Neema Isidore will be the first person in her family to attend college. She’s the middle of five siblings, a 2026 graduate of Winooski High School, and she starts at Saint Michael’s College this week.
Neema has known she wanted to go to college since she started high school. The path was challenging; Neema was born in Burundi. She came to Vermont when she was in the 7th grade, speaking Swahili and Kirundi. As she got used to a new community and a new school, she was also learning a new language; then, halfway through high school, she experienced a traumatic brain injury.
Neema persisted, keeping her eyes on her goal. While at Winooski High School, she joined VSAC’s GEAR UP college and career readiness program, which, among other support, helped her visit several colleges. When she toured Saint Michael’s College, she says that she felt immediately connected to the school, the professors, and the campus. She describes it as a comfortable community for her, especially because she wants to attend a college with a smaller and more accessible student population. “They have great professors and it’s close to where I live,” she said. “Even after all the college visits I did, I always gravitated back to St. Mike’s in my mind.”
Recovering from a brain injury taught Neema a lot about perseverance, and her own capabilities
When Neema was in tenth grade, she experienced a setback from symptoms related to a brain injury. The rehabilitation was tough and memorization was especially hard. “I would study for a test like I would have done before, and not remember anything,” she said. She worked with a social worker to get support and resources, and as she recovered, she began to think about how she could be that person for someone else. “I need my education to do that,” she thought. She decided to pursue a career as a social worker.
“I love helping people,” Neema shared. “When I think about what interests me and where I like spending my time, it’s doing that.” Neema’s involvement in Peace Jam at Winooski, where she helps organize donations of clothing, food, diapers, and more for people in need, is one way she is connected to helping her community.
Working one-on-one with her VSAC GEAR UP outreach counselor on her applications and financial aid
As high school started to wrap up, Neema worked with her VSAC GEAR UP outreach counselor, Stevya Mukuzo, on her applications and her financial aid forms. “I struggled a lot because English isn’t my first language,” Neema noted. “But Stevya was helpful, making sure my mom and I knew what we were doing. I kept asking for help along the way and she kept encouraging me.”
Stevya worked one-on-one with Neema, helping her understand the FAFSA federal financial aid forms and walking her through each piece of paperwork. “When I needed help, I went to my counselor,” Neema said. “It was hard, but she kept telling me it would be worth it. And now it is and I really appreciate that.”
Stevya was impressed with Neema’s perseverance. “It’s been inspiring to watch her continue to develop both personally and academically despite challenges along the way,” she shared. “What stands out most to me is her growth in confidence, communication, and self-advocacy. Over time, Neema has become more comfortable speaking up for herself, asking questions, and pursuing opportunities that once may have felt intimidating. She consistently shows a willingness to learn, improve, and push herself outside of her comfort zone.”
Neema was delighted to receive a full tuition scholarship from Saint Michael’s College. She will also be able to leverage additional scholarships and grants, which will help cover some of her other expenses. “It was a happy moment,” she said, when she got the news about her scholarship. “Not everyone gets that opportunity and I was so excited and surprised. My family is very proud,” she added.
Looking to her future with a positive outlook
Neema is looking forward to starting at Saint Michael’s College this week. She knows college isn’t going to be easy, but she is strong and resilient. “If I can keep working hard, I can do anything in life,” she said. “It wasn’t easy coming to a place where I didn’t speak the language, and then to have a brain injury and feel like I had to learn everything all over again, it took a lot of hard work and determination to get through that.”
Neema knows she can do it. A career helping others, as she’s been helped, awaits.
The Vermont Student Assistance Corp. was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1965 as a public nonprofit agency. We advocate for Vermont students and their families to ensure that they have the tools they need to achieve their education and training goals. We create opportunities for all Vermont students, but particularly for those—of any age—who believe that the doors to education are closed to them. Growing families save for education with VT529, Vermont’s official 529 savings program. To help Vermonters plan and pay for college or job training, our counselors work with students in nearly every Vermont middle school and high school, and are also available to work with adults. Our grant, scholarship, and workforce development programs create opportunity, help students re-skill or learn new skills, and grow the economy. VSAC’s loan, loan refinance, and loan forgiveness programs provide competitive education financing to students and families. Find us at www.vsac.org or visit Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
