I grew up in Cambridge in a Haitian household, with my mother, an older sister and two younger sisters. We’re all ­five years apart.

From eighth grade through high school graduation, I was part of Cambridge Housing Authority’s Workforce program, which taught low-income teens life and job skills. We had the opportunity to choose a technical path or academic route in higher education. I had a good idea of what I wanted to do after high school — something business-related — but I couldn’t put a name to it. The Workforce program introduced me to specialized areas of business.

I chose Bentley because I have a life goal set for myself: I want to build a business school that helps low-income children and families on ­financial literacy. It is often the case that people like me don’t have the tools they need for the goals they want to achieve. I want to change the world in that way.

When one of my AP language arts classmates, Ahmed, found out where I was going to college, he said, “No way! I’m going to Bentley, too. Will you be my roommate?” We were both city kids and already around each other a lot. So we roomed together and became best friends.

Even though I’m busy with campus activities, I prioritize my schoolwork. I also work off campus at a bank and at the Bentley Arena. I help my mom pay bills, and I have to take care of my textbooks and living expenses. At ­first my mom questioned why I wasn’t home often. But she’s very proud of me and the fact that I'm a student worker.

I know that being away from my siblings could have a negative impact, but it’s also a positive because I’m creating a path for them to follow. My 10-year-old sister started watching YouTube videos about college life, so she could have conversations with me about “college things” like classes and dorms.

The most impactful aspect of my college experience is something sad. Ahmed passed away from cancer in August of 2018. For the ­first month, I didn’t want to talk to anyone. He had been with me since high school and through most of sophomore year, until he got sick. But I knew isolating myself isn’t what he would have wanted. So I pushed through. Losing him changed my perspective on life. In addition to succeeding for myself and my family, I will strive to be the person Ahmed would want me to become.

Peterson was featured as a “Trailblazer of the First Degree” in the spring 2019 issue of Bentley Magazine. Read the full story.