At ScholarMatch, we make college dreams possible.

Through our Destination College program, we connect students from all over the country with the resources and mentors they need to reach their college dreams. Each student in our program is paired with a caring and knowledgable ScholarMatch volunteer that supports their students (locally in SF & LA, and virtually nationwide through our CollegePoint partner) through every facet of the college application process: from building a college list, to polishing personal statement essays, to even completing financial aid paperwork.

We had the chance to sit down with Brittnye Dione, a first-year Virtual Coach, and learned how she took a leap of faith with her own higher education journey and with ScholarMatch.

Hi Brittnye! Can you tell us about your background and college journey and how this inspired you to volunteer with ScholarMatch?

I grew up in a small town in Texas where over 80% of each graduating class never leaves home. As a result, the guidance counselors didn’t put much effort towards the college application process for students, outside a very small 10%. Luckily, I was one of those 10%. But even then, the resources were extremely limited. Most college-bound students in my hometown were only exposed to schools their parents and grandparents attended. And while both my parents were educated and had good intentions, they didn’t necessarily have insight on the entrance process of a traditional 4-year university.

My saving grace at the time was my friend, who a year prior, enrolled in college. She gave me the rundown on how to draft my essay and how to study for the SAT/ACT. Looking back, I’m so grateful I took her advice. I had an amazing 4 years of undergrad, and since then, I continue to have memorable life experiences.

I recently decided I need to start paying it forward to my fellow first-generation college students. I remember having the discipline and putting in the hard work while in high school, but deep down there was an insecurity I battled with, a fear that my dream of going away would be met with what most in my town saw as the reality of sticking around. With that, I can only imagine how many more students deal with this struggle today. College has gotten much more costly, as well as more demanding in their entrance requirements. Yet, I am proof that all it takes is one knowledgeable person to give their time, and the trajectory of a student’s life can be changed forever. I want to be that one person for someone, and so that is why I choose to volunteer with ScholarMatch.

You recently attended our Volunteer Convening in San Francisco, where you participated in college access workshops and met other Virtual College Coaches. What did you like most about the Convening? Did you learn anything new that you’re taking away from the weekend?

I’ll first say that the team at ScholarMatch did an amazing job with organizing the Volunteer Convening. I had the chance to meet most of the staff members, and they’re an excellent group to be partnering with. I gained so much insight from all the workshops and role-playing — and truthfully, it was more than I expected.

I was most intrigued about the in’s and out’s of the FAFSA and CSS updates. Specifically, I was surprised at how students within a certain income bracket could be taking advantage of additional resources, yet most don’t realize that these resources are available. In addition, ScholarMatch really erased the myth that top colleges are the most expensive colleges. In reality, it’s the prestigious schools that actually have the endowment and funding to provide more scholarships and merit aid to those who qualify, which means less debt. This gave me a drive to ensure my students get all the information they deserve to make an informed decision.

As a ScholarMatch Coach, you’re paired with high school seniors to support them as they navigate the college application process. What are you most looking forward to on this journey as a College Coach and mentor?

There are three things I most look forward to as a College Coach. The first is simply getting to know these amazing students. I’ve already been paired with my students, and their profiles are so impressive. These individuals have put in a lot of work prior to meeting me, to the point that I know they are going to crush their goals. I just want to put my time in now so when they become famous for changing the world, I’ll be able to get my autograph without a hassle 😊

Second, I am excited about the tangible skills I am going to obtain. ScholarMatch has an extensive amount of training materials and resources available that I plan to utilize as a coach, and this is only going to help me be a better mentor as I gain more experience.

And lastly, I look forward to witnessing my students’ success stories. I can’t wait to get my first “I GOT IN” text! I possibly even plan to sit in at their college graduation ceremony. My hope is that this becomes a life-long partnership between myself and my mentees and that they see me as a valuable asset.

Got a college degree and want to pay it forward? Learn how you can get involved in our work and help make college dreams possible at scholarmatch.org/get-involved!

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