As a child, Nadia Khan often felt she didn’t fit in. Her mother is African American, her father Indian. Her mother’s family is Christian. Khan, her siblings, and their mother are Muslim.
Her racial, ethnic, and religious identities led Khan to feel torn among several cultures. And even at horseback-riding competitions, an activity that gave her confidence and a vision for a future career as a veterinarian, she felt out of place. “I’m usually the only black person there,” Khan said. “Girls would give me their horse when they were done competing. They think I’m the help.
“Growing up, I didn’t feel I belonged anywhere.”
As a college student, Khan found a support system and sense of belonging through the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which not only funded her undergraduate degree but gave her access to a rich program of support that is the differentiator of the program: help navigating college, exploring career options, developing leadership skills, and embracing a commitment to service.
“JRF gives you a sense of community with people that look like you, that have similar values and morals, that come from all over the country and have completely different aspirations,” said Khan, one of 10 students who will graduate this spring in the first cohort of Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars supported by Strada Education Network.
“Our sense of community-building is empowering in how we all try to help each other: ‘I’m here for you. I support you. I love you.’ And it feels really good to not be alone.”
