Like many first-year students, Amaya Daniels realized she needed a job. As someone who came from a limited-income background, raised by a single parent, Daniels knew it was up to her to make ends meet as she pursued a college degree.
“I was in a panic because during the spring semester of my first year, I basically had no money,” she said. “I used all of my refund check and really needed a job because I wasn’t sure how I was going to get by financially.”
So, she applied for a position through Campus Life, and unbeknownst to her, that small act became the precipitating event that forever changed the course of her student experience at WashU.
“Because of my involvement in Campus Life, I’ve been able to develop and be part of a community on campus,” she said. “Whether it’s help with planning a student event or just having someone to talk to when I’m going through a tough time, Campus Life has been extremely important in my development as a person. I know these people care about me and about my success now and in the future. They’ve shown care and concern for me when I didn’t have those things for myself.”
Campus Life has been extremely important in my development as a person. I know these people care about me and about my success now and in the future. They’ve shown care and concern for me when I didn’t have those things for myself.
-Amaya Daniels
Originally from Columbia, Mo., Daniels had to grow up quickly because she often assumed the role of caregiver for her mother who faced chronic health conditions, underwent multiple surgeries and was victim of a devastating car accident. She said that she also grew up with peers who faced gang and interpersonal violence, and who were pulled in other directions that did not point to a college education.
“I wanted something different for myself, but I wasn’t totally sure how to get that something different,” she said. “I was lucky enough to have a parent who told me I needed to focus on school as a way to move beyond the constraints of where I come from.”
So, focus on school she did. Daniels took every AP course available to her and engaged in a pre-college program for students exhibiting aptitude for high achievement. By working with her high school teachers and guidance counselor, she connected with QuestBridge, a nonprofit organization that helps high-achieving, low-income students get into top colleges and universities.
It was through the QuestBridge network that Daniels met other young people like her with big aspirations but restrictive backgrounds.
“I was exposed to so many people across the country who were in similar situations as me, going through hardship, dealing with being first-generation or limited-income, and wanting to be a high achieving individual, but not sure how to do it,” she said. “So, I went through the college match process and matched with WashU. I liked WashU because of proximity to my hometown and the interdisciplinary opportunities, but when I visited campus, something struck me and I thought to myself, ‘This feels like home.’”
Daniels was admittedly nervous coming to campus and relied heavily on her WUSA and the Taylor Family Center for Student Success to get her through that transition.
“My first year at WashU, I struggled a lot,” she said. “I wasn’t sure I belonged here. The academic shift was challenging, and as a social introvert, I struggled to find my place on campus. I felt like an outsider, like I wasn’t deserving to be at WashU. I’ve always struggled believing in myself.”
Then, the limitations of her financial situation set in, leading her to apply for a campus job.
“When I got hired to work for Campus Life, I had a great manager who really influenced me,” she said. “She set a tone of positivity for me and helped show me what I was really capable of achieving.”
If you are not able to find compassion within yourself, understand that there are people here at WashU who want to pour compassion into you and lift you up. There is someone; there is something; there is a group out there that is waiting for you to be in their space. Now I know that about myself too. I know I deserve to be in high achieving places and that I have something to give the world.
-Amaya Daniels
Daniels worked with that manager for a year until she was asked to assume the managerial role herself, and from there, she really started to blossom. Her Campus Life programming staff grew, and she started to feel and see the impact of her work, which undoubtedly increased her sense of self-worth and belonging.
It’s that sense of belonging, of having a place to be, that has been her most important experience while at WashU, and it’s something she will carry with her well after her upcoming graduation.
“If you are not able to find compassion within yourself, understand that there are people here at WashU who want to pour compassion into you and lift you up,” she said. “There is someone; there is something; there is a group out there that is waiting for you to be in their space. Now I know that about myself too. I know I deserve to be in high achieving places and that I have something to give the world.”