Ben’s Story: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty 

by StreetWise Partners
March 7, 2024

Ben Nguyen is a first-generation college student who came to the U.S. from Vietnam when he was a teenager. StreetWise Partners played a pivotal role in helping him break the cycle of poverty, complete his degree in computer science, and launch a career – starting with an internship at NASA.

Ben hopes that his story will inspire other first-generation, non-traditional college students to seek help with a mentor.  

From Vietnam to the U.S. 

Ben was 14 years old when his parents moved the family from rural Vietnam to Washington, D.C.  

He had watched American movies as a child, but it never crossed his mind that he would actually live there. Everything was different, from the food and weather, to the diversity of people, to his opportunities for education. 

In Vietnam, there was only one computer in his entire school and he had no exposure to smartphones. In America, everyone had a smartphone and access to computers.  

Ben’s parents, who didn’t finish middle school, worked hard in the U.S. but still faced constant hardship. His mom often shared how, growing up after the war, she had to quit school in fifth grade to work and support her parents.  

“Seeing my parents struggle to make ends meet made me see that education is the ticket to get me and my family out of poverty,” says Ben. “I wanted to be the first one in my family to finish my college degree and get a good job.” 

Figuring out life beyond high school 

Ben wasn’t sure what to do once he graduated from high school. He didn’t have anyone to guide him on his education and career. 

After working a couple restaurant jobs doing kitchen prep, he found a job with a healthcare company, helping elderly people with daily tasks like making meals and driving them to doctor appointments.  

The job paid a good living wage and also allowed Ben to save money to enroll at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) as a Computer Science major. 

It was in this job that Ben also got his first advice about mentorship. One of his elderly patients talked to him about how important it is to find a mentor – someone who can answer questions about the field of work you’re interested in, help you get unstuck, and support you in achieving your career goals.  

That’s when Ben realized he didn’t have to figure everything out by himself. He set out to find a mentor.  

Building skills with the help of a mentor 

Ben’s research led him to the StreetWise Bridge mentorship program. He applied right away, was accepted, and started working with his mentor to build essential skills like drafting emails, writing a strong resume, networking, and interviewing. 

Over the course of the three-month program, Ben went from feeling shy and nervous in social situations to feeling confident communicating and networking in various professional settings. 

“Before StreetWise, I didn’t have any knowledge about a resume or how to introduce myself or answer questions in an interview,” says Ben. “My mentor gave me so much new information to improve my resume and interview skills, and help me move faster to my career goals.” 

Ben’s experience at StreetWise also inspired a mindset shift to go after every opportunity.  

Instead of thinking “I’m not qualified enough,” he told himself “the worst they can say is no.” 

Every week, he would reach out to at least one new contact and ask for a 10-minute call. Not everyone writes back, but when they do, he always gets great advice. Sometimes he even gets  leads for new opportunities.

Landing a scholarship and an internship at NASA 

One of those leads came in late 2023. As Ben was finishing the StreetWise program, he learned about the National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholarship from a NOVA alumnus he contacted. Ben applied and got the scholarship, which would cover tuition for him to graduate with a degree in Engineering.  

The scholarship changed his life, he says. Without the financial burden of tuition, he could focus on living costs and gaining job experience. 

Around the same time, Ben also applied for and landed an internship at NASA. Everything he worked on with his mentor at StreetWise culminated with this milestone.  

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity I’ve had at NASA and thank my mentor for everything,” says Ben. “Without that first step with StreetWise, I would not be where I am today. It’s like compound interest – as long as I have an initial investment and someone investing in me like my mentor did, I will keep growing and growing.” 

Ben’s experience at NASA helped him grow both personally and professionally. He’s built new technical skills, met new people, and learned how to interact and ask for help in a workplace setting.  

More opportunities, more growth ahead 

Today, Ben is finishing his degree and continuing the work he started at StreetWise to land his next job opportunity.  

He is still in touch with his StreetWise mentor, who is always willing to help with interview prep and answer questions. And he continues to network to surface new leads. One cold call conversation led to a referral – and job offer – from a well-known multinational company. 

“StreetWise helped me break the cycle,” says Ben. “I am very grateful to my mentor who helped me gain the skills and confidence I need to find a good job to support myself and help my parents. I also want to be a good brother to my two younger sisters and mentor them to be successful with their education.” 

Want to be a part of the journey for others like Ben? Start here to become a mentor. We also would love to talk to you about becoming an Employer Partner and hiring StreetWise Job Seekers.