July 31: The GAA Fellowship
This is the essay I have most anticipated writing. Not just because it’s the last day of my streak, writing and publishing an essay every day this month, but because of today’s date.
It is my dad’s birthday: the tenth one since he passed away suddenly.
One of the things I admire most about my dad is how deeply he invested in the progress of others. I grew up watching him have tough, honest conversations with people about their lives, urging them to stay in school, pursue advanced degrees, make financial investments — whatever they needed to progress in life. And he didn’t just give advice; he often put his own money on the line to support their goals. He was this way to everyone: family, friends, staff, and strangers. From him, I learned the importance of looking out for others in this way.
He was also my full-time academic advisor. He read through every course outline with me, spent hours after a busy work week helping me research school projects, critiqued my essays, and evaluated every last school report — he did not play around. He is the hero of my academic career, and no one was prouder of me than he was.
He modeled this commitment to education and excellence in his own life. Decades after earning a BSc in Accounting, an MBA, and a host of accounting qualifications, he decided — in his forties —to pursue a Law Degree at the University of London. Now, as an adult, I realize just how challenging that must have been: juggling a very demanding career, family, daily life, and the rigors of study.
To honor his legacy, we started a program earlier this year to mark the tenth anniversary of his death: the GAA fellowship.
In partnership with The Destiny Trust Foundation, we’re funding the university education of five students in their penultimate year through graduation.
TDT matched us with our first set of fellows: brilliant, hard-working students who have been paying their way through school despite difficult family circumstances. In addition to excelling academically, they are young leaders, investing in themselves and others, leading clubs, mentoring others, and volunteering for causes. Yet, without timely support, some of them might have had to drop out because they couldn’t pay tuition or take on extra jobs to support their families.
Through the fellowship, we’re covering tuition and upkeep, but we also want to support their personal growth and professional aspirations. In particular, I’d love to connect them to internship and mentorship opportunities — especially in financial services, public health, and technology.
If you’d like to learn more or support these students, please send me a DM on Twitter.
