sees it as a good opportunity to network and learn new skills such as public speaking. 'I talk to my friends about Future Connect. I tell them that they can reach their goals because there is a lot of support,' said Daisy. 'The classes have been challenging but I’m persistent and my success coach motivates me every day. I believe I have what it takes to be successful in college and to be successful in life.'

Daisy’s Story